With a push from Congress, automakers and charging companies plan to install thousands of fast chargers on American highways capable of refueling electric cars in half an hour or less.
That’s good news for anyone who owns an electric car or is thinking of buying one. But it’s also confusing because of a debate about what kind of plugs those new chargers and cars will use now and in the future.
Ford Motor, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and other automakers plan to abandon the plugs their electric cars use now for ones designed by Tesla. But they won’t start selling cars with Tesla plugs until 2025.
Until then, cars like the Ford Mustang Mach-E or Chevrolet Bolt will come with technology that may eventually become obsolete, the equivalent of the Betamax videocassette recorder.
What plugs do electric cars use today?
There are two main types of plugs. The most widely used was developed by Tesla, which dominates the electric car business, and, for now, only works in the company’s cars. This is known as the North American Charging Standard.
Cars made by most other manufacturers use a plug known as a Combined Charging System. Any electric car charger partially funded by the federal government under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law must be able to charge cars that use the CCS plug.
Many established automakers are switching from CCS to the North American plug, which will allow their owners to use the 12,000 Tesla fast chargers and be more confident about finding a place to refuel. Tesla has about 20,000 fast chargers in the United States, or about two-thirds of such chargers.
Established manufacturers will offer adapters that allow Tesla chargers to deliver electricity to cars with CCS receptacles as early as 2024. Then, in 2025, new vehicles sold of car makers will use Tesla plugs without adapters.
With so many major automakers moving to the Tesla standard, CCS’s days in the United States may be numbered. Of course, vehicles designed for CCS plugs will remain on the road for years, which means that charging stations will need adapters or offer the same type of plugs for the foreseeable future. .
Why are automakers switching to the Tesla plug?
Established carmakers are switching to Tesla’s system mainly because it is more widespread than what they use now and seems to work better.
Tesla’s charging network is often located in locations without CCS chargers. Many auto experts and drivers also say that Tesla chargers are more reliable and that the company’s plug is smaller, lighter and easier to handle than the CCS plug.
In addition, Tesla designed its system so that drivers can plug in one of its chargers and drive away. The chargers recognize each Tesla vehicle and automatically charge their owners’ credit cards.
The performance of charging networks operated by other companies is known to be uneven. Billing methods vary. Some chargers require drivers to plug in then open an app on their phones. Others want customers to open an app first. Some chargers accept credit cards, but others do not.
Drivers of non-Tesla electric cars often complain about broken or finnicky chargers — complaints that independent studies have verified.
How important is the location of the charger?
This is very important.
Perhaps Tesla’s biggest advantage is that it’s been at it for a long time. It has secured prime locations in popular shopping centers and on busy highways.
As a result, new billing companies are often at a disadvantage. Many of them had to put several chargers in places that lacked bathrooms or restaurants. Stopping at some chargers, in empty parking lots, can feel unsafe.
In July, BMW, GM, Honda and four other automakers announced that they would jointly install 30,000 chargers in the United States and Canada. These chargers will have the same plug.
Does the CCS plug have any advantages?
Yes, these plugs can charge any electric car, including Teslas if drivers carry adapters, which are usually included with their cars.
But the opposite is not true – most Tesla chargers can only charge Teslas. Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, said in February that he intended to open his company’s charging network to cars made by other automakers. As of late August, nearly a dozen of the company’s US charging stations, all in California, New York or Texas, will be available for other cars.
CCS technology is not dominated by one company. While Tesla has promised to hand over oversight of its plug to an independent body, the company and Mr. Musk is often at odds when dealing with other businesses and government agencies. That’s why some auto experts believe established automakers may regret relying on Tesla.
While charging companies that offer CCS plugs strive to offer reliable and easy-to-use services, there are many of them. Many, including EVgo or Electrify America, operate nationwide and compete with each other on price and service. Tesla is more insulated from the competition, though that will change as more companies offer chargers with the plugs used by its cars.
