Electric vehicle (EV) owners know that finding a convenient and reliable place to charge their cars can be challenging. That's why Toyota, the world's largest automaker, has made a surprising move to partner with Tesla, the leader in EV technology, to offer more charging options for its customers.
Toyota has announced that it will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) on its battery electric vehicles (BEVs) starting in 2025. The NACS is a charging port design that Tesla developed and uses exclusively for its vehicles. It allows for faster and more efficient charging than the Combined Charging System (CCS), the most common standard used by other automakers.
By incorporating the NACS ports into certain Toyota and Lexus BEVs, Toyota aims to provide convenience and confidence to its customers who want to travel longer distances and explore more destinations. This means that Toyota and Lexus customers will have access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America and the existing network of over 84,000 charging ports that Toyota offers through its apps.
The deal between Toyota and Tesla is part of Toyota's vehicle electrification strategy that offers many options for electrified powertrains, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell, and battery electric vehicles. Toyota has set a goal of selling 8 million electrified vehicles globally by 2030, including 2 million BEVs. In North America, Toyota plans to introduce 15 new BEVs by 2025, seven of which will be under the bZ (Beyond Zero) brand.
One of the first models to feature the NACS port will be the all-new, three-row, battery-electric Toyota SUV that will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK). The SUV will be based on the e-TNGA platform, designed to accommodate various battery capacities and electric motors. The SUV will also have a spacious interior, advanced safety features, and a sleek design.
Toyota is not the first automaker to partner with Tesla on charging. In October 2023, Hyundai and Kia announced that their electric vehicles in the United States will have Tesla-style charging ports starting in the last quarter of 2024. This will allow owners of those vehicles to seamlessly use Tesla chargers as well. Tesla has also opened up its Supercharger network to other EV owners in some European countries, such as Norway and Sweden, where it charges a higher fee than for its own customers.
The agreement between Toyota and Tesla is a win-win situation for both companies. For Toyota, it gives its customers more flexibility and convenience when charging their vehicles, as well as a competitive edge over other automakers that do not have access to Tesla's network. For Tesla, it generates more revenue from its Superchargers and more exposure and recognition for its brand and technology.
However, not all Toyota and Lexus customers will benefit from the NACS adoption right away. Customers who already own or lease Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with the CCS cannot use the NACS ports without an adapter. Toyota said it will offer an adapter to enable NACS charging for those customers starting in 2025, but it did not disclose the price or availability of the adapter.
Some analysts have also questioned whether Tesla's Supercharger network will be able to handle the increased demand from Toyota and other automakers' customers. Tesla has been expanding its network rapidly recently, reaching over 30,000 Superchargers worldwide as of October 2023. However, some locations still experience long wait times and congestion during peak hours or holidays. Tesla has said it is working on improving its software and hardware to optimize the usage and efficiency of its Superchargers.
Toyota's adoption of the NACS is a bold move that shows its commitment to electrification and innovation. It also signals a shift in the automotive industry, where collaboration and cooperation are becoming more common than competition and rivalry. By joining forces with Tesla, Toyota hopes to offer its customers the best of both worlds: reliable and affordable vehicles with cutting-edge technology and convenient charging options.
