Nearly a year ago, GM began selling an adapter to allow existing electric vehicles to use North America’s standard charging plugs on the Tesla turbocharger. The owners of EV rejoice in their new freedom.
Now, GM announces three more adapters. Additional adapters, which help GM customers access EV chargers with different rates and charging standards, are a victory for flexibility, but at the cost of simplicity. It is quite likely that two-EV households could possess four different adapters.
A few years ago, the majority of EV models in the US used the combined charging system (CCS). That is, with the exception of Tesla. In 2022, the automotive industry opened the plan for the charging port and the charging port – now called on the North America (NACS) charging model – in an attempt to encourage networks and automotive operators to adopt the new technology.
And they did. Today, almost all automakers offer adapters to access Tesla turbocharger. They even incorporate the NACS plan into their own vehicles.
“GM is already committed to essentially transferring our entire EV portfolio to Nacs,” said Tim Ash, GM Energy Product Manager in TechCrunch. “We believe that the transition to this consolidated standard simplifies experience for our customers.”
But this shift has created an awkward transition – and an abundance of adapters.
In addition to the existing NACS-TO-CCS adapter for fast charging, GM will sell an NACS-TO-J772 adapter for level 2. (The J1772 is the part of the CCS plug operating slower charging speeds.) It will make a J1772-To-Nacs adapter for 2 and CCS-To-Nacs Dongle for fast charging.
TechCrunch event
Francisco
|
27-29 October 2025
The new adapters “Make sure EV drivers – no matter what they have type of charging they have in their vehicle – can virtually access any charging wherever they need it,” Ash said.
This problem is not only GM. Hyundai, for example, sells 2025 Ioniq 5 EVS with two adapters, each for Level 2 and rapid charging on chargers equipped with CCS. But it is a sign that the transition between EV charging standards will make the public charge more confusing before it improves.
Now, for the majority of charging sessions today, adapters are unlikely to be confused. The most EV charge happens at home or at workLocations where chargers will be predictable.
But when charged in general, it could become complicated quickly. Drivers should plan to prevent adapters in their vehicle so that they do not stay or disturb. For people with incompatible home charger, they may want to buy copies for convenience. Too bad Most adapters cost more than $ 200.
The automakers do not blame entirely of the number of adapters.
CCs and Nacs are similar enough to suffice the simple dongles for any charging speed, but differ in important ways that make simplification unlikely. With the Nacs, electricity passes through two large pins regardless of the charging speed. But with the CCS, it passes through a set of spikes for levels of 2 levels and another for fast charging. The merger of Level 2 and the ability to charge a only charger would probably require power electronic power that would significantly increase the price.
The controversy over the new plug standards are nothing new. Apple has sold iPhones with three different types of fasteners and the product has not yet celebrated its 20thth birthday.
But the rate of consumer electronics is much faster than in the automotive industry and costs much lower. The standard smartphone owner pays $ 500 to $ 1,000 and buys a new device Every two to three years. Dongles cost about $ 30. This 30 -pin pike He is very forgotten.
The average car or light truck is not so easy to negotiate. Prices have risen to about $ 50,000 for a new vehicle, part of the reason why the average car or truck in the US is over 12 years of age.
The automakers have begun the transition, but they do not seem to rush to finish. So far, GM has announced two EVs to use the NACS charging standard: 2026 Cadillac Optiq and 2027 Chevrolet Bolt. The automotive industry has not set a timetable when carrying the other 12 EV models to the new standard.
In other words, become comfortable with the dongles. The transition, Ash admitted: “It will take some time.”
