Lucid Motors has decided to adopt NACS as the standard charging plug for electric vehicles (EVs), bringing it one step closer to becoming the dominant EV connector in North America. Earlier this year, SAE International, a consortium of engineers responsible for setting standards in various industries including automotive, endorsed NACS over CCS as the preferred charging standard. Leading automakers like Ford, GM, and Subaru have also committed to using this plug. As more vehicles rely on NACS, it becomes more cost-effective to build additional charging stations nationwide. Additionally, NACS is seen as a more reliable standard compared to CCS, which could eventually fade away as NACS expands.

This development is particularly beneficial for Tesla, who originally created NACS for their EVs, citing its simple and efficient design. By making the charging connector open source for all vehicles, Tesla’s strategic move seems to be paying off, as even their strongest competitors, like Lucid Motors, are now adopting this plug. Lucid Motors, however, is not framing this change as a victory for Tesla, but rather as a triumph for the entire EV industry. Peter Rawlinson, CEO of Lucid Motors, believes that a unified charging standard, supported by the widespread deployment of high-voltage charging stations, will play a crucial role in encouraging American consumers to embrace electric vehicles.