Polestar has joined other automakers in agreeing to integrate the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) onto its electric vehicle platform, greatly expanding its consumers’ access to charging stations in the U.S.
The agreement will allow Polestar drivers in the U.S. and Canada to use Tesla’s 12,000-station-strong charging network, although it will take another year for the company to rollout access. Currently, the EV brand’s models feature Combined Charging System (CCS) outlets. Starting in 2024, the car manufacturer will release adapters that allow existing models to connect with NACS cables before switching exclusively to Tesla’s standard the following year. Drivers of future Polestar EVs will still be able to use CCS stations with a separate adapter.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, called the agreement with Tesla “a great win for our North American customers.” Ingenlath also thanked the Elon-Musk-led competitor for its work to increase EV adoption. By signing the deal, the small brand has joined a growing list of car manufacturers siding with NACS over CCS, including massive companies such as Ford and General Motors. The Biden Administration has remained supportive of the automotive industry’s efforts to standardize EV charging, although the President hopes to convince automakers to continue support for CCS through tax incentives.
Standardized EV charging could be a crucial step toward boosting the popularity of battery-powered cars. Range anxiety and lack of infrastructure are constantly cited as the primary reasons for low demand, even though many buyers now say they are interested in transitioning to electric. Tesla’s partnership with Polestar makes acceptance of the NACS chargers near-universal in the U.S. automotive industry, although some major outliers, such as Stellantis, have yet to announce any commitments one way or another.
