Kia and Hyundai announce Tesla EV Supercharger compatibility for next year
Kia and Hyundai have joined the growing list of automakers switching to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) port.
The South Korean brands have announced that all new electric vehicles produced in or after the fourth quarter of 2024 will use Tesla’s charging technology, opening thousands of new charging options for owners. The move follows in the footsteps of Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and even Tesla rivals Rivian, all of which have recently made similar announcements.
According to Kia, it also plans to make CCS1-to-NACS (Combined Charging System) adapters available so that almost all of Kia’s electric cars can be charged on Tesla’s network, although the company has said there may be additional options at the dealer level charges apply.
This move opens 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in the US, Canada and Mexico. Additionally, Kia EV owners will have access to auto-pay via Tesla’s Supercharger network via the Kia Connect app once a software upgrade is completed later next year.
The Kia Connect app will also update its search functionality to locate and navigate to available Tesla Superchargers via the EV infotainment system, with charger availability, status and pricing.
Tesla is still the top performing company in electric vehicle sales in the US, but Kia, Hyundai and Genesis combine to form the second largest powerhouse in electric vehicle sales.
Good news for EV buyers
The fact that some of the biggest names in the automotive industry are switching to NACS is great news for consumers as this previously patented technology slowly opens up to the general public, reducing range anxiety and making electric vehicle ownership a reality. generally more fun.
Since Tesla is a pioneer in the technology, it’s no surprise that it has one of the most robust charging networks in North America, meaning we’ll likely see more manufacturers make the switch in the near future, with Volkswagen ( a major seller in the United States). US with its ID range) will probably succumb soon.
Moreover, CNN Business also pointed out that this could be a win-win situation for Musk, as Tesla could argue that it should have access to federal funds to support charging infrastructure since the NACS is no longer just for charging its own vehicles.
Because, you know, Musk needs some more money.