The Tesla “NACS Coalition” has welcomed its newest member, as electric vehicle maker Rivian recently announced it reached an agreement with Tesla to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its vehicles.
As noted in a press release, an adapter to Tesla’s Superchargers for Rivian’s vehicles is expected to be available as soon as spring 2024. Rivian’s future R1 vehicles, starting in 2025, as well as the upcoming R2 platform, will directly incorporate NACS charge ports.
Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director of charging infrastructure, shared her excitement about the Rivian agreement.
“It’s great to see the industry coming together to adopt the North American Charging Standard. By doing so, we’re collectively ensuring all EV drivers have access to easy to use, reliable charging hardware. We look forward to welcoming Rivian owners to thousands of our Superchargers across North America,” Tinucci said.
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe also expressed his optimism about the agreement.
“We’re excited to work with Tesla and to see collaborations like this help advance the world toward carbon neutrality," Scaringe said. "The adoption of the North American Charging Standard will enable our existing and future customers to leverage Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network while we continue to build out our Rivian Adventure Network. We look forward to continuing to find new ways to accelerate EV adoption.”
Rivian's R1T and R1S can already use select Tesla Superchargers today, but they require the use of a “Magic Dock.” By adopting the NACS, Rivian’s vehicles will be able to access Tesla Superchargers directly, allowing R1T and R1S owners to take long road trips across the U.S. without issue. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, Tesla’s Superchargers account for roughly 60% of the total fast chargers available nationwide.
Rivian is not the only carmaker that has adopted Tesla’s North American Charging Standard. Ford and General Motors have also announced their adoption of the NACS. Rivian’s addition accelerates the momentum of Tesla’s efforts to set an industry standard for EV charging in the U.S.
Abby Andrews