As the electric vehicle (EV) industry expands, automakers are navigating how to provide efficient charging solutions for their customers. The latest news from Mercedes-Benz is a testament to this trend.
Starting from 2024, Mercedes-Benz will offer its EVs access to Tesla's Supercharger network in North America, following the adoption of Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS). The automaker joins the ranks of Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar, who have already adopted the NACS. However, some key automakers like Volkswagen, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Stellantis, and Tata’s Jaguar Land Rover are yet to offer NACS compatibility.
In addition to the NACS adoption, Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out its own charging network. The first sites of this network are expected to open in the last quarter of 2023, with more than 2,500 high-power chargers planned for installation in North America.
Mercedes-Benz will offer a NACS adapter for the company’s existing Combined Charging System Battery Electric Vehicles (CCS BEVs) starting in 2024. For model years 2025 and onwards, the company’s North American vehicles will be built with a NACS port.
The plans for Mercedes' own charging network also extend beyond North America. The automaker aims to establish more than 2,000 charging hubs with 10,000 chargers in Europe, China, and "other core markets" by 2030. However, this number falls short compared to Tesla's Supercharger network, which had 45,000 chargers worldwide as of April 2023.
The move to adopt Tesla's NACS signifies a growing acceptance of the standard across the industry, potentially easing the charging concerns of EV owners and contributing to the overall growth of electric mobility.
