The adoption of Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) was expected to streamline EV charging by granting access to the Supercharger network. However, a journalist's recent tests with vehicles like the Kia EV6 and 2026 Nissan Leaf reveal ongoing challenges with adapters, app requirements, and compatibility. These experiences suggest that the switch has not eliminated the friction in EV charging as hoped.
The push toward NACS began a couple of years ago, with nearly every major EV brand adopting the plug to access Tesla's Supercharger network. This shift aimed to provide seamless charging with a slimmer, more ergonomic design compared to the bulky CCS unit, potentially convincing hesitant consumers to buy EVs.
In recent tests, journalist Kevin Williams drove three NACS-equipped vehicles: the Lucid Gravity, the 2026 Nissan Leaf, and the updated Kia EV6. The EV6 facelift features a relocated rear-mounted port on the driver's side, aligning with Tesla models like the Model Y and Model 3, to facilitate Supercharger use.
A notable incident occurred during delivery of the EV6 press tester from Detroit to Williams' home in Ohio. The fleet driver, facing 21% battery about 30 miles from the destination, called for charging advice. Equipped only with a NACS-to-J1772 adapter for Level 2 charging, the driver lacked an adapter for non-Tesla DC fast chargers and had no Tesla app account for Superchargers. Despite instructions to proceed slowly, the vehicle arrived with 8% battery.
Williams noted that not all Tesla Superchargers are open to non-Tesla EVs, requiring app checks. The EV6 was incompatible with his usual DC fast charging spots, forcing detours to a new Ionna station or Tesla Superchargers, where charging speeds were reduced, adding 10 to 15 minutes to sessions.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf addresses some issues with dual ports: a NACS port for DC fast charging and a J1772 port for Level 2. Jeff Tessmer, a senior R&D engineer at Nissan, explained, “If you look at Level 1, Level 2 charging, the most common ports are the J1772. So instead of delaying the vehicle to be able to have AC and DC commonized into one port, we decided that in this transition period that it would be best for the customer to just have both.”
While NACS plugs are easier to handle than CCS, Williams highlighted persistent needs for adapters and apps, especially since most daily charging occurs via Level 2 stations. Tesla retains an advantage with its unified plug system across charging types, leaving other drivers in a transitional phase of complexity.