Tesla (TSLA.O) won several victories for its charging technology, including Texas’s requirement that electric vehicle charging companies use both Tesla’s standard and the CCS if they want federal funds to electrify highways.
Reuters was the first to report that Rivian and BTC Power would support the standard. GM (GM.N) and Ford (F.N) added Tesla charging technology, rejecting the Biden administration’s efforts to make the Combined Charging System (CCS) the US standard.
Texas, home to Tesla’s headquarters and a major vehicle factory complex is the first state to mandate Tesla’s charging technology, boosting CEO Elon Musk’s hopes of making it the national norm.
In an email to Reuters on Tuesday, the Texas Department of Transportation said “The decision by Ford, GM, and now Rivian to adopt NACS changed requirements for Phase 1” of the rollout, requiring direct current fast chargers to have one CCS and one North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector.
Lew Cox, MD7’s director of business development, said Texas’s decision would pressure other states to adopt Tesla’s NACS.
“It’ll effectively make a NACS the new charging standard,” Cox said.
This year, the U.S. Department of Transportation required charging businesses to deliver the CCS to receive up to $7.5 billion in federal funds to establish high-speed chargers on 7,500 miles (12,070 km) of the nation’s busiest roadways.
On Tuesday, the FHA acknowledged the industry’s rapid evolution. A Federal Highway Administration official said the EV industry’s growth shows public investments are paying off, but legislation is continually under review.
“Our technical experts are having active conversations with automakers, charger manufacturers, and standards-setting bodies to ensure federal investment continues to support a reliable, convenient, and user-friendly charging experience for all drivers,” the spokesman added.
The states can set rules if they meet federal criteria with federal dollars. States will award the first batch of funds throughout the year.
After Ford and GM’s statements, top U.S. charging businesses, including ChargePoint and EVgo (EVGO.O), announced they would consider adding the same standard.
California, Iowa, and Michigan are studying the changing charging market. One state is considering offering applicants bonus points for including Tesla charging connections.
Tesla climbed 1.2% in the extended session after finishing up 5.3% on Tuesday. Tesla says the U.S. has 2,000 Supercharger sites and over 21,000 stalls, accounting for 60% of the country’s fast-charging outlets.
