NACS Transition and Adapters - what happens next?

[Dark-Fx]

At some point free CCS to NACS adapters will be phased out for earlier R1s

They haven't been giving them out for free for a while. I didn't get one with my new vehicle and they never mentioned it. I think it's a weird decision if Rivian doesn't end up putting both connectors on their stalls in the future.

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[MidnightRivian]

I don't think Rivian are giving free DCFC NACS to CCS1 adapters anymore with purchase. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Other brands like Mercedes are not even offering a free option.

I would expect the driver to be responsible for their planning based on the port on their car and their trip route.

I would expect Rivian to change RAN CCS1 cables to NACS.

I personally will buy a A2Z EV Thunderstorm CCS1 to NACS adapter like Tesla folks do right now for the Rivian R2 if it is compatible, so I can have access to CCS1 just in case. I rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

A2Z EV Thunderstorm CCS1 to NACS for TESLA cars to use CCS1 - PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS FOR YOUR RIVIAN R1 with CCS1 port

I would expect all charging stations to change to NACS overtime and it becomes the drivers responsibility to make sure they're prepared for their trip.

 

[sssinc1]

1. NACS to CCS will continue to be provided as needed to existing owners and with all new vehicles.
2. If Quads roll out as NACS they should have a CCS to NACS adapter so they can access the RAN.
3. At some point RAN will convert to NACS (the network is relatively tiny).
4. Either adapter stays relevant for years to come regardless.

The R2 makes far more sense to me to be the first NACS model but what do I know.

I just picked up my R1T Tri last week and was told the adapter is not included

 

[Yossarian]

I don’t know, man. I’m still wondering how to play my 8-tracks and my Betamax videos.

Reminds me of the time (showing my age here), when I went to local audio shop looking to get a cassette player for my car. The sales guy said something like "Why the hell would you want one of those? Cassettes are a dead end; I give them six months. Eight track is the way to go . . ."

Apologies for the mini-hijack.

 

[BCondrey]

Here is what's gonna happen. We are all going to be using adapters for many years to come. If my next vehicle is NACS I will get an adapter to let me use CCS chargers.

 

[defcon888]

I personally think they will have a NACS to CCS adapter they will give at the time of delivery....it only makes sense. With the CCS to NACS adapter giveaway slowing down, they can easily ramp up the other way (NACS to CCS) and at time of delivery of the R2S, R3's, they will be ready.

We have had our adapter for our Gen1 R1T since August and I have yet to use it......but it is in the frunk in a case ready.

 

[IThinkFreely]

I just picked up my R1T Tri last week and was told the adapter is not included

I picked up my Tri 2 weeks ago and held onto the adapter I had from my first one.

 

[MacO512]

I don't think Rivian are giving free DCFC NACS to CCS1 adapters anymore with purchase. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Other brands like Mercedes are not even offering a free option.

I would expect the driver to be responsible for their planning based on the port on their car and their trip route.

I would expect Rivian to change RAN CCS1 cables to NACS.

I personally will buy a A2Z EV Thunderstorm CCS1 to NACS adapter like Tesla folks do right now for the Rivian R2 if it is compatible, so I can have access to CCS1 just in case. I rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

A2Z EV Thunderstorm CCS1 to NACS for TESLA cars to use CCS1 - PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS FOR YOUR RIVIAN R1 with CCS1 port

I would expect all charging stations to change to NACS overtime and it becomes the drivers responsibility to make sure they're prepared for their trip.

Tesla has an official CCS adapter to NACS... I own two from when I owned two Teslas.. Initially it was only available in South Korea, then later available in the US Tesla shop.

Yeah I'd always have NACS/CCS/j1772 adapter for any EV I own so it can charge at all spots
If I bought an R1 today I'd just buy the Supercharger adapter. Critical if you ever really need it. Also portable charger with 120 and 14-50 plugs. I keep a number of other receptacle adapters and extensions in the vehicle but that's overkill.

 

[mpshizzle]

I just picked up my R1T Tri last week and was told the adapter is not included

Interesting! I didn't realize they had stopped. I wonder when they did?

 

[NovemberBravo]

Interesting! I didn't realize they had stopped. I wonder when they did?

It looks like you had to have a VIN assigned by January 14th to get a free adapter
https://riviantrackr.com/news/rivians-free-nacs-adapter-is-going-away-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[Proxy]

Since someone mentioned the Hyundai adapter… it is only rated at 350 amps. So, there is another layer for potential confusion.

 

[tps5352]

​

May I plug (no pun intended) a thread I started at TMC dot com in 2022 all about CCS1-to-NACS adapters? (I didn't foresee at that time that I would someday be promoting such a post to Rivian drivers. But I'm pleased that I can.)

As early as 2020, some North American Tesla (distance) drivers were anxious to have access to third-party DC fast-charging stations, especially in more out-of-the-way areas where Tesla Superchargers might be unavailable. CCS1-to-Tesla (NACS) adapters were the potential answer.

CCS1 charging stations were more plentiful, powerful, and fast than the only other DC alternative (besides Superchargers): CHAdeMO. And, of course, CCS1 equipment is generally much faster than J1770 Level 2 AC charging stations which, like home equipment, could take all night to fully charge a vehicle.​

Early CCS1 adapters (like the SETEC) could be a little dodgy and were expensive, but some range-conscious people bought them anyway. There was a very early and innovative (EVHub) Ukrainian adapter (seemingly copied [no surprise] by Asian aftermarket factories). But, then, we all know what happened in that poor country. Eventually (2021-22) drivers got wind of a genuine Tesla CCS1 adapter. Problem was, it was only available in south Korea! (But that didn't stop people from figuring out how to order them. They worked great in North America. I still have mine.)

Eventually, Tesla closed down the Korea-to-North America CCS1 adapter pipeline. This resulted in a small flurry of aftermarket look-alike products and fly-by-night adapter businesses suddenly appearing in the North America; and then disappearing almost as quickly. The big aftermarket suppliers remained, Tesla finally released its genuine CCS1 adapter in North America in September 2022, and the CCS1 adapter market gradually settled down to what it is today.

Check out some of the various products and the history here: "New" Sources of Tesla 'OEM,' Tesla-like, and/or Third-Party CCS1 Adapters.

Some early CCS1-to-NACS adapters that are no longer readily available.​

Why is this important for Rivian drivers?

Most of the existing CCS1-to-NACS adapters (intended for Tesla vehicles) utilize straight, "pass-through" electrical designs. (without complicated circuitry.) This means that they should work for any vehicle that (a) is CCS-compatible to begin with and (b) uses a J3400 (NACS) charge port. New Rivian vehicles (like the Quad Max later in 2025 and the R2 and R3 in 2026 and 2027) should tick-off both boxes.​

Right now, Rivian drivers wanting/needing to be able to access the maximum number of DC travel charging stations use NACS-to-CCS1 adapters in order to access (some) Tesla Superchargers.

But after 2025, the focus for new-owner distance drivers will probably switch to CCS1-to-NACS adapters. (See, also, a discussion about The Possible Future of Charging Adapters? for Tesla and Rivian drivers.)

 

[theonetruestripes]

At some point RAN will convert to NACS (the network is relatively tiny).

Between now and “converting to NACS” the network might make some addtional stops. Like the Tesla SuperChargers with the magic dock they might support both CCS and NACS via a captive adaptor (adaptor attached to the cable, but not always “in line”). Or like Iona (& others) they could have multiple charge cables coming from the same cabinet, some CCS and some NACS.

I believe Tesla has patents on the captive adaptor making the “multiple tails” the more likely approach.

In order to be eligible, for the federal infrastructure funding chargers need to support the charging standard(s) used by the majority of EVs on the road. Currently that means CCS. Even if all new EVs are NACS only by the end of 2025 I think it will be a while until CCS stops being a sizable part of “the majority”.

To be honest I expect given Teslas historic EV market dominance in the USA “the majority” should already be interpreted to require NACS. Plus enforcement of all those rules is very much up in the air as is the future of that funding anyway.

Still if Rivian wants to make money with RAN selling power to non-Rivians supporting “legacy” charging until it drops below some threshold is a good idea regardless of Rivian’s own deployed EV base (i.e. everything sold prior to the R2, and whatever future date the R1 switches) status as part of that vehicle population.

Plus of corse as long as there are a bunch of Rivian out “in the wild” with CCS it would be a significant misstep to say “sorry early adopters, I hope you don’t need to adventure anymore because we are removing al the CCS stuff…”

(& I’m going to claim “Rivian isn’t stupid, they will support both until there are very very few CCS Rivian left in the wild, and maybe past that until other EVs using CCS are also all but extinct”, I would fully expect whatever transition strategy they employ will include logging every charge session as CCS or NACS so they know when CCS usage is all but zero)

I keep a number of other receptacle adapters and extensions in the vehicle but that's overkill

What adapters and extensions do you find useful?

 

[mpshizzle]

In order to be eligible, for the federal infrastructure funding chargers need to support the charging standard(s) used by the majority of EVs on the road. Currently that means CCS. Even if all new EVs are NACS only by the end of 2025 I think it will be a while until CCS stops being a sizable part of “the majority”.

I can't speak to the rules for the federal funding, but what I can tell you is Tesla alone, by units sold is BY FAR the majority of EVs, all by itself. There are an estimated 1.6 million model 3 and y vehicles sold in the US market alone

 

[theonetruestripes]

I can't speak to the rules for the federal funding, but what I can tell you is Tesla alone, by units sold is BY FAR the majority of EVs, all by itself

Yeah, I kind of suspected that, although technically not all of them support NACS at least as defined by the J2000 standard. As in only “CCS capable” Model 3’s (and Yes and the rest) actually use CCS signaling over the NACS connector which is what Tesla documented. So all the Teslas sold prior to 2000 or a tad later, and all the ones that were not CCS capable because Tesla had a hard time sourcing some parts during COVID wouldn’t actually count…

Which I admit likely only puts a minor dent in Tesla’s numbers.

It is why I said:

To be honest I expect given Teslas historic EV market dominance in the USA “the majority” should already be interpreted to require NACS

So IONNA, RAN (when they add NACS) and the v4 SuperChargers with the magic dock might really be the only mass deployed charging networks that qualify while the vast majority of CharPoint, EA, and almost everyone else are “J1772-CCS only” and wouldn’t Qualify…

…I really doubt it is going to be interpreted that way. Although if I ran one of those charging networks I would act as if it were true because depending on that funding and flubbing it on a “technicality” is a company limiting move.

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