Tesla NACS Plug Upgrading to 400kW Output at Super-Alliance Charging Network

Tesla NACS Plug Upgrading to 400-kW Output at Super-Alliance Charging Network

Tesla NACS Charging Hero NACS J3400 Plug
Seven major automakers (BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis) are joining forces to effectively double the size of the current charging network in the United States over the next few years. The joint venture—which has yet to be named, so we’ll just call it JV for now—will begin materializing next year. Chargers deployed on the network will feature both CCS and Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, which is great for all of the automakers that have recently announced their transition to the smaller connector.

But the even better news is that DC fast charging with a NACS connector is about to get a huge power output jump. Presently, Tesla’s Superchargers output 250 kilowatts of electricity—that’s enough to charge the Model 3 from 10% to 80% in around 25 minutes. The JV’s new charger will supply even more juice to vehicles, topping out at a very respectable 400 kW according to the alliance’s current plans.

“The stations will have a minimum of 350 kW DC high-powered chargers with Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors,” a spokesperson for the JV confirmed to The Drive in an email.

Now, 350 kW from the NACS connector isn’t a new concept. While Supercharger V3 stalls only supply up to 250 kW of power right now, output was rumored to be increased up to 324 kW in 2022 (this hasn’t materialized—at least not yet).

It’s also been rumored that Tesla would pump up its next-gen Supercharging V4 stalls to 350 kW of juice for some time. The gossip was all but confirmed earlier this week as planning documents filed in the U.K. list the 350 kW figure officially. However, even these new Superchargers will soon be matched and even out-powered (at least for now) by the JV’s offering which uses Tesla’s own NACS plug.

“We expect long waiting times for 400 kW chargers as this technology is new and in a ramp-up phase,” said the spokesperson for the JV, confirming to The Drive that the NACS plug will also feature 400 kW charging like its CCS counterpart. “In order to quickly establish a network, the JV will start with a focus on 350 kW but increase to 400 kW as soon as market conditions allow a mass rollout.”