Posted on June 23, 2023
In an effort to further electrify highways using federal funding, Washington state is planning to mandate that electric vehicle (EV) charging companies include Tesla's plug if they wish to participate in a state program, according to a recent official announcement.
This move aligns with Texas's decision to require Tesla's technology, The North American Charging Standard (NACS), thereby reinforcing CEO Elon Musk's ambition of making NACS the national charging technology standard.
Leading automakers like GM, Ford, and Rivian have expressed their support for Tesla's NACS, disregarding attempts by the Biden administration to establish the Combined Charging System (CCS) as the primary charging standard in the United States.
Tonia Buell, the alternative fuels program manager at Washington state's Department of Transportation, stated that they are pleased with the industry's move towards one standard, with the goal of providing access to as many vehicle makes and models as possible. However, she pointed out that the standard needs to be tested and certified for other auto manufacturers before implementation.
The state's decision is aimed at "future proofing" its investments, according to Buell. Washington state plans to start the requests for proposals process in the fall.
Under current federal requirements, each taxpayer-backed site must have at least four CCS chargers. Washington state is still deciding on the right mix of NACS chargers based on these requirements, considering that at least two of them or perhaps all four might need to work with NACS.
This move by Washington may exert pressure on other states and the federal government to adopt Tesla's NACS.
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