Universal charging standard compatibility is a must for EV adoption in India

There has been a tsunami of news on the slowing down of EV sales in the USA. But the bigger news was that from last Wednesday 27th March 2024. Ford EV owners will now be able to access a majority of the Tesla Supercharger Network in the USA and Canada. Tesla's network offers the best access with over 26,000 plugs and 2,400 Supercharger stations spanning the U.S. and Canada. Ford EV owners need to use a small adapter? provided free of cost by Ford and a usage fee of $ 13 per annum.

Ford also plans to implement Tesla's charging connector in its upcoming EVs from next year onwards. Customers will pay for electricity directly to Tesla as in other public charging apps using Ford's mobile app. Ford Dealers have reported that there has been an immediate uptick in the number of enquiries for Ford EVs following this news. It is reported that all major EV manufacturers in the US are discussing with Tesla to come onboard a similar arrangement for their EV customers.

Right now, there are two main ways to charge electric cars in North America. The Combined Charging System (CCS) and the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Tesla devised NACS in 2012, and in 2022, it announced it would allow other car brands to use it. The CCS is also the most common charging standard for cars in India. The main difference between CCS and NACS is that Tesla's NACS connector and cable is smaller, and lighter. CCS chargers pack 350 kilowatts of peak power, and Tesla Superchargers 250kW.

Tesla’s charging network in North America was a clear competitive strength vis-a-vis its competitors. Tesla's decision to allow other brands access to its Supercharger network is not altogether altruistic. Opening the access to its Supercharger network will allow Tesla to access the $7.5 billion US Government federal funding. Increasingly, more states like Texas and Washington have their own subsidies of over $400 million for open charging station access. Tesla’s battered stock price has seen an immediate uptick following this and other announcements.

Joining the Tesla Supercharger network will enable faster adoption and expansion of e-mobility. Higher availability of chargers will immediately encourage more buyers to opt for electric vehicles, with US government funding a bonus.

Central and state governments should immediately consider similar incentives with Tesla’s imminent entry into India. The double tactic of Government pressure and incentives are imperative for Tesla and other CCS using Indian brands to work together for a far more extensive charger networks across India. This will allow most EV users to use current networks as well as any future Tesla network.

Operational and unoccupied charging stations are today the biggest stumbling block to faster EV adoption in India. If Tesla and other EV makers adopting a unified, interchangeable charging standard will be a strong reassurance to jittery Indian fence-sitting EV customers. who are way more value-conscious and practical-minded than North American customers.

What is your opinion on Indian brands collaborating on common EV charging standards? Do you think this would indeed be a game changer for the industry? What holds back Indian manufacturers from working together? Would love to hear your feedback.