But the even better news is that fast DC charging with a NACS connector is about to get a big jump in power output. Currently, Tesla Superchargers produce 250 kilowatts of electricity-that’s enough to charge the Model 3 from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes. The new JV charger will supply even more juice to the vehicles, amounting to a very respectable 400 KMB according to the alliance’s current plans.
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“The stations will have a minimum of 350 KNB dc high-power chargers with Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American charging standard (NACS) connectors,” a JV spokesperson confirmed to Drive in an email.
Now, the 350 knb from the NACS connector is not a new concept. While the stands of the Supercharger V3 only supply up to 250 K. P. C. power now, production was rumored to increase to 324 K. P. C. in 2022 (this has not materialized—at least not yet).
It has also been rumored that Tesla would be pumping its next-generation supercharging v4 stands into 350 K. The rumours were all confirmed earlier this week after planning documents officially featured on the UK’s list the figure 350 knb. However, even these new supercomputers will soon be matched and even powered (at least for now) by the JV offering which uses Tesla’s own NACS plug-in.
“We expect long waiting times for 400 knb Chargers as this technology is new and in a ramp-up phase,” the JV spokesperson said, confirming the Drive that the NACS plug will also have 400 knb charging like its CCS counterpart. “In order to quickly establish a network, JV will start with a focus on 350 knb but will increase to 400 knb once market conditions allow a massive spread.”
Just because the NACS plug can supply 400 knb does not mean that a Tesla can be pulled, plugged in and charged at this rate. Part of the charging protocol involves negotiating the maximum speed at which a vehicle can accept a charge. For most Tesla vehicles, fast charging lids at around 250 knb in ideal conditions. Some other vehicles that are equipped with a CCS port and 800-volt charging architecture (such as the Hummer EV, Porsche Taycan, and Lucid Air) are able to accept higher charging rates, like the 350 KNB supplied by Electrify America’s “Hyper Fast” chargers.
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Who really wins in this scenario are the owners of vehicles that will be equipped with NACS ports and with giant battery packs that need a lot of power very quickly in order to get back on the road. For example, there is the Hummer EV and its massive 200 K. If a truck’s beluga makes the move to NACS with the rest of GM’S EV fleet in 2025, the Super-Alliance Chargers will be ready to deliver at full speed.
It’s possible that Tesla’s upcoming Cybertruck could also use an 800-volt charging architecture capable of accepting a 350 knb charging rate (or higher, as Elon Musk has also noted the possibility of the Cybertruck separating megawatt charging technology from Semi). Tesla has previously noted that it was extremely expensive to move existing vehicle platforms to the 800-volt architecture, but recently, Musk said that “the Cybertruck has a lot of new technology in it” – perhaps even a new battery and charging architecture able to accept the full 350 KMB offered by V4 Superchargers and charging stations equipped with JV’S NACS.
Like the cost and complexity of the Cybertruck’s potential technology, the super-Alliance spokesperson mentioned that it likely won’t be possible to simply flip a switch and turn on the 400 KMB charging.
“To be clear, an existing 350 knb unit may not be able to make the 400 knb unless it is replaced with a 400 knb unit later,” the spokesperson said. “As we approach 2030, JV will aim to have the best charging power available on the market and the most technologically advanced charging at any time. So the network will not necessarily remain static as technology advances.”
It seems that the charging war will not be fought only on batteries. Of course, solid-state batteries are promised to be the future, but the charging infrastructure also needs to supply a fast amount of power very quickly as well. The biggest negative side, of course, is the possibility of rapidly degrading lithium-ion battery life with frequent charging and high output. But hey-at least it will be quick, right?
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