In a surprising move, EV maker Lucid has announced it will integrate Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) into its vehicles beginning in 2025, allow Lucid owners to tap into Tesla’s extensive Supercharger fast charging network.
By adopting NACS in 2025 models, Lucid aims to rapidly improve charging availability for customers through Tesla’s 17,000+ Superchargers spread across North America. Lucid’s current models utilize the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard.
For existing Lucid owners, the company plans to offer CCS-to-NACS adapters to enable Supercharger compatibility when the new standard launches.
While a surprise decision, utilizing NACS likely provides the fastest path for Lucid to scale charger access comparable to Tesla in North America. But it also means acknowledging Tesla’s charging dominance.
In response to the news, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted on X/Twitter that the move “must have been a bitter pill to swallow” for Lucid. However, the partnership should benefit both brands’ customers.
For Lucid, the NACS adoption removes charging availability as a barrier to adoption and effectively expands its fast charging footprint overnight, Lucid Q3 2023 Deliveries rise slightly to 1,457 vehicles and Lucid Air sapphire rolls off the assembly line. Tesla meanwhile gains a revenue stream from drivers utilizing its network.
As more automakers introduce long-range EVs, charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly vital. Lucid’s willingness to join the Supercharger network reflects the reality that Tesla operates the continent’s most comprehensive fast charging solution.
While a humbling decision for the Tesla rival, integrating NACS is a logical move by Lucid to enable reliable road tripping for EV drivers going forward.