Native NACS Charger Overrated?

[Better Late than Never]

I've been on the fence on closing the deal with my reservation for a while now and have it stuck in my head that I don't want an EV that DOESN'T have the NACS charging port built in. As folks are finally receiving their adapters (has anyone received an adapter?), I'm curious - am I overvaluing this feature? Is using the adapter not a big deal? Can you use the Tesla chargers the exact same way as a tesla does - pull up and plug in, no cards, or apps or other gibberish?

Sponsored

 

[Cycliste]

Maybe it is actually better at THIS moment in time to have CCS and a NACS-CCS adapter. Nobody knows, but there is more uncertainty this week.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...th-3rd-party-nacs-adapters.27264/#post-530844

 

[jplblue]

Yes, with an adapter, you can use (some) Tesla chargers the same way a Tesla would. Here's a good demo video:

 

[SANZC02]

I've been on the fence on closing the deal with my reservation for a while now and have it stuck in my head that I don't want an EV that DOESN'T have the NACS charging port built in. As folks are finally receiving their adapters (has anyone received an adapter?), I'm curious - am I overvaluing this feature? Is using the adapter not a big deal? Can you use the Tesla chargers the exact same way as a tesla does - pull up and plug in, no cards, or apps or other gibberish?

My opinion adapter is no big deal. I have an A2Z adapter, plug into the adapter, plug into the vehicle and it starts charging. No different than my Tesla.

I use an adapter at my house for the Tesla for the J1772 plug so adapters to me are not an issue.

One thing to think about as well, even with the NACS port you still will only have access to the stations o0en to NACS no V1, V2, and some V3 stations so you would need a CCS to NACS adapter for the other networks.

 

[edman007]

Native NACS is overrated for sure.

How often do you road trip (drive more than 200mi from home?) That's the only time you need DCFC. And I'd say for my trips, only half of the trips benefit at all from NACS access. You're getting the adapter, if you can't wait A2Z will get it to you in a month. And you'd need to use the adapter, what, once a month? You don't need it for home charging which is most people's normal charging situation.

An adapter is NOT that inconvenient. and if you had native NACS you'd still have to carry an adapter to use CCS stations and J1772 stations (which is most L2 stations).

People only want NACS because superchargers have better reliability, an adapter isn't changing that.

 

[ndmiller]

Adapters for CCS-NACS and NACS->CCS will be SOP for all EV drivers. I know many Tesla drivers that charge CCS using an adapter when necessary.

It's right up there with USB A vs C vs Lightning over time, adapters are still a thing and will continue for some time.

 

[Singletracker]

I've been on the fence on closing the deal with my reservation for a while now and have it stuck in my head that I don't want an EV that DOESN'T have the NACS charging port built in. As folks are finally receiving their adapters (has anyone received an adapter?), I'm curious - am I overvaluing this feature? Is using the adapter not a big deal? Can you use the Tesla chargers the exact same way as a tesla does - pull up and plug in, no cards, or apps or other gibberish?

I have an A2Z adaptor. It is easy peasy to charge at a Super Charger. Pull up, attach the adaptor, plug in, stop the charge in the vehicle, unplug and go. Nothing else to do - no cards, no apps, nothing. Rivian follows up with a nice email with all your charging stats. Simply couldn’t be easier. I honestly wouldn’t base a decision on the NACS port requirement, although I guess it would be nice.

 

[TTedP]

I've been on the fence on closing the deal with my reservation for a while now and have it stuck in my head that I don't want an EV that DOESN'T have the NACS charging port built in. As folks are finally receiving their adapters (has anyone received an adapter?), I'm curious - am I overvaluing this feature? Is using the adapter not a big deal? Can you use the Tesla chargers the exact same way as a tesla does - pull up and plug in, no cards, or apps or other gibberish?

A quality DC adapter (like A2Z) is all you need and don't buy one of the random ones off Amazon. Get a charger for home (Tesla makes a good one with both plug types in one unit) and you'll be covered for most scenarios.

 

[Kenmecca]

You could make a case that having CCS native is better as you have 2x charging stations. Elon has not opened up all the V3 NACS chargers so there are times you will need a non-Tesla SC station. If you do get a native NACS you will then probably need a NACS->CCS as you will not have access to all the V1-V2 and some V3 NACS. I was just down in Central coast CA, and of the 3 Tesla SC within 20 miles of one another, only 1 worked with my Rivian. I think that by the time that NACS is native in these vehicles Elon will hopefully allow more stations open and have built more (hopefully though after cutting the entire SC team)

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I've been on the fence on closing the deal with my reservation for a while now and have it stuck in my head that I don't want an EV that DOESN'T have the NACS charging port built in. As folks are finally receiving their adapters (has anyone received an adapter?), I'm curious - am I overvaluing this feature? Is using the adapter not a big deal? Can you use the Tesla chargers the exact same way as a tesla does - pull up and plug in, no cards, or apps or other gibberish?

Irrational fear of missing out. Existing CCS1 sites will not all get updated/converted to NACS for years. All that will rollout gradually, pending how much expenditure each network is willing to stomach per quarter. I've yet to see a single non-Tesla station with NACS. Have you? Most have pledge to begin offering NACS by 2025 (that's a big 12 month window and it may well be 1 charging site on 12/31/2025). You with a CCS1 equipped car and a NACS adapter will have flexibility no matter which charger you arrive at.

The only reason to hold out is if you know sure the "refresh" will include new features that are near and dear to your heart, and is hardware based (i.e. features existing R1 will never be able to possess without a hardware retrofit being made available). And no one outside of Rivian has any knowledge on this. If they do, they aren't talking.

Besides, even if you waited and bought one with NACS port... further down the line there will always be newer and better whatever. Can't wait forever? Just think of the adapter like the adapter you'd need for your electric toothbrush or shaver when you travel abroad. It's really not much different.

 

[moosetags]

I've been on the fence on closing the deal with my reservation for a while now and have it stuck in my head that I don't want an EV that DOESN'T have the NACS charging port built in. As folks are finally receiving their adapters (has anyone received an adapter?), I'm curious - am I overvaluing this feature? Is using the adapternot a big deal? Can you use the Tesla chargers the exact same way as a tesla does - pull up and plug in, no cards, or apps or other gibberish?

I wouldn't be too concerned about waiting for Rivian to install a native NACS charging port. That might leave you without a Rivian for another year or two. Adapters are very easy to use and part of the EV world. Don't deprive yourself while waiting for not much.

Brian

 

[HeresRonnie]

I’ve been using an adapter with my Tesla chargers at home and on road trips for 2 years now. I’ve never understood the stomping up and down for a NACS plug on the truck. Most of the time I don’t even think about the fact that I’m using an adapter with a Tesla charger.

Sponsored