OLDER TESLAS CAN'T CHARGE ON NACS STATIONS - WE EXPLAIN

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Out of Spec Podcast delves into the complexities of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) transition, particularly for owners of older Teslas. Hosts Francie and Kyle explain that while new Teslas are equipped for CCS compatibility, older models (pre-2021 without a specific retrofit) cannot utilize CCS adapters or NACS public chargers. The core issue stems from differing communication protocols: Teslas historically used CAN communication, while NACS and CCS rely on ISO 15118. The hosts highlight that older Teslas can still use Tesla Superchargers and CHAdeMO stations (with an adapter), but public NACS stations will be inaccessible without a physical service center retrofit of the charge port and ECU. They emphasize that this retrofit, costing a few hundred dollars, is highly recommended for older Tesla owners to unlock broader charging access, especially in regions with more CCS than Supercharger stations. The discussion underscores a significant potential for consumer confusion and charging failures as NACS becomes more prevalent, stressing the need for clear education from automakers and charging networks.