In a recent announcement, Honda confirmed its commitment to adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its future electric vehicles (EVs) in North America, including those under its luxury brand, Acura. Noriya Kaihara, the CEO of American Honda Motor Co., emphasized the importance of pushing NACS standards forward in an interview.
Honda is possibly taking a gamble on this choice, considering its earlier EV models are on GM’s platform
However, the timeline for the integration remains fuzzy, relying heavily on General Motors (GM), as Honda’s initial EV models are built on GM’s Ultium platform. While GM aims to switch to NACS by 2025, Honda may take until 2025 or 2026 to adopt the standard for models like the Acura ZDX.
So, is this a move towards a more harmonized automotive industry, or is Honda taking a gamble?
Adopting NACS is not just a Honda-Tesla affair; it resonates industry-wide. Several automakers, including GM, BMW, and Hyundai, are on board with creating a joint fast-charging network, focusing on reliability and accessibility. Jay Joseph, American Honda’s Vice President, noted that the success of Tesla‘s Supercharger network largely depends on robust maintenance—something Honda also aims to achieve with the new venture.
Honda’s commitment to NACS isn’t without its challenges. The automaker’s timing hangs in the balance with GM’s adoption schedule. Moreover, Honda is also developing its platform for future all-electric models, which is anticipated to support NACS right out of the gate, but leaves the company straddling two different platforms in the interim.
In an industry striving for standardization, Honda’s choice to align with NACS is significant. But the contingent nature of its plans, dependent on GM’s timelines, presents a question: Is Honda pioneering towards a more unified industry or taking a gamble with unforeseen complications? Only time will reveal the answer, but one thing is clear: Honda is betting big on NACS, and it could either set a precedent for others to follow or serve as a cautionary tale.
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