Why it’s better with or without Tesla’s NACS

news7g07/12/2023

2 4 minutes read

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The ability to quickly charge 800 volts DC that a handful of electric vehicles on the market are capable of at this time is seen by many as a technological advantage.

But not a single Tesla is currently offering it. Neither does the Tesla Supercharger network in the US

The weird thing about charging at 800 volts or more, compared to the 400 volts most EVs charge quickly, is that when you plug in the charger, you might not even know it’s happening. Most vehicles or chargers that enable this feature do not mark this event—except to allow some kind of very fast charging under ideal conditions.

Fast Charge Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 2022 – Lacey, WA

Most modern DC fast chargers default to a higher voltage when the vehicle allows, because that means you can deliver the same amount of charging power with less current—and less resistance and heat, giving the practical benefit of thinner, lighter connectors or cables for the power supplied.

However, in most cases, any vehicle and charger with this capability takes advantage of it by increasing the charging capacity and shortening the charging time. In the end the cells charge at the same voltage no matter what, so it’s all about the package architecture and what’s done with the current.

This advantage can also be confused a bit in the rush towards Tesla’s North American Charging Standards (NACS) port, and I’ll explain why. But first, there are some confusions to clear up.

Porsche 800-volt charging station installed at the dealership

Where 800V . confusion begins

800 volt charging should not be confused with 800-volt vehicle structure—allows motors, inverters, and other core components to run at higher voltages. That offers a host of advantages in terms of efficiency, performance and weight savings, especially in tandem with high voltage charging.

While the 800-volt architecture helps maximize all those benefits, it’s not necessary to reap what’s most important right now for some electric vehicle buyers considering the viability of the electric vehicle. road trip—and how quickly they can put electrons into place in the battery’s cells.

For example, GM’s GMC Hummer EV runs at 400 volts, and each layer of its dual-layer battery pack operates in some ways as an individual package. During 400-volt charging, the packages are connected in parallel, but for 800-volt charging, a switch allows them to be connected in series—like the cells in a long, multi-cell flashlight—to take advantage of use higher voltage.

That 800-volt “trick” allows the Hummer EV pickup, with its 205 kwh battery pack, to charge at 350 kw and boost Nearly 100 miles of range in 10 minutes—despite the 400-volt system and its inefficiency compared to other EVs. And the big two-tier packages in the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV will charge the same way.

Tesla turbocharger

Why 800V is more important than earlier this year

In recent weeks, various automakers, The most recent Mercedes-Benz, has increased its embrace of Tesla’s NACS gateway. In the current V3 version, the Tesla Supercharge has a maximum output of 500 volts, and with the V4 hardware that the Tesla Cybertruck will take advantage of, the Tesla will deliver a capacity of 1,000 volts, with a maximum output of 615 kW—and ultimately, 1,000 kW.

The Combined Charging System (CCS) is a port available on most US market non-Tesla electric vehicles. It can deliver a charge current of 350 amps at voltages up to 1000 volts—equivalent to a standard maximum output of 350 kW. The 400 kw CCS hardware is in production and the 700 kw hardware has been demonstrated.

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NACS is still a proprietary interface, but SAE International is working to make NACS a standard before industry acceptance. Current Tesla models charge up to 480 volts, making about 250 kW of peak power possible. With the adapter, most 400-volt electric vehicles will be able to charge on the Supercharger network at essentially the same rate they see on CCS chargers.

The adapter hardware isn’t here yet; and even if that were the case, with higher voltage charging it would be new territory to design CCS plug adapters such that models like GMC Hummer EV may have seen 800 volts charging at the level of power that customers expect.

That’s why no automaker has said so far that they will start putting Tesla gates on electric vehicles before 2025. Overall, it depends on Tesla being able to put the part. that next-generation hardware (including adapters) out. Tesla still doesn’t have passenger vehicles or personal trucks that take advantage of higher voltage DC fast charging. Likewise, although BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Rivian, Volkswagen and Volvo all offer a wide range of electric vehicles, none have taken advantage of 800-volt or higher charging.

Quick Charge Lucid Air 2022 in Garberville, CA

Hyundai, Kia, and Porsche have the most 800-volt charging-capable vehicles in the US—a simple explanation for why none of them are in a hurry to embrace NACS. So does Lucid, which relies on it to see industry-leading charging times.

For that reason, GM has made a particularly bold decision, and its full-size electric trucks will be among the first test cases to see if NACS can deliver what it needs quickly enough. necessary or not.

Electric vehicle with charger 800V

2022 Audi E-Tron GT

2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Kia EV6 2022

Here’s a rather limited list of electric vehicles that can currently exploit fast charging at 800 volts or higher for the shortest on-road charging stops, along with their automaker’s official estimate. :

Audi E-Tron GT
DC fast charge time: 5-80% in 22.4 minutes
Maximum power: 270 kw

GMC Hummer EV
DC fast charge time: 100 miles in 10 minutes, or 10-80% in less than an hour
Maximum power: 350 kw

Hyundai ioniq 5
DC fast charge time: 10-80% in 18 minutes
Maximum power: 235 kw

Hyundai Ioniq6
DC fast charge time: 10-80% in 18 minutes
Maximum power: 235 kw

KIA EV6
DC fast charge time: 10-80% in 18 minutes
Maximum power: 235 kw