- ChargePoint has introduced their new Omni Port, which has both CCS and NACS connectors.
- The right connector for your car will automatically be released when using the company’s app.
- Charging stations with the new tech will automatically add a NACS adaptor as needed.
The auto industry has embraced the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and that means electric vehicles will slowly transition away from the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard. This won’t happen overnight and it likely won’t be painless.
Since some people are clueless about their cars, ChargePoint is trying to make recharging foolproof by introducing their new Omni Port technology. It has CCS and NACS connectors, but that’s not what makes it special.
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Quite the opposite as the station will automatically release the correct connector for your vehicle. This should prevent clueless Karens from trying to shove a NACS connector into a CCS port, while demanding to talk to the manager.
In order for the station to unlock the right connector, owners will need to enter their vehicle’s make and model into the ChargePoint app and then hit the charge icon. If drivers don’t have the app, they can use the station’s touchscreen to select the connector they need.
While that sounds like overkill, the demo video is interesting as it shows the two charging cables each offer CCS and NACS connectors. The CCS connector appears to be native, while a NACS adaptor appears to be automatically applied by the station as needed. This is a cool trick and one that eliminates the need to apply your own adaptor.
ChargePoint noted more than half of the 5.5 million EVs in North America have J1772 or CCS1 charging ports and they’ll need access to connectors for years to come. This includes long after the industry fully deploys the NACS on every new vehicle.