A guide to EV charging networks' NACS adoption in Canada

As many of Canada’s electric vehicle charging networks prepare to adopt NACS ports, Electric Autonomy presents a guide to their deployment timelines and plans for existing infrastructure, based on our exclusive networks survey

The Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) has all the momentum in terms of widespread industry adoption.

Almost every car manufacturer is now preparing to allow its electric vehicle owners to use Tesla’s Supercharging network starting next year while they work to add the NACS ports into their EV line-ups in 2025.

But the NACS plug won’t be limited to just the Tesla Supercharging stations. Major charging network operators in Canada are also supporting NACS by actively working on adopting the plug type in their charging station hardware.

Below, Electric Autonomy has compiled a list of timelines provided by these major charging networks, indicating when drivers can expect to find the NACS connector at their respective charging stations. This definitive guide also outlines the networks’ plans to integrate NACS into their existing charging infrastructure.

The answers are direct responses by the charging networks to questions sent by Electric Autonomy via email, except when noted. View the list by scrolling over the table.

For more information, Tesla’s original announcement about opening the North American Charging Standard is available here.

Charging Network	Will NACS plugs be available?	Plans for existing infrastructure
FLO	FLO’s new stations, including the FLO Ultra Fast Charger, are already designed to support NACS cables and connectors but the company says it cannot give an exact timeline when the plug will be available for drivers to use. “There is still significant work to do including building a supply chain to supply the new cables and connectors and ensuring the new [NACS] connectors and cables meet the best experience, reliability and quality performance,” says FLO’s spokesperson.	FLO will have options for customers with existing stations to be able to transition to the NACS connector. “We will likely provide NACS retrofit kits for some deployed products if requested by site owners,” says the spokesperson.
ChargePoint	In June, ChargePoint announced in a press statement that it is adding NACS connectors to new orders of its charging stations and to some existing installed chargers such as the CP6000, Express 250, and Express Plus chargers. By the end of this year, ChargePoint plans to sell or reconfigure its DC fast-charging Express 250 and Express Plus chargers, as well as its home-based AC chargers, including the CPF50 and the Home Flex to include the NACS connector. ChargePoint will also offer NACS connectors as an option for its new product for commercial and light fleets, the CP6000, from early 2024.	Stations on the ChargePoint network are independently owned and operated. The decision about which connectors will be available at a charging location is up to the site owners and administrators. By the end of 2023, ChargePoint plans to make retrofit kits available to its customers. These kits will allow existing infrastructure to incorporate the NACS connector.
Electrify Canada	Electrify Canada plans to have NACS connectors available for drivers to use by 2025, said the company in June.	Electrify Canada plans to make the NACS connector available at its existing charging stations by 2025 as well.
Aura Charging Network	The Aura Charging Network is “keeping up with all of the latest technology advances and industry trends and will eventually be incorporating NACS plugs into our network,” says Jonathan Sandler, president of Baseload Power Corp., owner of the Aura Charging Network. “We are still working out the timing of this…but don’t have firm dates to provide at this time.”	The Aura Charging network is looking at “options for retrofits” for its charging stations with NACS plugs, says Sandler.
EcoCharge	EcoCharge did not respond to Electric Autonomy’s request for comment in time for publication.	No plans disclosed.
Petro-Canada	Petro-Canada did not respond to Electric Autonomy’s request for comment in time for publication.	No plans disclosed.
SWTCH	SWTCH plans to help “facilitate with our service partners” the addition of NACS connectors to their chargers once the new plug equipment is available from manufacturers. SWTCH expects this to happen by mid-2024, says Mike Mulqueen, director of commercial partnerships at SWTCH. Typically, the cost for adding the new NACS connector will be at the site host’s expense.	SWTCH does not plan to retrofit its chargers with NACS.
Hypercharge	Hypercharge will offer EV charging stations with a NACS connector as soon as they become available from the manufacturers it works with, says Kyle Kingsnorth, senior marketing manager at Hypercharge. “To date, every hardware manufacturer we’re currently working with has informed us that they are working on adding NACS to their chargers, and we are thrilled to support them in this journey,” say Kingsnorth.	Hypercharge says it is “exploring plans” to retrofit its existing chargers with NACS. “Hypercharge is committed to continuing to serve every EV on the road in Canada that has any port type. We do not disregard the number of vehicles on the road that have J1772, CCS and CHAdeMO ports, and we look forward to continuing to serve them, as well as NACS, as the amount of EVs on our roads continues to grow year after year,” says Kingsnorth.
BC Hydro	BC Hydro is rolling out the NACS connectors at its public charging sites by mid- to late-2024. “Right now, the plan is to receive charging stations with NACS connectors for testing in 2024. Depending on how testing goes and supply chain availability, we will be able to provide another update in spring 2024,” says a BC Hydro spokesperson.	BC Hydro said it is “exploring how older charging stations can be converted in the future” in a social media post, published in June 2023.
Co-op Connect	Co-op Connect did not respond to Electric Autonomy’s request for comment in time for publication.	No plans disclosed.
The Electric Circuit	The Electric Circuit is in discussions with its charging station suppliers about the possibility of adding NACS connectors to its future charging infrastructure. “We are agnostic about charging technology as long as it supports the growth of electric transport and contributes to a positive customer experience,” says a spokesperson.	The Electric Circuit did not reveal any plans that it might have for adding NACS connectors to its existing charging infrastructure.
Alimentation Couche-Tard/ Circle K Recharge	Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K Recharge did not respond to Electric Autonomy’s request for comment in time for publication.	No plans disclosed.
Ivy Charging Network	Ivy Charging Network currently offers chargers with Tesla adapters at all ONroute locations. A spokesperson for the network says it is planning to integrate NACS plugs into all of its charging stations in the future but did not give a specific timeframe for when that will be.	Ivy did not share any plans for its existing infrastructure to include NACS connectors.
eCharge	The eCharge network, owned by New Brunswick Power, has not made a commitment to adopt the NACS connectors. “The E-mobility team at NB Power is keeping an eye on the development and deployment of NACS. It’s important to note that the NACS story is evolving with a lot of uncertainty. When we get a better understanding of the roadmap and vehicles affected, a plan will be worked on at that time,” says a spokesperson from New Brunswick Power.	eCharge currently does not have plans to retrofit its existing DC fast chargers with NACS.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro	Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro intends to incorporate the NACS plug standard into all of its future purchases and installations of DC fast chargers. However, the specific timing of when the NACS plugs will be implemented will depend on the availability of NACS plugs from non-Tesla manufacturers, says its spokesperson.	Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro does not have plans to retrofit its existing DC fast chargers with NACS plugs.
Parkland	Parkland has plans to begin rolling out NACS plugs as soon as equipment is ready, in 2024, says a Parkland spokesperson.	Parkland says its exisitng “chargers can be reconfigured to support the NACS charge ports.”
Toronto Parking Authority	The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) does not have any information about this matter that it would like to share at this time, says a TPA spokesperson.	No plans disclosed.
EV Connect	A spokesperson for EV Connect says it is working with its hardware partners to provide advanced technology. “As our hardware partners develop and incorporate NACS plugs into their chargers, we can ensure our customers can access the latest and most versatile charging options.”	The possibility of retrofitting EV Connect chargers with NACS plugs will depend station manufacturer support and the willingness of station owners to invest in it. “From the EV Connect perspective, changing to NACS on existing stations or introducing new NACS-capable charging stations is entirely seamless,” says the spokesperson. “[T]he station would update the platform with its new information, and the platform would propagate that information to the EV charging apps and any roaming partner networks it is engaged with.”
Blink Charging	Blink Charging did not respond to Electric Autonomy’s request for comment in time for publication.	No plans disclosed.

As many of Canada’s electric vehicle charging networks prepare to adopt NACS ports, Electric Autonomy presents a guide to their deployment timelines and plans for existing infrastructure, based on our exclusive networks survey

Electrify Canada, Volvo, Polestar among the latest NACS adopters

FLO to add Plug & Charge and explore wireless charging for its network