- Hyundai in the U.S. will offer free adapters for Tesla Superchargers
- The automaker is adding Tesla ports to all new or refreshed EVs
- It’s also a founding member of Ionna, an automaker-led charging network
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, it seems. Hyundai in the U.S. will be offering free adapters to its electric vehicle (EV) customers that will allow them to fast-charge their vehicles at Tesla Superchargers. So far, we haven’t heard if Hyundai will be doing the same in Canada, but we’ll let you know when we find out more.
Current Hyundai models use a CCS (Combined Charging System) fast-charging port, which isn’t compatible with a Tesla fast-charger. Tesla refers to its port as the North American Charging Standard, or NACS, although it’s just a name and isn’t actually a regulated standard. Hyundai will be equipping all of its all-new or refreshed EVs exclusively with an NACS port, which began in the third quarter of 2024 in the U.S., and will happen in the first half of 2025 in Canada. While several other automakers have announced their intention to equip their vehicles with NACS ports, Hyundai said its 2025 Ioniq 5 is “the first non-Tesla vehicle on sale to feature a factory-installed native NACS port.” With its NACS-equipped vehicles, Hyundai will offer an adapter that allows them to be charged on a CCS charger.
The NACS/CCS ports are only for fast-charging and the vehicles also have a port for regular charging, which works for either Level 1 (regular household current) or Level 2 (240-volt), the latter including home chargers and many public chargers.
The free vehicle adapter will be available in the U.S. starting in the first quarter of 2025. It will be offered to current owners or to new ones, providing they purchase or lease their vehicles on or before January 31, 2025. The adapter, which fits into the CCS port and accepts the NACS charging plug, will be available for the 2024 and earlier Kona Electric, Ioniq Hatchback, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6; and the 2025 Ioniq 6, Ioniq 5 N, and Kona Electric.
Hyundai said the adapter – or the factory port, when it arrives – will give owners double the number of fast-charging stations currently available to them with the ability to access the Tesla network. The upcoming Ioniq 9 will have the NACS port.
Hyundai will release full information in 2025 for details on how owners can apply for their free adapters. The adapters will also be offered for sale by Hyundai dealers. Genesis will also offer a similar plan but will give more details early next year.
Hyundai is one of eight automakers, along with BMW, General Motors, Honda, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota (that last one a later entry), involved in Ionna, a joint venture that intends to install more than 30,000 chargers across the U.S. and then expand into Canada. So far, the Ionna website lists 10 stations, with four in “Public Beta” stage and the rest “Opening Soon.” Ionna said the network will be accessible to vehicles with CCS or NACS ports, and will be near to or include facilities such as restaurants, toilets, and stores.
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.