“I’m actually really happy about NACS and how finally automakers are gearing towards one standard. We want to provide access to as many makes and models as possible,” said Tonia Buell, alternative fuels program manager at Washington state’s Department of Transportation.
“It hasn’t necessarily been tested and certified for other auto manufacturers, so we want to make sure it’s going to work but we are planning to require NACS at our state funded and federally funded sites in the future.”
The state plans to begin the requests for proposals process in the fall.
Buell said the decision is about “future proofing” the state’s investments.
Buell said state officials are still trying to determine the right mix of NACS chargers based on current federal requirements. Under federal rules, each taxpayer-backed site must have at least four CCS chargers and Buell said the state might require at least two to work with NACS or perhaps all four.
Washington’s plan could put pressure on other states and the federal government to adopt Tesla’s NACS.
