SK Signet to launch Tesla-compatible EV chargers in 2023

SK Signet Inc., an affiliate of South Korea's SK Group that makes and sells electric vehicle (EV) chargers, announced plans on Wednesday to release products compatible with North American Charging Standard (NACS) used by Tesla Superchargers by the end of 2023.

This accelerated push to launch NACS-compatible products comes in response to recent decisions by global car manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis to adopt the NACS, with SK Signet aiming to improve user convenience.

The company noted that the NACS charging protocol aligns closely with the communication and control methods currently employed in its Combined Charging System (CCS)-based ultra-fast chargers. This similarity suggests that the development of NACS-compatible products can be expedited without facing substantial challenges.

Presently, each of SK Signet's ultra-fast chargers comes with two connectors—either two CCS connectors or a mix of CCS and CHAdeMo couplers. Going forward, upon customer request, SK Signet will be providing NACS couplers in their future products.

"The ability for a single charger to simultaneously charge non-Tesla electric vehicles, such as CCS type, and Tesla vehicles allows for more efficient operation of charging stations in an era of mixed charging standards," an SK Signet official said.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com