SAE International has introduced the NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler Technical Recommended Practice (RP) — referred to as the SAE J3400.
The SAE J3400 RP establishes a framework for electric vehicle (EV) charging in North America, including general physical, electrical, functional, safety, and performance requirements for the rollout of the industry-developed standard later this year.
The SAE J3400 NACS Task Force has also announced that the NACS acronym has been updated to “North American Charging System.” This change reflects that NACS encompasses a broader set of industry standards, extending beyond just the vehicle coupler.
“The SAE J3400 recommended practice adds 1000-V dc fast-charge with adapter thermal awareness, SAE Universal ac charging for mass electrification using carry-along cables, and adopts V2G and backup power requirements,” stated Rodney McGee, chairman, SAE J3400TM NACS Task Force, and research engineer at the Transportation Electrification Center at the University of Delaware.
“As Rivian adopts NACS and J3400 beginning next year, the official publication of SAE J3400 will enable the update of Federal and State requirements leading to an improved charging experience with additional charging locations and reduced need for charger adapters,” added Chris Nevers, senior director, public policy, Rivian Automotive.
SAE previously announced efforts to standardize the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard connector in June of 2023 to address the critical need for consistency and compatibility among various charging systems and EV models.
The publication of the J3400 Technical Information Report, which laid the foundation for SAE’s implementation of the standard, was announced just six months later in December 2023.
Fast progress was made possible by collaboration with automakers and charging providers, as well as support from government agencies, including the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.
With an emphasis on compatibility, SAE J3400 will advance an interoperable charging network that will make it easier for drivers to access charging infrastructure without the need for multiple adaptors or proprietary systems.
In addition to benefiting EV drivers, the standard will help to ensure that any supplier or manufacturer will be able to use, manufacture, or deploy the J3400 connector for EVs and charging stations across North America. This will provide companies with a structured framework for innovation, ensuring products meet performance standards and offer consumers reliable, compatible solutions.
“A successful EV charging experience is one that is easy for consumers to use and for suppliers and manufacturers to innovate within. The J3400 Recommended Practice is a major milestone toward a fully compatible charging ecosystem and demonstrates our ability to make rapid progress in innovation in new technology as a country,” said Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “It takes collaboration among standards bodies, automakers, and the public sector to set the foundation in a quickly changing and growing space like electrified transportation, and SAE J3400 is a prime example of this. We are proud to work with the SAE team on this standardization process and now look forward to working toward the final standard.”
The SAE Hybrid-EV J3400 NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler Task Force is led by experts representing diverse aspects of EV charging efforts including OEMs, suppliers, charger companies, infrastructure, academia, and government. The task force has prioritized efforts around SAE J3400 to ensure market readiness of charger adoption across industry and will continue to push forward with rapid revisions to provide responsive and innovative standards for EV power transfer.
“This J3400 RP is very close to the finished standard. Over the next several months, the RP will be fine-tuned with additional comments that will then become a full-blown standard by the end of the year,” noted Christian Thiele, director, global ground vehicle standards, SAE International. “With technology moving at such a rapid rate, the task force will continue to adapt and revise the standard after it is published to remain relevant into the future.”
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News