Mercedes-Benz drivers can now recharge their electric vehicles (EVs) from Tesla Superchargers with an appropriate adapter. Mercedes had told owners to expect the move in February.
Tesla confirmed the news quietly this week, adding Mercedes to the list of supported brands on its charging website.
Mercedes joins Ford, Rivian, General Motors, Volvo, Polestar, Nissan, and Lucid on the list.
BMW, Genesis, Hyundai, JLR (maker of Jaguar and Land Rover cars), and Kia appear as “coming soon.”
Industry Converging on One Charging System
Today, each electric car uses one, but not all, of three charging plugs. They’re not interoperable.
Since most EV owners do most of their charging at home, that’s not a problem unless they’re going on a trip longer than their car’s range. But, when they are, it’s a frustrating limitation.
Related: Electric Car Charging: Everything You Need to Know
Last year, the industry came to its senses about the problem. Virtually every automaker, one by one, agreed to switch to Tesla’s plug, called the North American Charging Standard (NACS).
Tesla’s Supercharger network is the nation’s largest, though several providers are working to catch up. Adopting the NACS port is the fastest way for automakers to give their drivers nationwide charging access in as many locations as possible.
Rival charging networks agreed to add the NACS plug to their chargers. Tesla is reprogramming its chargers to support other automakers’ cars, a slow process with a gradual rollout.
With time, that should make charging in public much like refilling a gas tank. Any public charging station will be able to serve any car.
Owners Will Need to Buy an Adapter
Mercedes owners will need an adapter to plug into NACS chargers. The company explains, “The adapter will allow existing vehicles to charge at Tesla Superchargers and will be available for purchase at authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the United States for $185 in Q1 2025.”