Key Takeaways
- The ChragePoint Omni Port is a new charging connector that adapts to your EV, eliminating the need for costly adapters.
- ChargePoint claims to support a variety of charging standards, both AC and DC.
- With most new EVs switching over to NACS, the Omni Port is perfect for those with older vehicles.
ChargePoint believes it has a solution to the confusion of charging options and connector types EV drivers have to deal with: the new ChargePoint Omni Port is the charging provider’s all-in-one connector, which it claims can charge any EV that plugs into it, even if it uses a different type of connector.
Unlike gasoline cars, EVs don’t have an agreed upon way to charge. Some use AC power, others DC power, and there are multiple types of connectors to transfer power from the charging station to the car. In the US, Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) has been agreed upon, and major automakers such as Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, General Motors, and Stellantis have agreed to start producing cars with NACS connectors in 2025.
That’s all well and good, especially now that Tesla has opened up its charging network to non-Tesla cars. But it leaves anyone who bought a car before that in a bind. ChargePoint believes its Omniport is the answer, simplifying charging and eliminating the need for expensive adapters.
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Omniport can be adjusted to fit your vehicle
Removable connectors are key
ChargePoint / Pocket Lint
According to ChargePoint, the Omni Port will know which charging connector to unplug based on what you tell it to do when you pull your car up to charge. Just enter your car’s make and model into the ChargePoint charging app, tap on your charger, and pull out the Omni Port. The right connector will plug in and you’re ready to connect to your car. ChargePoint plans to install the Omni Port in select chargers with both AC and DC architectures, so you’ll also get the right type of current for your car.
Images of ChargePoint’s Omni Port suggest that the company hasn’t developed a universal connector with retractable parts, but rather a system that intelligently attaches and detaches a compact adapter depending on the car you’re driving. Whatever the method, it’s a clever solution to a growing problem for EV owners: if you can make it to a ChargePoint with an Omni Port, you’ll never have to worry about whether the charger will be able to power your car.
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Omni Port simplifies the hassles of EV ownership
Not only does buying and owning an EV typically come with a higher price tag, but charging can also come with new challenges that are different from going to a gas station. If you can’t charge at home, you’ll need to find a place to charge on the road or go to a fast-charging station, both of which can involve wait times. Still, you’ll likely run out of battery power until you have a good charging strategy in place. As research suggests, successful EV ownership may require a change in how you think about your car’s batteries, not just how you charge.
That doesn’t mean ChargePoint’s Omniport won’t help. Taking the hassle out of charging makes everyone happier. ChargePoint says Omniport will ship in the second half of 2024, and existing ChargePoint CP6000 and ExpressPlus PowerLink 2000 chargers can be retrofitted with the new connector for a “nominal cost.” That’s a good sign that more people could benefit from not having to think about adapters. It’s not a magic bullet, and ChargePoint chargers aren’t everywhere (the company announced it had reached 1 million chargers by July 2024), and depending on how long you’ve owned an EV, you might already have a system that works for you. But it’s better than having extra cables in your car.
