(NEWSnet/AP) — The White House is lending support to an auto industry effort to standardize Tesla’s electric vehicle charging plugs for all EVs in the United States.

More than 1 million EVs have been sold in the U.S. in 2023, a record, but that pace lags behind sales in countries such as China and Germany. A key reason is limited availability of charging infrastructure.

Tesla, the leader in the EV market, operates the largest network of fast-chargers. And many of its Supercharger stations are in prime locations along highly traveled corridors, where other charging stations are sparse.

On Tuesday, SAE International, formerly Society of Automotive Engineers, confirmed as a new standard Tesla’s North American Charging Standard connector. That connector, known as NACS, links Tesla's EVs to the company's network.

The new standard “ensures that any vehicle or charging equipment supplier or manufacturer will be able to use, manufacture, or deploy the connector and expands charging access for current and future EV drivers across the country,” the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation said in a statement Tuesday.

The standard could help to boost consumer confidence in EVs, as the White House, auto industry and other stakeholders strive to encourage mass adoption.

President Joe Biden has made transportation decarbonization a top priority and has set a goal of having 50 percent of all new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric by 2030.

Tesla's charging standard has long been in conflict with the Combined Charging Standard connector, which most other automakers have incorporated in their EVs. Tuesday's announcement essentially formalizes what already has occurred throughout the industry.

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