Apple previously committed to offering real-time availability of EV chargers in Apple Maps, initially supporting certain chargers like ChargePoint. Users can now view how many chargers are actively being used, and this functionality is expected to expand to Tesla Superchargers in the future.
Apple is now expanding support for NACS chargers. Aaron from X spotted this update in the latest iOS 18.4 Beta.
NACS Plugs
While Apple Maps already displays Tesla Superchargers and detailed information, such as the power of each site and the number of stalls available, it doesn’t provide real-time stall availability yet.
While Tesla has the largest number of NACS charging stations, some other brands also use NACS connectors, and this is expected to increase now that NACS is the official charging connector in North America.
While Apple is planning to add real-time availability for Superchargers in the future, it will now warn users if they’re navigating to a NACS station if their vehicle doesn’t have the correct port. Apple Maps already shows which connectors a station offers, and they received added support for Apple Maps on the web.
A code snippet in iOS 18.4 reveals that Apple Maps will display a banner and sound a voice alert while using Apple Maps on a phone or in Car Play.
The banner and alert will mention that “You need to use a charging adapter on this route,” or more specifically, “Tesla NACS Adapter Required.”
Hopefully, Apple will also be able to pull data from Tesla’s API, noting which sites have Magic Docks - and therefore won’t need an adapter.
Live Supercharger Availability
A key factor in making this experience seamless is adding support for live charger availability. While Apple currently provides real-time charging information for some non-Tesla stations, it has yet to include the most widespread and reliable network—Tesla’s Supercharger network.
When Apple integrates Tesla’s API and adds real-time Supercharger availability, Apple Maps could be a good alternative to finding a nearby charging station as it’ll also provide real-time third-party charger availability.
These changes would bring Apple’s navigation experience closer to Tesla’s built-in trip planner, which dynamically adjusts routes based on station occupancy and estimated arrival state of charge.
