New EV Cable Standards: NACS and Automotive Ethernet Explained

2025/6/15 22:05:15

EV Cable Standards Enter a New Era with NACS and Automotive Ethernet

June 2025 — BURY CABLES LIMITED

The electric vehicle (EV) industry is undergoing a transformative shift in cable standards, and BURY CABLES is at the forefront of helping installers and end users stay informed and ready. Two major developments are reshaping the EV cable landscape: the rise of the NACS (North American Charging Standard) and the growing adoption of Automotive Ethernet.

NACS Becomes SAE J3400 — What Installers Need to Know

Originally developed by Tesla, the NACS connector is now standardized under SAE J3400 and is being widely adopted by major automakers and charging network providers. Starting in 2025, many new EV models will feature NACS-compatible ports. This universal standard supports both AC and DC charging using a single, compact EV charging cable design.

Implications for Cable Installers:

  • High-current (up to 375A) and high-voltage (up to 1000V) handling is essential, requiring robust power & control cables.

  • NACS cables offer compact connector solutions, reducing equipment bulk, similar to advanced armoured data cables.

  • Federal incentives and infrastructure funding in North America prioritize fire resistant cables and NACS-compatible systems.

Automotive Ethernet Simplifies In-Vehicle Connectivity

The shift to in-vehicle data systems is driving the demand for single-pair Ethernet cables like 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1. Automotive Ethernet enables fast, reliable communication for systems such as ADAS, digital dashboards, infotainment, and vehicle diagnostics.

Benefits for End Users and OEMs:

  • Lightweight, twisted-pair cable designs (like those in EN 50288-7 cables and RS485 cables) reduce installation complexity.

  • Enhanced EMC shielding and certification-readiness make these cables ideal for sensitive automotive environments.

  • Scalable performance up to 1000BASE-T1 as bandwidth demands increase.

BURY CABLES is Ready

We are actively developing NACS-ready EV charging cables and certified twisted-pair solutions for Automotive Ethernet. Drawing from our expertise in coaxial cables, instrumentation cables, and fire resistant CAT6 cables, we ensure performance, compliance, and safety.

Our product range also includes XP C 32 - 321 French standard cables, AS/NZS standard cables, and specialized solutions for industrial, railway, and smart mobility applications.

Partner with BURY CABLES to stay compliant, future-ready, and optimized for every high-performance application.