2026 Lexus RZ to Have Tesla Supercharger Access, Plug & Charge Capability
Key Points
- The 2026 Lexus RZ will come standard with a North American Charging Standard port, allowing owners to use the Tesla Supercharger network.
- The 2026 RZ will also feature Plug & Charge capability.
- Owners of model-year 2023-25 RZs will soon be able to get NACS adapters for their vehicles.
Updated for the 2026 model year, the all-electric Lexus RZ SUV boasts more power, longer range and shorter charging times than the 2025 model. And enjoying all three of those core EV attributes just got easier, as Lexus has announced that the RZ is built with a North American Charging Standard port, which will allow owners to use Tesla’s Supercharger network.
Related: How Much Is the 2026 Lexus RZ?
Adapters For All
Most electric-vehicle charging connections are now one of two types: Tesla’s NACS and the Combined Charging System that has been standard on most other brands’ EVs until recently. For Level 2 home or destination charging, vehicles with CCS charge ports use a smaller version of the CCS hardware that has an even less sexy name than CCS or NACS: SAE J1722. If that’s a lot to absorb, think of it this way: Tesla EVs use USB-C connections; other automakers have been using plain-old USB. Without an adapter, a vehicle with a CCS port can’t charge at a NACS plug and vice versa.
Lexus building the 2026 RZ with a NACS charge port is notable because Superchargers are the single largest DC fast-charging network in the U.S., with more than 25,000 plugs nationwide. An adapter that allows buyers to still use CCS and J1772 plugs will be included with all 2026 RZs, and existing owners of model-year 2023-25 RZs will soon be able to pick up a free adapter from their dealership, allowing them to use NACS charging stations.
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- Lexus Releases More Details on Updated 2026 RZ Electric SUV
Easier to Find, Easier to Use
Both new and existing RZ customers can now also use Apple Maps EV Routing to streamline longer drives. Integrated into Apple CarPlay, Maps EV Routing incorporates charge-level and range information from the vehicle, as well as real-time public-charger availability, into route planning. If a trip exceeds the vehicle’s remaining range, this allows the app to suggest available chargers closest to the planned route to minimize travel interruptions.
The 2026 RZ will also come with Plug & Charge capability, which greatly reduces charge times. Plug & Charge negates the need for EV owners to manage multiple charging-network apps and payment methods. Instead, it incorporates that information into the Lexus app, allowing the vehicle to begin charging as soon as it’s plugged in at chargers from various networks.
According to J.D. Power, Plug & Charge shortens an average charging session by as much as eight minutes. Unfortunately, as Plug & Charge requires hardware changes in addition to software updates, it is unlikely that Lexus will add the capability to its existing EVs. Still, with access to more than 25,000 additional fast-charging options and an easier time finding convenient and available places to plug in, even RZ early adopters should have an easier time navigating the world.
The 2026 Lexus RZ will go on sale later in November. Pricing starts at $47,295 (including destination).
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