Aleen Brown
Tesla’s Supercharger network is like the superhero of EV charging spots, way ahead of the game compared to other charging stations. While others are stuck with the usual CCS plugs or the not-so-cool CHAdeMO charging, Tesla is rocking a global squad of 55,000 Superchargers, with a solid 15,000 chilling in the US.
Tesla, and this massive network at your service. It’s like having a personal pit stop wherever you go. Tesla’s got your back, making sure you can charge up without breaking a sweat. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about making your electric ride smooth and stress-free. Now, that’s what I call a charging revolution!
Being the trailblazer in the game, the company has taken the lead in providing adapters to customers. This move came after they declared their intention last year to embrace Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for their electric vehicles. Following Ford’s initiative, several other automakers quickly jumped on the bandwagon, triggering a significant transition towards Tesla’s standardized version of its exclusive charging system. It’s like Ford sparked a movement, and now everyone’s on board with Tesla’s charging game.
This cool adapter, made by Tesla, lets EVs with Combined Charging System (CCS 1) outlets plug into Tesla’s Superchargers. It usually sells for $230, but Ford is handing out the first ones for free to its EV customers, at least for a limited time. So, Ford EV drivers get to link up with Tesla’s Superchargers without shelling out any extra cash – at least for now.
Ford is giving away those adapters for free starting today, but only until July 1st. After that, if you want one, it’ll cost you $230, plus the usual taxes and shipping. To snag your freebie or reserve one for later, just hop on your FordPass smartphone app. Time to grab one while it’s hot!
Just a heads up, not everyone will get their hands on an adapter right off the bat. Ford is counting on Tesla to whip up enough adapters to match the demand, but they’re warning us that supply might be a bit tight in the beginning. So, patience is key as they work on getting enough adapters to go around.
For the longest time, Tesla Superchargers were like an exclusive club only for Tesla owners. It was a big selling point for Tesla – reliable, exclusively for their crew, and you could find them everywhere. But things changed when Tesla decided to open up access to non-Tesla EVs, starting in Europe and later in the US. The Biden administration played a part in this by making it a condition to tap into some of that $7.5 billion for EV charging in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Elon Musk, the big boss at Tesla, mentioned he never meant for the Supercharger network to be this closed-off space. It’s like they’re tearing down the walls to let more electric vehicles join the party.
Adapters play it safe with voltage limits, resulting in slightly slower charges than a direct connection. Ford claims their electric vehicles can reach their maximum charge using Tesla Superchargers but hasn’t spilled the beans on how it compares speed-wise to a direct link. Safety first, but the need for speed details remains a mystery.
These adapters are like a quick fix for the current hiccup in EV charging availability and reliability. People driving non-Tesla EVs often run into issues with public chargers – glitches in software, chargers on the fritz, or spots that are just MIA. Tesla, on the flip side, boasts some of the best operating chargers out there. So, these adapters are like a Band-Aid for now, addressing the glitches in the non-Tesla charging landscape.
Sierra Sesay