The day when all EVs can charge at any and all charging stations just moved a little closer, as Tesla announced the availability of a CCS adapter in the US. Of course, Tesla drivers can use the company’s superlative Supercharger network, but until now they’ve been unable to use most non-Tesla DC fast chargers in the US, as most of these use the CCS standard.
Note that this is only an issue for DC fast charging, and mainly in the States. Tesla drivers have long been able to use any Level 2 public charger by means of a simple and cheap adapter plug. In Europe, most Superchargers now have CCS cables in addition to the classic Tesla connectors, and new Teslas have CCS charging ports. Tesla released a CCS adapter in Korea in 2020, but North American drivers have been growing restless.
The new adapter, which appears to be identical to the Korean version, is now on sale at Tesla’s online shop for $250. “The adapter offers charging speeds up to 250 kW and can be used at third-party charging networks,” says the Big T.
However, the new adapter may not work with all Teslas: “The CCS Combo 1 Adapter is compatible with most newer Tesla vehicles, while some vehicles may require a retrofit to ensure functionality with third-party CCS stations. We recommend checking that your vehicle is on the latest available software.”
Electrek clarifies that “the problem is with the charging ECU in Tesla vehicles built prior to October 2020,” and reports that “Tesla is going to offer a retrofit, but it won’t happen until early 2023. In order to order the adapter, Tesla owners need to log into their Tesla account so that Tesla knows if their vehicle is compatible. If not, Tesla owners can’t even order, as Tesla likely wants to prioritize orders for owners who don’t need the retrofit.”