Ford makes deal with Tesla to share its Supercharger network

Are you referring to the Tesla app non-Tesla drivers now have to use at the MagicDock-equipped Superchargers? Am I correct that Tesla drivers (and soon Ford, GM, Rivian, and Volvo EV drivers) don't need an app? They just plug in and Tesla bills their credit card for the charge, right? Nothing to clean up there--it's exactly what I would want (but will never have in my MINI EV).

The comparatively enormous number of Superchargers and their reliability would seem to give Tesla a big enough edge to compensate for the hassle of using the Tesla app for those drivers of EVs whose manufacturers didn't pony up the required tribute for automatic, app-free billing.

 

They will be using their native app of FordPass or Ultium Charge 360 and Tesla gets to harvest the data in exchange.

 

I'm happy to pay for my charges, whatever network I happen to be on. I'll be happy to spring for my own
NACS --> CCS adapter whenever they start being made. I'm not telling any network to retrofit one plug
or the other. I just want any network that claims to be a public resource to make their facilities truly
public and accessible. And not only via one method.

That's not flame bait, you completely missed the point. The ovdrarching problem is political, not technological
or about differently shaped pieces of plastic.

_H*

 

In order for plug-and-charge to work properly, there needs to be a backend integration. For example, Ford wants their people to be able to use the FordPass app, and not need to have to use the Tesla app.

If you only need Magic Dock level of integration, then no real deal is required. But Tesla hasn't really rolled out much in the way of Magic Dock.

 

I wonder what will happen? Follow the money.

 

I would like to see one thin enough that I could just plug it in and leave it there behind the closed charge port.

 

That's the best scenario, leave it and forget it.

 

$308 gets you an adapter with this disclaimer:

This product is for presentation purposes. Tesla hasn't yet opened their supercharger network to all EV's.
This product will be very useful around 2024/2025.

 

Even on a working CCS-1 fast DC charger, my soon to be bought, 2017 BMW i3-REx only charges approaching 50 kW. It carries its own ICE powered, DC generator.

Bob Wilson

 

So you can buy it now but it may not be useful until after the warranty expires. Doesn’t sound like a wise move to me.

I will probably end up buying two such adaptors - one each to live in the trunk of my Bolt and SE. I am ok with using adaptors in the short term if it means the industry actually moves to a single standard. But if we still have CCS and NACS cars and chargers being built in 2030, I’d say we have a problem.


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I asked Lectron if they had plans to make a NACS -> CCS adapter, and they said yes.

_H*

 

There is a valid reason to purchase an adapter even if you can't use the Tesla supercharger network. I purchased an EVSE Tesla to J1772 adapter for my Kia so that I can use a Tesla level 2 charger if that is the only charger available.

 

But that is a different adaptor. J1772 and CCs are related, but not the same thing. J1772 is AC only and CCS adds large pins for DC. NACS can do both in a speaker package, but the J1772 adaptor cannot.


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He said level 2 not supercharger. I'm sure your are aware that there are a number of locations that offer a Tesla level 2 destination EVSEs.

 

Yes. And he quoted my post in which I was specifically talking about DC charging and not level 2. Which is why I then replied to him pointing out the difference.


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Long,long,term? Depends on the battery tech inside the cars. Assuming we go to 1000v (Likely I think) fast charging it's really a matter of what becomes the most ubiquitous on the cars. In general I think people would rather futz with a plug like tesla's over the CCS thing, so as both become widely available my guess is that ccs will slowly become deprecated, and you will have aftermarket kits to swap charging ports on older EV's. This all assumes a new tesla like plug or wireless charging, or a new electric micro-cell that's the size of a lantern battery that holds 100KWH doesn't hit the market that is vastly superior ( think cassette tape -> CD). J1772 is actually fine, and is actually rated to 100A or something, or you might see something on the built-in charger side that could make things interesting as well. If your built-in would handle say variable A/C or three-phase directly up to 50-100KW or something it could get really fun. A 4 wire 3-phase plug on the car maybe 60A(/phase) at 480v would get you up into the 86KW range, with lighter weight wire.