I talked a tech disassembling a Tesla charger yesterday.
He said they’re installing a computer unit that allows Tesla chargers to work with other brands of car via the app.
These are NOT magic dock stations and NOT V4 stations. Just generic V3 stations with NACS handles.
He said that within the next few days, in our region 100% of V3 chargers will support other brands and will be able to initiate charging from the app.
Obviously, those cars would need an external adapter. He even showed me the unit inside the charger that enables communication with the app to allow this and said all V3 chargers nationwide were getting this module “very soon” if it wasn’t already installed.
He also showed me the cool liquid cooling setup in V3 supercharger cables (he was swapping the cable performing preventative maintenance).
He said that NO V2 Superchargers would ever support third-party charging and they will only ever work with Tesla cars. Unsure how authoritative that is, but he said the unit that enables charging via the app just doesn’t exist and has no means of being adapted to a V2 supercharger.
He said V4 superchargers are going to be a least into next year before we see any (he may have meant in this region).
Since my Model 3 SR+ is limited to 150 kWh anyway, if the Supercharger stations become a shitshow when other manufacturers have access to them, I’ll limit myself to the plethora or V2 along my usual long distance routes. However, during my long distance trip last weekend, out of the three Supercharger stations I went to, only one had other cars charging (2 out of 20). That one was a V2. The other two were V3 with 8 stalls and there was no one beside us for the whole charging time (15 minutes each) so for now, I don’t think it will be an issue anyway.
Are the V3 charging cords still too short for other EV’s to use?
No v2 in North America will ever support third-party charging, that is.
Here in Europe, other cars than Tesla happily charge on Tesla v2 superchargers.
Tesla uses a different port here in Europe.
I wonder if we will see 6 ft or longer adapters for cars with odd port placement.
We’ve known this for months since ford was the first to announce they are switching to nacs. I’m not sure why people thought there was some kind of secret conspiracy in the announcement.
Is there any adapter available for CCS cars currently? A quick search revealed this, but it’s pre-order only.
…in our region 100% of V3 chargers will support other brands and will be able to initiate charging from the app.
I don’t know where your region is
This is interesting information! Sounds like the ability to communicate via CCS is not inherently native to V3 and has to be retrofitted. The physical Magic Dock rollouts likely overshadowed the backend module installation work that also probably happened at the same time.
If Tesla is doing these stealthy installations now in anticipation of Ford and GM gaining access, then it’ll be instant and seamless for the coming CCS cars. Classic Tesla, gotta love ‘em.
Alot more stations are popping up on the tesla app under charge your non tesla, i see a few in CO. wonder if these are magic dock or just V3 that will need an adapter.
Colorado has like 6 magic dock locations.
Same thing one of the companies selling the adapters said on their website, something about this adapter will only work with V3 chargers, V2 and lower will not be compatible.
We do have a V4 site being installed near Portland OR, about 120 miles from us so they are coming soon.
If charging is via the app, it seems like if you have an adapter, it doesn’t matter what kind of car you have.
How do you tell what is v3 ?
V2 chargers can be replaced with V3 or V4 pedestals. They may end up being slow V3s or V4s but that should work. If NACS is the standard, Tesla is going to have to eventually get its own house in order to support it or there will be confusion and complaints.
Kinda glad that v2 will remain tesla only. Should soften the blow of the introduction of other manufacturers’ vehicles to the charging network.
Preemptive maintenance? What’s that black magic fuckery ? ( EA management probably)
Or EVGO yesterday when I called and they said their system was down with no schedule to be back online…
I really hope Tesla forces the other companies to get their act together now. I’m stuck with them since I need CHAdeMO.