Tesla’s electric vehicle Supercharging option is set to launch in the United States soon, as the first installation was spotted in New York. Reddit user u/Fxsx24 reported that the Supercharging station in Verona, New York had been retrofitted with the “Magic Dock” – a built-in CCS Combo 1 adapter, which allows charging non-Tesla cars with a CCS1 fast charging inlet.
Tesla’s cars in North America are natively equipped with the company’s proprietary standard (recently named NACS), so the Tesla-CCS1 adapter is a key element to make the stations compatible with other electric vehicles. Tesla enthusiasts have already visited the site and captured footage of the “Magic Dock.” The company has also placed signs that point to a QR code, which takes non-Tesla users to a special page with more information.
To use the Supercharging station, non-Tesla users must download the Tesla App, create an account and sign in. Then, they can use the “Charge Your Non-Tesla” feature. For Tesla drivers, the use of the Supercharging stalls will be basically the same as usual. In the case of non-Tesla users, after they select a stall, the “Magic Dock” adapter will “show its magic.” As shown in the video, the CCS1 adapter (plug) is attached on top of Tesla’s NACS plug in this scenario (it will remain like that until the user puts the plug back into the stall, which prevents the stealing of the adapter).
Tesla’s team was reportedly on-site in New York, checking charging compatibility with some non-Tesla electric cars, like Rivian R1T. It’s not clear when the system will be launched (the feature must be officially displayed in the Tesla App), but it is expected to be soon. The “Magic Dock” also appears to be relatively simple to retrofit to all Tesla Supercharging stations in North America. It provides a charging capability of up to 250 kilowatts (kW).
Tesla has already opened its network (some of the stations) in select European markets and in Australia, but it was much easier due to the same connector in new Tesla and non-Tesla cars (CCS2). In the US, Tesla also promised Supercharging for non-Tesla electric vehicles. This move is expected to make Tesla eligible for federal funds for the expansion of the charging infrastructure.
Not everything is solved yet. Apart from the basic connector compatibility (mechanical and electrical) and an app to handle payment, there might be other issues – physical compatibility related to the short charging cable and different locations of the charging inlet in various non-Tesla electric vehicles. We have to wait and see how those things will sort out in the long term.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
