The integrated CCS Combo 1 adapter will allow fast charging of non-Tesla cars.
February 24, 2023 at 9:44 a.m. ET
The launch of the supercharging option for non-Tesla electric vehicles in the US is just around the corner, as the first installation was spotted in New York.
According to Reddit user u/Fxsx24, supercharger stations in Verona, New York were outfitted with the “Magic Dock,” an integrated CCS Combo 1 adapter, which allows non-Tesla cars to be charged with a CCS1 fast charging input.
Tesla cars in North America are natively equipped with the company’s proprietary standard (recently called NACS), so the Tesla-CCS1 adapter is a key element in making the stations compatible with other electric vehicles.
Tesla enthusiasts already visited the site and captured some images of the “Magic Dock:”
The company posted signs pointing to a QR code, which takes non-Tesla users to a special page with more information.
According to the website, users must download the Tesla app, create an account and log in. They can then use the “Charge Your Non-Tesla” feature.
For Tesla drivers, using Supercharger stops will be basically the same as usual.
For non-Tesla users, after selecting a stop, the “Magic Dock” adapter will “show its magic.” As shown in the video below, the CCS1 adapter (plug) is attached to the top of the Tesla NACS connector in this scenario (it will stay that way until the user puts the plug back into the stop, the which prevents theft of the adapter).
The Tesla team was reportedly in New York, checking charging compatibility with some non-Tesla electric cars, like the Rivian R1T.
It’s not clear when the system will launch (the feature should be officially shown in the Tesla app), but we’re guessing the time is near.
The “Magic Dock” also appears to be relatively simple to fit into all of Tesla’s supercharging stations in North America. It provides a load capacity of up to 250 kilowatts (kW).
Tesla already opened its network (some of the stations) in certain European markets and Australia, but it was much easier thanks to the same connector in new and non-Tesla cars (CCS2).
In the US, Tesla also promised Supercharger for non-Tesla electric vehicles. Thanks to this move, the company is expected to be eligible for federal funds for the expansion of charging infrastructure.
Not everything is resolved yet. In addition to basic connector compatibility (mechanical and electrical) and an app to manage payment, there may be other issues: physical compatibility related to the short charging cable and different locations of the charging input on various electric vehicles that not from Tesla.
We have to wait and see how these things will work out in the long run.
