Superchargers for all

Tesla’s solution to charging non-Tesla vehicles

By Ron Freund, Member, Electric Vehicle Association

Tesla’s latest Version 4 Supercharger, now to be rebranded as an “ALT Charger,” includes what looks to be an elegant solution for non-Teslas in the form of a charge via a “magic dock” connector. 

According to filed building permits, Yuma, Arizona is slated to receive the first such Supercharger, complete with a solar canopy and storage battery. This new site will feature 40 stalls and a “pull thru” stall for vehicles towing trailers.  

The offer of a monthly membership fee for Supercharger access in the US is pending. The Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter is available from the Tesla website for approximately $250, with delivery dates unknown at this time.

How it works

Non-Tesla drivers with a CCS Type-1 electric vehicle (EV) will be able to use a single charge cable. However, if a 2012 to 2022 North American-built Tesla enters the charging station, the CCS Type-1 Adapter will stay locked to the Supercharger. The driver will be using the familiar Tesla proprietary connector. This means no lost CCS adapters, no dual charging cables, and nothing hanging from above on cables. NOTE: Any such cars built before October, 2020 require a retrofitted (replacement) charging electronic control unit (ECU), unavailable until early 2023!

Various vehicle charge port placements may need to be addressed by these Superchargers. If the cable location is moved to the middle of the stall, it will address the needs of front left charger port placement (F-150, Rivian, Porsche, Bolt, etc…) and rear left (Tesla). The needs associated with the Nissan LEAF and Kia Soul EV, which have center front placement, and the Kia EV6, with a portal on the rear right, may need to be addressed differently.