NACS / Tesla to CCS Adapters Comparison - Buy Now Or Wait For Tesla?

[@brandenflasch]

Purchase the A2Z adapter here and use "FLASCH" at checkout for a discount: a2zevshop.com/?ref=FLASCH If you're considering a new Tesla, use my referral for $1000 off: bflasch.com/tesla

[@im4udevco]

Thanks Branden and I'm still baffled why Lectron is having multiple issues with their adapter despite claiming that they've met all the vigorous tests on Tom's channel. I got a Gen 1 A2Z adapter and used it a few times and very happy with it. Waiting for Rivian to give me the free one and I'll decide what to do.

[@johnpoldo8817]

Kudos to Brandon discovering additional strengths & weaknesses of each adapter after numerous other evaluations by experts.

[@nishiki393]

The gold standard Branden treatment for all things EV charging! Great review. Congrats on the over 12K subscribers now too. Still an underappreciated channel!

[@kemclawson314]

Needed an adapter for a road trip and could not wait longer for Ford. Bought Lectron and it has worked flawlessly. What an improvement in charge experience over CCS. Wow! So happy Tesla opened up to "us" and that Ford was smart enough to be an early adopter.

[@johndavis7257]

I did a major road trip with my R1T using an official adapter I borrowed prior to my Typhoon pro arriving and have to agree. The A2Z v2 is such a better design, way more seamless. Official adapter works, but that’s about the highest praise I could personally give it. I’ll probably use the A2Z and just keep the official adapter as a spare whenever they decide to send me mine. On another note my opinion of lectron has tanked, I bought a Tesla destination charger adapter from them and it wouldn’t even let me plug the destination charger cable into it due to a defective plastic sleeve.

[@garyprice1145]

Branden, you always have great reviews. Thanks!

[@IronmanV5]

Thanks for the testing

[@loganrossignol]

We used a Lectron adapter on our trip from Atlanta to St. Pete and it went perfectly. No issues at all with it - seems like they might have sorted out their issues.

[@brandenflasch]

Good to hear - I still think the A2Z single latch is a better design

[@simplygregsterev]

I bought my dad the A2Z one and he enjoys rubbing in my face how he can use Superchargers with his F-150 Lightning. He has still not received the Ford/Tesla one yet…

[@barryw9473]

I think Tesla has decided to indefinitely delay more brands getting Supercharger access. Thoughts on why?

[@ChrisSmith-tc4df]

Traditional auto capitalizes on metering out incremental upgrades with each model year, so that accumulatively they would prod one into buying the latest model year.

[@universeisundernoobligatio3283]

The NACS standard was designed by engineers to encourage EV adoption. The CCS charging standard was created by the ICE manufactures marketing departments to discourage EV adoption. Trying to discourage EV’s from catching on. In 10 years the only place you will find a CCS charger is in a museum or an electronic surplus store.

[@omelborpon3159]

The title "Buy Now or Wait" has taken on extra meaning. Per Tom M. Ford has advised their customers who were issued official adapters to not use those adapters due to safety concerns. Ford will be replacing the previously the previously-issued adapters. IMO improvements (and cost reductions) are going to happen to all current adapters. Since an adapter is not currently necessary for my use case, I am going to wait.

[@GregHassler]

The old A2Z was unusable with the slide lock, the new one is good. I had the old Lectron and the new one and haven't had any trouble with either one. I still prefer the Lectron as it feels more robust and runs cooler.

[@vxnova1]

What speed do you get with the connector, also be interesting to see how it performs on a 10 to 80%

[@brandenflasch]

You get whatever the vehicle requests. The adapters are passive.

[@vxnova1]

@@brandenflasch ok I tried this the other way round with my Tesla, connected to a ccs at the local ford garage that was supposed to charge at 240 but the Tesla only got 110kw, typically on Tesla chargers I get 253kw when the battery is low, which it was at the ccs station, So I’m not sure why the Tesla would only request 110kw. I know this is completely the other way round, it would have been nice to see what actual speed you get in real life,

[@brandenflasch]

@vxnova1 Teslas request more current (and Superchargers deliver it) than almost any CCS station can give. Often, the cables are undersized for the charger rating too.

[@carsonassociates3263]

@@brandenflaschThe adapter is passive, but a poor connection can cause resistance which can lead to thermal foldback of current due to high handle temperatures. Lightnings have relatively low pack voltage (mid-300s) so max charging power is usually limited by the max current available from the DCFC. With 425A on a V3 SC, a good looking Lightning max is around 150kW. Never seen a 615A V4, but if the Lightning can handle that much current, 200kW might be possible.

[@brandenflasch]

@carsonassociates3263 Lightning won't pull more than ~450A regardless

[@BrandonDoyleMN]

Seems like it’d be better to just wait until manufacturers are shipping the vehicles with NACS, though I suppose then when you want to use ccs you’ll need the opposite adapter. It’ll probably be an awkward transition over the next few years

[@brandenflasch]

Sure, but not if you already have the vehicle

[@BrandonDoyleMN]

@@brandenflasch do you think the upcoming switch is hurting existing sales? Are there people out there that would buy a ford, Rivian etc but are waiting to get it with the NACS?

[@brandenflasch]

@@BrandonDoyleMN maybe some, but probably not in volume

[@marksmith5696]

Wait is this billy joel

[@lashlarue59]

In order to charge at the Supercharger station did you have to create an account with Tesla with your credit card number and the Fords' VIN number or something like that? Also if you already had a Tesla account could you just add the Ford as just another vehicle?

[@vxnova1]

@@lashlarue59 I don’t think you have to add another vehicle, You access the Tesla app, then select the station you are plugged in to charge with and essentially turn it on, it will be billed via the app rather than via the vehicle,

[@brandenflasch]

You can either do it with billing via Ford through plug and charge or via the Tesla app (you can do the $12.99/month subscription for discounted rates this way if you use Superchargers frequently)

[@nguyenhm16]

@@vxnova1 so does that mean that you can charge any random CCS EV with the app and an adapter?

[@brandenflasch]

Ford or Rivian only currently

[@vxnova1]

@@nguyenhm16 I have a Tesla so haven’t tried it, but I have seen a rivian and ford charging at some locations, Tesla has a web page you can check which superchargers will work with ccs, I think eventually it will be all ev at all superchargers but it is still rolling out at the moment so you would need to check with Tesla,

[@howardlerner4958]

Are there any adapters that support Audi Q4 ETRON?

[@brandenflasch]

Not until Tesla allows it

[@howardlerner4958]

@@brandenflasch I have a Model Y but wife has Q4. I won’t allow her to travel by herself until she can use Tesla Superchargers. Really need this adapter.

[@brandenflasch]

@howardlerner4958 you need access from Tesla. The adapter is the easy part.

[@ericroe]

You should have pointed out that using the A2Z or the Lectron are both against the TOS of Tesla Supercharger and Ford/Rivian. Do they work, seems like it. But if there are any issues, both Tesla and Ford/Rivian are going to hold you responsible and your warranty won’t be supported.

[@brandenflasch]

I have it as a note in the description, but Magnuson moss warranty act would force the mfg to prove fault.

[@ericroe]

@@brandenflaschin practice if you have a charging fault while using a non approved adapter, they’ll deny your warranty claim. You might be able to fight it but is it worth the hassle. And Tesla can charge you for any and all repair costs to their equipment and for the technicians to respond. As someone who has had an issue at a DCFC, it makes me rethink using non-approved equipment.