Skip to main content

Tesla's CCS1 Adapter Already Available In USA, With A Catch

It has long been one of the great demands of many Tesla users in the United States: the CCS1 adapter will allow drivers to connect to any public charging point, although it will not actually work in all models yet.
Tesla Charger, courtesy of Tesla Inc.

The particular nature of the Tesla charging system in the United States has been a headache for many users, but not being able to access some points of the public fast charging network is a situation that has its days numbered, as finally the Austin guys have put up for sale an element that will become basically indispensable. The much-requested CCS1 adapter is now available from the company's official store at a $250 price; a dream come true for many Tesla drivers, although not everyone will be able to enjoy this new advantage.

Although the United States has not been the first market in the world where it has been put up for sale - in South Korea it has been available for almost a year - the Tesla online store in the United States already has this powerful adapter that promises to help many users. It is a connection that will allow to charge at up to 250 kW, which is really impressive considering that its use will not mean the loss of load capacity; however, there is a major problem.

Tesla has already communicated that it is only suitable for the most modern versions of its EV fleet. Many of the older models are not suitable for this converter as they do not have communication hardware for conversion to the CCS system. The most likely is the lack of a PLC (Power Line Communication) communication chip that facilitates the connection of one system to another.

The company itself has assured that for those old models that do have the communication capacity, it will soon launch an update expected by early 2023. Users can check for themselves if they are suitable to have the adapter by looking at the specifications of their car through the main menu and general settings. As it was already mentioned, the most updated and recent models of Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Model S and X already arrive from the factory with this feature, so they will not have to do anything and can just buy the new adapter in the official stores.

The cost, as we said before, is 250 dollars; a very reasonable price for a component that can be of really great help to many users. Without a doubt, the opening of Tesla to the use of third-party chargers in the United States is good news for the network, although many users will continue to bet on the company's vast superchargers network since it is the most common of all. The official store announces that the shipment will begin two weeks after placing the order.

Image courtesy of Tesla Inc.

Nico Caballero is the VP of Finance of Cogency Power, specializing in solar energy. He also holds a Diploma in Electric Cars from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and enjoys doing research about Tesla and EV batteries. He can be reached at @NicoTorqueNews on Twitter. Nico covers Tesla and electric vehicle latest happenings at Torque News.

Electric Vehicle News and Reviews
New Vehicle Reviews
Tesla
Tesla Model 3