Tesla to CCS1 Adapter • Charge a non-Tesla at Supercharger with Magic Dock

The connector form factor has, until recently, divided users into Tesla and non-Tesla car owners. However, today we already have on pre-sale the Tesla adapter and the Magic Dock, which allow charging a Tesla car from speed chargers with CCS connectors, known to be available only to owners of Chevy, Porsche, BMW, and other non-Tesla cars.

How Does the Magic Dock Work with Tesla Superchargers?

The Magic Dock is an adapter-box device that allows non-Tesla EVs to charge at Tesla Superchargers. The availability of The Magic Dock at stations is extremely limited, and today it can be found only at less than 1% of stations. This is why many non-Tesla owners still have the desire to have their own adapter.

It’s a built-in solution that’s integrated into the Superchargers themselves. This means that Tesla doesn’t have to install new Superchargers to accommodate non-Tesla vehicles. Instead, they can simply retrofit the existing Superchargers with the Magic Dock. This makes it easier for non-Tesla EV owners to charge their vehicles at Superchargers, as they don’t have to worry about buying and carrying around an adapter.

How to use Magic Dock?

To use it, you need to download the Tesla app, set up an account, and provide a form of payment. Once you’ve chosen a charger at a Tesla station, you can unlock the adapter through the app. The process is simple: push the handle into the dock, then pull it out to remove. However, it’s important to note that the charging process may take up to several minutes to start.

The Magic Dock’s Growing Presence in Select Locations

The Magic Dock is currently available at 11 stations across America, with more expected to be added in the future. In Europe, the number of Superchargers equipped with the Magic Dock is even higher. This widespread availability of the Magic Dock is a testament to Tesla’s commitment to making EV charging more accessible and convenient for all EV owners, not just those who own a Tesla.

What Challenges Might You Face When Charging a Non-Tesla EV at a Tesla Supercharger?

While the Magic Dock opens up new possibilities for EV charging, it’s not without its challenges. For instance, the charging cables at Tesla Superchargers are designed for Tesla vehicles, which means they may not reach the charging port of a non-Tesla EV. This could potentially require you to take up more than one charging spot, which could be problematic at busy charging stations.

How Do Tesla Owners Feel About Non-Tesla EVs Using Superchargers?

The response from Tesla owners to non-Tesla EVs using Superchargers has been mixed. Some Tesla owners are excited about the increased charger access, viewing it as a step towards driving EV adoption. However, others express concerns about potential overcrowding at charging stations.

What Are the Costs Associated with Charging a Non-Tesla EV at a Tesla Supercharger?

Charging a non-Tesla EV at a Tesla Supercharger isn’t cheap. The cost is 49 cents per kilowatt hour, which is more than twice the cost of charging at home. However, Tesla offers a membership plan that allows you to reduce the cost by 10 cents per kilowatt-hour for a monthly fee of $12.99. The convenience of being able to charge while on a long trip or out of state could make it worth the cost for some EV owners.

We are looking forward to the portable version for sale

The next step provides the ability to charge non-Tesla cars at all Tesla-owned Supercharger AC stations; Tesla representatives announced this in the summer of 2021. Find out is necessary in this article.

Is it possible to charge a non-Tesla car on a Supercharger?

Using the special TCP to CSS1 adapter (or the Magic Dock), it will soon be possible to charge almost any electric vehicle from direct current in a short amount of time.

Can a non-Tesla vehicle be charged at other Tesla stations?

The possibility of charging electric cars at Level 2 charging stations like the Tesla Destination has already existed and is already in use by some motorists. This type of charging station can be found, for example, near hotels or in mall parking lots. To connect, for example, a Chevy Bolt, an additional adapter has to be purchased.

What are the differences between Tesla charging stations: Supercharger and Destination?

The difference is the charging speed, which is due to the Supercharger’s increased power and constant current. Depending on the electric car model, 30 minutes may be enough time to charge an empty battery to 80%.

How is the charging rate different and how is it calculated?

One of the main indicators of electric car charging is MPH, which means how many miles the car will travel after an hour of continuous charging. Input power is also limited by the electric car’s power supply, which often does not exceed 48 amps for Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. But the supercharger is a constant current charging station (sometimes you can see the names Level-3 or DCFC), which is not subject to the limits of the electric car’s power supply unit. Although there is a limit to its speed. It is 5–10 times faster (depending on the electric vehicle) than, for example, charging from Level 2 connected to a NEMA 14-50.

How much will it cost to charge a non-Tesla car at Supercharger?

For example, for a Ford Mustang Mach-E owner, according to Tesla representatives, the price could be higher than for Tesla cars (the cost is 49 cents per kilowatt-hour). It was also reported that the option of an increased price factor for electric cars that charge slowly has not been ruled out so that they do not take up space and create a long lines.

Today, even for Tesla motorists, the price is not fixed on that network and largely depends on the region. To charge a fully discharged Tesla Model 3 battery to 80% on average, you’ll have to pay $10 on the Supercharger network (depends on the state and time of day).

If you are interested in comparing prices, you can use the ready-made calculator by setting your own parameters.

How will charging on the supercharger for non-Tesla vehicles be handled?

To charge, for example, a Chevy Volt, you will have to install the Tesla app on your smartphone, through which identification and billing takes place.

What adapter is needed to charge a non-Tesla on a Supercharger?

You’ll need a NACS-to-CCS1 adapter (also called a Tesla to CCS adapter) to charge a Porsche Taycan or other non-Tesla car in North America.

How reliable is such an adapter? What are the difficulties and why?

The charging station communicates in its own language with the electric car, but the languages are different between the Supercharger and the non-Tesla car. Therefore, the Tesla to CCS adapter has not only a set of wires and housing but also a translator with its own software. To maximize the mutual compatibility between the charging station and the cars of different manufacturers, the software version is updated over time, so more recent adapters are theoretically more stable in operation.

How does the Tesla to CCS adapter work, and how is it different from other adapters?

The adapter connects on the Supercharger side. The other end of the adapter is inserted into the inlet of the electric car with the CCS1 connector.

Cost of charging a non-Tesla car at the Supercharger station (with a Tesla to CCS1 adapter)

*Calculation is approximate, based on the average cost ($0.26/kW) of Tesla cars. Other data? Use the Supercharger calculator.

Where can I buy a Tesla to CCS adapter?

We are currently accepting pre-orders, notifying our customers when the adapters are available. As of today, we have information about prototypes from product suppliers. Probably one of the main manufacturers will be Setec power, which has experience in creating smart backward adapters for Tesla communication and CCS charging stations.

About Mike Becker Linked In Twitter

Mike is a seasoned engineer with 10+ years of experience in charging systems. He bought a Tesla Model S in 2014 and has been in love with EVs ever since. He runs a small EVSE installation business in Florida and blogs about what he loves.

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