When can we expect to see a CCS Adapter for the Model S?

[DCEV]

With the Electrify America charging networking coming online, with likely other charging networks also coming online, it would be great to have more choice when traveling. I was wondering if anyone knew of a timeline for when we might see a CCS Adapter for the Model S in the US. It's great that they already have 307 stations live in the US with another 150 coming soon.

Locate a charger | Electrify America

In Europe with CSS being the standard, Tesla vehicles can already charge on the Ionity network.

 

[ucmndd]

There is no timeline. Tesla has been radio silent on this so any response you’ll receive is complete speculation.

 

[DCEV]

There's even a photo of it here...

https://electrek.co/2019/05/07/tesla-ccs-adapter-model-s-x-retrofits/

When the CSS Adapter is made available, the above article seems to suggest that it may need a hardware change in the car (?) for earlier cars built before May 2019.

 

[widodh]

That adapter is available in the EU and I have it on my S.

Tesla would need to make it work with the US spec S and X. Technically possible, not a big problem.

 

[Asterix187]

I had it retro fitted to my Aug 2017 Model S75D last week. Seems to be good and I have got 120kW charge over it.

I am however in the UK so not sure about the US.

 

[Saghost]

Tesla hasn’t committed to releasing a US spec version on any timeline, though they’ve done all the hard things to get the EU one working.

We have no idea whether US chargeports were updated when the EU ones were in May or not.

 

[ucmndd]

There's even a photo of it here...

Tesla launches $190 CCS adapter for new Model S and Model X, offers retrofits for older vehicles - Electrek

When the CSS Adapter is made available, the above article seems to suggest that it may need a hardware change in the car (?) for earlier cars built before May 2019.

That adapter is useless in the US though, as it has a different input than the Tesla-proprietary connector used in North America.

 

[PrGrPa]

I had it retro fitted to my Aug 2017 Model S75D last week. Seems to be good and I have got 120kW charge over it.

I am however in the UK so not sure about the US.

retrofitted are a Tesla service centre? Expensive?

 

[Galinette]

The retrofit including the adapter is 750€. The adapter alone, if you have a raven model S, is 250€

 

[Asterix187]

retrofitted are a Tesla service centre? Expensive?

Yes, £510.

 

[cwerdna]

That adapter is useless in the US though, as it has a different input than the Tesla-proprietary connector used in North America.

And, CCS is a different connector in North America vs. Europe.

The US uses Combo1 whereas Europe uses Combo2. See EV DC Fast Charging standards – CHAdeMO, CCS, SAE Combo, Tesla Supercharger, etc under "DC Fast charging standards – CHAdeMO, CCS, Supercharger, China" for a visual aid.

 

[DCEV]

And, CCS is a different connector in North America vs. Europe.

The US uses Combo1 whereas Europe uses Combo2. See EV DC Fast Charging standards – CHAdeMO, CCS, SAE Combo, Tesla Supercharger, etc under "DC Fast charging standards – CHAdeMO, CCS, Supercharger, China" for a visual aid.

So what does that mean for us in the US about being able to use the Electrify America network with a CCS adapter?

 

[Grumpyyoungguy]

Yes, £510.

I paid £425 for my retrofit

From Tesla’s website
How much does a CCS Combo 2 service retrofit cost?
CCS Combo 2 retrofit service will cost £425, including the cost of a CCS Combo 2 adapter (£145 when purchased separately).

 

[cwerdna]

So what does that mean for us in the US about being able to use the Electrify America network with a CCS adapter?

A European Tesla CCS adapter is useless. It has a Combo2 inlet. The top part is Mennekes Type 2. We don't have Combo2 in the US.

We have Combo1 aka SAE Combo. The top part is J1772.

I've attached the image from EV DC Fast Charging standards – CHAdeMO, CCS, SAE Combo, Tesla Supercharger, etc as a visual aid. Do you see the problem? Thanks to the powers that be, the Frankenplug folks created two new plugs. (CHAdeMO on the other hand is a world standard.)

Also, I'm pretty sure the inlet on European Teslas that can accept their CCS2/Combo adapter is nothing like the inlet on North American Tesla Model S, X and 3.

Search https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/support/supercharging for CCS if you want to see their complicated situation.

Maybe it would help the OP if someone in the Europe took a pic of the Model S inlet w/o retrofit and with retrofit, assuming the latter makes a physical difference.

 

[MP3Mike]

So what does that mean for us in the US about being able to use the Electrify America network with a CCS adapter?

Nothing. We have no idea when, or if, Tesla will ever sell a CCS adapter for NA cars.

 

[.jg.]

Maybe it would help the OP if someone in the Europe took a pic of the Model S inlet w/o retrofit and with retrofit, assuming the latter makes a physical difference.

The inlet is not changed in the conversion - the car retains the Type 2 socket*. An additional module is installed inside the car, to handle the CCS protocol and switching in the car. The CCS adaptor plugs into the car's Type 2 socket and present a CCS socket for the charger. The CCS adaptor must convert from the two DC wires of a CCS connector to the non-standard Tesla use of Type 2 connector for DC.

*The Type 2 socket offers single phase or three phase AC charging (two data wires, with Neutral, L1, L2 and L3 power wires). Tesla added a special non-standard DC mode, which is used only with Superchargers - this sees two of the Type 2 power wires carrying +ve and the other two Type 2 power wires carrying -ve.

 

[Galinette]

I can confirme all the above!

Too bad Tesla did not make the necessary lobbying in Europe to make his Type 2 DC extension a standard. Instead, we need this ugly huge CCS connector.

 

[Saghost]

I can confirme all the above!

Too bad Tesla did not make the necessary lobbying in Europe to make his Type 2 DC extension a standard. Instead, we need this ugly huge CCS connector.

There’s no way the EU government would override the European automakers like that.

 

[dannycamps]

I recall Tesla stating for the US market (paraphrasing from memory) regarding the CCS retrofit/adapter that they will continue to evaluate the market to determine what the best charging experience will be for their customers. Basically - don't hold your breath

 

[Galinette]

There’s no way the EU government would override the European automakers like that.

Well, they could have done any alliance, for instance with Renault which has a big weight and does not compete in any way with Tesla. But Tesla is clearly a poor lobbyist in Europe.