Why do you think it would be so expensive, what’s your idea of expensive? Do you think under $1k?
If an adaptor already works, clearly this is just swapping out a plug for a different type of plug. What am I missing? Why is your answer so complicated? Yes it must be wired correctly, of course. But if Ford will sell [in 2025] MME’s with the new tesla plug, then it should be an easy swap. Ok, on the back side the wires have to be correct, but that doesn't seem like a big issue.
"Expensive" is a relative thing. For me, if it was over $250.00, I'd call that too expensive. The whole idea makes no sense to me at any price over the cost of the alternative - the adapter.. Why not just use the adapter?
My understanding is that the current setup in the Mach-e has the high voltage DC current routed through one set of pins and the lower voltage AC current routed through another set of pins; NACS has both running through the same set of pins. That means that there needs to be hardware in the car to ensure that the correct type of current is routed to the correct circuit. The adapters avoid this problem by being designed for either AC (Tesla Tap) or DC (the unreleased Ford adapter), but not both. An adapter that did both would be dangerous because it would only take a small error to dump 380v of DC current onto an AC circuit that is not designed for it.
So, how is ford going to do it? And again I ask, if they can do it at the factory, why can’t a dealer do it? I’m not disputing your comments, I’m simply saying it can’t be that difficult.
It will require a control and switching module to detect whether AC or DC is connected and route the power accordingly. How much would such a module cost? Where could it be physically located in existing cars? We don’t know.
This assumes that the charge port is going to be in the same place, if they switch and just leave it where it is its going to be useless as the charge cable wont reach. There are v4 superchargers coming that have a longer cable but also appear to use magic dock that means you don't even need to use a tesla connector in the first place.
Ok, but Tesla did it, and Ford is planning on doing it….. so I would bet that Ford has that part worked out.
On a hardware level, it’s likely that a dealer could successfully bolt in whatever parts are needed. It would likely require replacing several reasonably expensive components in both the AC and DC systems, and I assume it would involve dropping the battery to get access to the high voltage system. It would be an awfully expensive way of avoiding using an adapter.
Do you work at ford?
I fail to understand the reason you care about this.
You must really hate adapters.
At a magic dock I did not need the adapter they had one. I opened the Tesla app, tapped charge a non-tesla, followed the instructions, charged at a steady 110, pushed the unlock button beside the port of the MME when up to required percentage and put the cable back. Had to charge at an end charger and take 2 spots because of cable length and MME port location. It was not a problem then but could be.
It costs by the minute up here and with only 50 Kw chargers as another option you have to weight it takes an hour at 50 KW and 20-30 minutes at the SC. It is still more expensive but quicker.
I bet Ford does have that part worked out. But likely it’s more than swapping the outlet on the car. There is a lot of converting and communicating going on across those multiple different pins.
