Our NACS to CCS Adapter Saga

[Doug&Julie]

As of August 27th, 2024 we still don't have our official Ford adapter, but getting the third party adapters hasn't gone super smoothly either. So I made a video about our little saga...if you have a free 18 minutes...

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[andyrross]

Hey Doug and Julie, thanks for the new video. Your experience with the A2Z was the same as me until I put the put the adapter on the ground and pushed the Tesla plug in with my weight. Since I did that, haven't had a problem.
I did get the Ford adapter but haven't used it yet.
I will say that having the A2Z adapter has saved me on a couple trips after finding less than great EA stations.
Thanks again.


Also, bugs.

 

[Doug&Julie]

Hey Doug and Julie, thanks for the new video. Your experience with the A2Z was the same as me until I put the put the adapter on the ground and pushed the Tesla plug in with my weight. Since I did that, haven't had a problem.
I did get the Ford adapter but haven't used it yet.
I will say that having the A2Z adapter has saved me on a couple trips after finding less than great EA stations.
Thanks again.


Also, bugs.

Oh man! Well I'm glad you were able to get it to work. I wasn't willing to risk the adapter or any Tesla plug by forcing it too much. I can tell you, as a formally educated designer (studied automotive design and product design in college), if you have to do that, it's a bad product. But ultimately A2Z made it right, so I'm happy.

And yeah...bugs...

 

[ack154]

Literally just went through this today testing my A2Z adapter. I had already read a ton of the comments about the connection issues and I think that helped.

It still took me maybe 3-4 tries to properly seat the adapter (and this was on a literally brand new V3 Supercharger, I was very likely the first person to connect this to a car at this point). I didn't use the "putting it on the ground" method, really just kind of lightly connected it to the plug and then "slammed" it the rest of the way on with my hands.

But the one trick I noticed right away was figuring out the locking switch. It didn't seem to fully lock or unlock at first - even with nothing connected. The indicator text on each end under the switch was only partially readable for the first couple movements. So I worked the switch back and forth a couple times too to make sure just the switch would fully seat (it also helped to understand what the switch would look like once it was fully seated). That, combined with working the plug in a couple more times got it to latch correctly. Started charging no problem.

Kind of annoying, but I knew what to expect and just tried to be patient. Thing is... for the average user that doesn't have access to all of the other people and info here on the forum, this is probably a nightmare scenario trying to get it to work when you're on a trip.

 

[Snakebitten]

I too knew about the tightness of a brand new unused Typhoon. So I was ready to be forceful.

Still was surprised how much force was required.

But just as others stated, it got substantially easier the second, third,........

My forth charge was Sunday on the way home from San Antonio to the Galveston area. Partly because of the confidence of pushing with intent, combined with the predicted "breaking in", the Typhoon works and feels like a device with precision designed into it.

 

[johnmark]

I stopped at an EA station at a Wawa in Wilmington DE. One charger was broken which I only noticed after trying to use it. I looked around at the other chargers to see if they were almost finished when a gentleman in a red Mach e helpfully informed me that there were 2 other cars waiting. I shrugged and went to the app to see what else was around. Luckily, there was quite a bit in the area, including a Tesla v3 station... On the opposite side of the same parking lot! And it was empty! It was so empty that I thought something was wrong. But no, I just drove up close enough, inserted the adapter into the charging port first, and then connected the Tesla hose. Worked like a champ. I topped out between 135-140 kw, which is not as much as the max I draw in a 350 kw rated EA CCS charger, but I wasn't complaining.

As I was driving away, I noticed the red Mach e was still charging. Poor guy...

 

[Munds3d]

1st post here! Yea!

My Wife and I just bought our Mach E Rally on Saturday, and are working through charging growing pains.

I'm hoping u can please help with some questions!

yesterday we tried to use our brand new Lectron Tesla Supercharger (NACS) to CCS Electric Vehicle Adapter at a Tesla charging center in Council Bluffs Iowa, but it didn’t work.

Plugshare says this site is Tesla Only. Also, ChargeHubEVMap states, “This Supercharger is not open to NACS Enbabled Vehicles with CCS Compatibility”, does that mean my Mach E won’t be accepted With my Lectron Adapter? I‘m sure I’m missing something here!

Is this a good adapater?

Thanks in advance for any answers and information!

 

[Tampamike]

Yes, it means that you can’t charge there with your adapter. There are version 2 Tesla superchargers that are not compatible with the MME. There are also some sites that Tesla has blocked for adaptor usage for other reasons. You can use your adapter at all of the Tesla sites that say “open to non-Tesla vehicles” or something like that.

 

[Munds3d]

Thanks! I’m new to this so have lots to learn!

 

[HuntingPudel]

1st post here! Yea!

My Wife and I just bought our Mach E Rally on Saturday, and are working through charging growing pains.

I'm hoping u can please help with some questions!

yesterday we tried to use our brand new Lectron Tesla Supercharger (NACS) to CCS Electric Vehicle Adapter at a Tesla charging center in Council Bluffs Iowa, but it didn’t work.

Plugshare says this site is Tesla Only. Also, ChargeHubEVMap states, “This Supercharger is not open to NACS Enbabled Vehicles with CCS Compatibility”, does that mean my Mach E won’t be accepted With my Lectron Adapter? I‘m sure I’m missing something here!

Is this a good adapater?

Thanks in advance for any answers and information!

Mike is correct. The easiest ways to avoid the incompatible sites is to use Tesla’s app or the Charging app in the Mach-E to find compatible chargers. You can set up a filter to only find CCS compatible chargers in Tesla’s app, and the app in the car only finds compatible chargers. ??

 

[Sikkun]

Yes, it means that you can’t charge there with your adapter. There are version 2 Tesla superchargers that are not compatible with the MME. There are also some sites that Tesla has blocked for adaptor usage for other reasons. You can use your adapter at all of the Tesla sites that say “open to non-Tesla vehicles” or something like that.

Plugshare saying it is Tesla only does NOT necessarily mean you can’t use it. As it’s user submitted data, I have charged at multiple locations PlugShare still indicated as Tesla only.

Use the Tesla app/website if you want a more accurate list.

 

[Bilyjck]

I just used my Ford supplied NACS adapter yesterday and it worked great. Even though it was over 90 degrees out the tesla charger held a higher charge rate than other chargers.

 

[R1Tims]

We used the Lectron adapter on multiple trips. I received the first type with the bad latch from Lectron. Still worked on a needed trip I had to take. Just had to careful that you didn't pull it out until finished charging. We also received the first shipment of the free Rivian adapter, FYI, Same as ford adapter. Ford is now sept for us. Used it on both Rivan and Mach E. Works great. During this time I also received the updated replacement Lectron adapter. It also worked fine on trips. Interesting note, Lectron sent me a second adapter when I returned the defective one. So, loaned it out to neighbor. He used it on multiple trips. Never had an issue. We never had and issue of inserting the NACS plug into the adapter. We attach the NACS plug first to adapter then plug into the vehicle. Instructions with "official" adapter is to connect first then plug in. Not sure if it really makes that much of a difference. IMO Less pushing (force) on vehicle charge port.

Also liked OP ending comments in video... regrading EA charging. ..."If or WHEN it does not work we have an alternative"...

We avoid EA like the plague. Tesla network has really changed the game. works first time everytime time. As pointed out, we use the Tesla app to locate "open to non Tesla with adapter" sites. We found Plugshare to not always be up correct on Tesla charger sites.

 

[CameraCarl]

This sounds just like my experience with the A2Z adapter. I could see myself trying to seat the adapter and finding it didn't go in far enough to lock. I finally wound up putting a block of wood on the ground and using that for the leverage to seat the charge cord fully into the adapter. Unfortunately I had bought my first generation A2Z adapter too long before the second generation adapter came on the market, so I missed their window for a free exchange. So I now keep that block of wood in the car for times when I can't get the cord to seat properly in the adapter.

 

[jamesphw]

Thanks for sharing.

I have the older A2Z adapter (not the pro). I have to agree the NACS lock design isn't great. But I got it to work on my first try and every time I've stopped to use a Tesla charger since. But it definitely helped to see commenters online warn about how hard you have to push the first time you use it.

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