Ford says their supercharger only

[Guss]

I have had my 2024 Mach e for a month and I bought an A2Z Nacs to CCS1 Typhoon for Tesla Superchargers after reading reviews. I received the adapter a week ago and then received the attached e-mail from Ford telling me they only approve adapters from Ford or Tesla. Is this even legal? Has anyone else used the A2Z adapter at a Tesla Supercharger? I emailed A2Z and they said they have thousands of Ford customers using their adapters at superchargers...

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[MetalCord]

It's a recommendation they make for liability purposes. Of course, this means if something happens while using a "non recommended adapter" and damage is caused, they probably won't fix it under warranty.

 

[AliRafiee]

Since it says “Tesla prohibits the use of any other adapter”, it might mean that they can blame you for any damage to the charging station and make you pay for it. ?‍

 

[AhardFSU]

How do they know that you used a non-approved adapter? I’ll stand over here and wait for that answer. I know the answer, but I want someone to tell me ?!

 

[Sikkun]

How do they know that you used a non-approved adapter? I’ll stand over here and wait for that answer. I know the answer, but I want someone to tell me ?!

Elon knows when you are sleeping, and he knows when your awake….

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

To the question of if it is legal, the answer (from this non-lawyer) is yes, it is. Tesla and Ford are private companies and EV charging involves huge amount of power that could be lethal if something went seriously wrong. To the best of my knowledge there are no requirements for such companies to provide infrastructure interoperable with just any adapter. (There might be something in the NEVI funding requirements, but I kinda doubt it.) I don't think it is unreasonable for Ford and Tesla to limit their liability by making such a statement. (To be clear, this is not a pro-Tesla statement!)

That said, the likelihood that an A2Z adapter would cause an issue is quite low. But as others have noted, if an issue were to happen, and if it was determined that a non-approved adapter was used, that could conceivably be used to seek damages from you. Not likely IMO, but possible.

 

[bdeweese]

To the question of if it is legal, the answer (from this non-lawyer) is yes, it is. Tesla and Ford are private companies and EV charging involves huge amount of power that could be lethal if something went seriously wrong. To the best of my knowledge there are no requirements for such companies to provide infrastructure interoperable with just any adapter. (There might be something in the NEVI funding requirements, but I kinda doubt it.) I don't think it is unreasonable for Ford and Tesla to limit their liability by making such a statement. (To be clear, this is not a pro-Tesla statement!)

That said, the likelihood that an A2Z adapter would cause an issue is quite low. But as others have noted, if an issue were to happen, and if it was determined that a non-approved adapter was used, that could conceivably be used to seek damages from you. Not likely IMO, but possible.

Doesn’t all of this stem from the fact we’re still waiting for the “standard” to be finalized for these adapters? In the meantime, not all adapters are created equal. That said, the A2Z and Lectron are supposed to be excellent alternatives.

 

[AhardFSU]

Elon knows when you are sleeping, and he knows when your awake….

That’s a scary thought ??.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

How do they know that you used a non-approved adapter? I’ll stand over here and wait for that answer. I know the answer, but I want someone to tell me ?!

Exactly.

Buy a quality adapter with a discount code when available at the lowest overall cost if you’re just joining the supercharger game at this point in time.

 

[Guss]

Exactly.

Buy a quality adapter with a discount code when available at the lowest overall cost if you’re just joining the supercharger game at this point in time.

I have to take the Mach e to the dealer for a software update (about the 12 v battery), so will ask them and see if they will give me an answer other than "we can't comment on a third party product. And there is this that I just found. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It says if you use an after-market third-party product, it will not void the warranty of your car.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Elon knows when you are sleeping, and he knows when your awake….

And he probably has your Social Security number.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I have had my 2024 Mach e for a month and I bought an A2Z Nacs to CCS1 Typhoon for Tesla Superchargers after reading reviews. I received the adapter a week ago and then received the attached e-mail from Ford telling me they only approve adapters from Ford or Tesla. Is this even legal? Has anyone else used the A2Z adapter at a Tesla Supercharger? I emailed A2Z and they said they have thousands of Ford customers using their adapters at superchargers...

A2Z, Lectron, and TeslaTap are all well-known adapter manufacturers and folks are generally happy with their quality as adapter suppliers. There are lots of unknown companies out there that also make adapters. Some could be good, many are crap.

The OEMS and charge point operators will probably be open to approving any adapters that meet the new SAE standards. However, the standards for adapters have only just been approved (last week?).

Lectron has made one for Ford and Tesla makes one. These two are approved so far. I would trust either of those (I have both) as well as adapters from A2Z or TeslaTap.

I would stay away from the unknown makers.

Remember, unless something goes wrong, the charge point operators and Ford will have no idea what adapter is being used.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

I have to take the Mach e to the dealer for a software update (about the 12 v battery), so will ask them and see if they will give me an answer other than "we can't comment on a third party product. And there is this that I just found. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It says if you use an after-market third-party product, it will not void the warranty of your car.

Magnuson-Moss implies that OEMs can’t use the excuse of using a third party device as a blanket excuse to void warranties (as dealers often claim). OEMs need to prove that the device caused the damage. Only then can they refuse coverage under warranty, not void the warranty altogether. And that makes sense. If you use a A2Z adapter and it melted your inlet port, Ford should not cover your repair under warranty. But if you use the Tesla designed / ford supplied adapter, and it melted your inlet, Ford is liable.

Practically speaking, from this point forward, everyone should be buying an adapter from Ford for $200. Not doing so is unwise.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Practically speaking, from this point forward, everyone should be buying an adapter from Ford for $200. Not doing do is unwise.

I agree unless Ford approves use of those that meet the new standards.

 

[Guss]

Magnuson-Moss implies that OEMs can’t use the excuse of using a third party device as a blanket excuse to void warranties (as dealers often claim). OEMs need to prove that the device caused the damage. Only then can they refuse coverage under warranty, not void the warranty altogether. And that makes sense. If you use a A2Z adapter and it melted your inlet port, Ford should not cover your repair under warranty. But if you use the Tesla designed / ford supplied adapter, and it melted your inlet, Ford is liable.

Practically speaking, from this point forward, everyone should be buying an adapter from Ford for $200. Not doing do is unwise.

I will see what the maintenance dept at the Ford dealer says. Hopefully, they will not pass the buck. Plus, It would have been nice if Ford told me before I bought the A2Z. The A2Z received high reviews, so if it Does melt the inlet port, it looks like Ford or Tesla should go after A2Z. Overall, if it is THAT important, Ford should have said something when I bought the car.

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