Ford Charge Station Pro charge connector

[schuman1048]

I finally got my Power Promise charge station installed once the issue with ordering a charger was cleared up. Its nice, but….

Ford provided me with a Charge station Pro. I’m not sure if I had a non-pro option. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten the non-pro charge station given the option. The problem with the charge pro is that the charging connection has pins for DC fast charging, even though they are not needed for charging my Mach-E at home. I presume they are there for V2L functionality. Since the Mach-E does not have the V2L feature, the DC pins are useless. The problem is that the extra pins on the connector are worse than useless. They get in the way of using the Charge station pro to charge either of my plug-in hybrids.

A search on the web revealed that you can’t purchase a CCS Combo 1 to J1772 adapter. I guess I could get a CCS to Combo 1 to NACS adapter, and plug that into a NACS to J1772 adapter but that doesn’t sound like a good idea.

I think the problem will get worse when my next EV comes with a NACS native adapter. You can get CCS combo to NACS adapters, but they only contain the DC pins, so no help for home charging. You can get J1772 to NACS adapters for the AC pins, but I don't think they will fit for the same reason that the connector won't fit my plug-in hybrids. Clearly a future me problem, but I don't think it will be uniquely mine.

My other thought was to replace the charge cable that came with the unit, with a replacement cable for a non-pro charger.

https://chargers.ford.com/ford-connected-charge-station-charge-cable-with-coupler

I wonder if the non-pro charge cable would work with the pro charge unit. If the non-pro cable worked, then I think it would allow me to charge all of my cars.

This is clearly a first-world problem, but it is a bit annoying.

Sponsored

 

[Madtroniks]

A2Z EV has an adapter for owners with a Ford Charge Station Pro and a Tesla.

You can click the below link and then use the code "FLASHSPRING" to save 25% off instead of 5% off.

CCS1 Charger to NACS Vehicle | AC | Only For Ford Pro Charger Only | The Thunderstorm Lite Plug - Click here and use discount code "FLASHSPRING"

Description
Important notice : This adapter is specifically compatible with the Ford Pro and GM PowerShift Charger and will only serve with the AC function.
Key Features :

• Power : AC/Level 1/2 charging
• Safety and Security: Our adapter locks the CCS latch once fully connected, ensuring no unplanned disconnections or thefts. Includes an interlock safety pin preventing accidental removal of the charging connector while charging. Unplug it with authorization from your car, phone, or charging station's control panel.
• Protection : IP54 (mating) & IP67 (enclosing). Includes a hard case.

Requirements :

• For the North American market.
• AC Ford Pro & GM PowerShift Charger only
• Tesla model S, 3, X & Y and NACS port equipped vehicles.

Built for Safety: For added safety, the A2Z Thunderstorm Max Plug incorporates two temperature sensor switches. The first sensor derates the charging process upon reaching a certain temperature, while the second sensor halts charging, the temperature are strategically placed within the adapter. Charging can resume once the temperature normalizes and the adapter is reconnected.
Easy to Use: Plug the A2Z Thunderstorm Max Plug into the charging station, then into your vehicle. To unplug, simply authorize from your vehicle or phone

 

[schuman1048]

Thanks for this advice. This adapter will probably work with my future cars. I'll have to store this link somewhere where I can find it in three years.

However, it still doesn't allow me to charge the plug in hybrids that I have that only have J1772 receptacles. I guess I could stack adapters and also get one of these: https://a2zevshop.com/products/a2z-stellar-plug, or something similar.

Who knows, maybe the folks at a2z or a competitor will see an opportunity, and design a new adapter. A bit of plastic, and 5 straight through pins doesn't sound too difficult to make.

Honestly, I think a J1772 extension like this one: https://a2zevshop.com/products/j1772-extension-cord-48a-16ft-5m would to the trick. I may get one and try it. That would have the added bonus of allowing the cable to reach out of the garage where the plug-in hybrid lives.

 

[stoopid]

...

My other thought was to replace the charge cable that came with the unit, with a replacement cable for a non-pro charger.

https://chargers.ford.com/ford-connected-charge-station-charge-cable-with-coupler

I wonder if the non-pro charge cable would work with the pro charge unit. If the non-pro cable worked, then I think it would allow me to charge all of my cars.

This is clearly a first-world problem, but it is a bit annoying.

Thinking ahead a few years, I was also wondering about best way out of the current connector into NACS. This cable with an adapter could certainly work. Good to know it exists. The A2Z would work if willing to dangle the charge connector in some manner. I certainly wouldn't switch the adapters on/off each time just to mount the charge connector cleanly in its dock.

 

[Maquis]

The term “Ford Charge Station Pro” is simply branding. The word “Pro” isn’t indicative of any feature of the unit. There is no “pro” vs “non-pro”. What being discussed is a CCS vs J1772 connector.

 

[Jimrpa]

I finally got my Power Promise charge station installed once the issue with ordering a charger was cleared up. Its nice, but….

Ford provided me with a Charge station Pro. I’m not sure if I had a non-pro option. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten the non-pro charge station given the option. The problem with the charge pro is that the charging connection has pins for DC fast charging, even though they are not needed for charging my Mach-E at home. I presume they are there for V2L functionality. Since the Mach-E does not have the V2L feature, the DC pins are useless. The problem is that the extra pins on the connector are worse than useless. They get in the way of using the Charge station pro to charge either of my plug-in hybrids.

A search on the web revealed that you can’t purchase a CCS Combo 1 to J1772 adapter. I guess I could get a CCS to Combo 1 to NACS adapter, and plug that into a NACS to J1772 adapter but that doesn’t sound like a good idea.

I think the problem will get worse when my next EV comes with a NACS native adapter. You can get CCS combo to NACS adapters, but they only contain the DC pins, so no help for home charging. You can get J1772 to NACS adapters for the AC pins, but I don't think they will fit for the same reason that the connector won't fit my plug-in hybrids. Clearly a future me problem, but I don't think it will be uniquely mine.

My other thought was to replace the charge cable that came with the unit, with a replacement cable for a non-pro charger.

https://chargers.ford.com/ford-connected-charge-station-charge-cable-with-coupler

I wonder if the non-pro charge cable would work with the pro charge unit. If the non-pro cable worked, then I think it would allow me to charge all of my cars.

This is clearly a first-world problem, but it is a bit annoying.

Just curious - can’t you charge your plug in hybrids by driving to the gas station, filling the gas tank, then driving around a bit?

 

[schuman1048]

The term “Ford Charge Station Pro” is simply branding. The word “Pro” isn’t indicative of any feature of the unit. There is no “pro” vs “non-pro”. What being discussed is a CCS vs J1772 connector.

True, but the questions remains. Can I connect the CCS connector on the "pro" to an J1772 extension cable, or can I purchase the J1772 connector and cable from the non pro and connected to my pro station?

 

[Bad Dolphin]

Just curious - can’t you charge your plug in hybrids by driving to the gas station, filling the gas tank, then driving around a bit?

Generally, plug in hybrids are much pricier than conventional hybrids. All so you can plug in and get a short range electric charge before using your gas engine. So although your suggestion would work, it would defeat the purpose of spending all those extra $$$ to get the short EV-only range. For those with short commutes, the plug in hybrid makes sense, using EV only for the first miles on a daily basis and only using gas if taking a longer trip.

 

[Tosh]

Just curious - can’t you charge your plug in hybrids by driving to the gas station, filling the gas tank, then driving around a bit?

Not really, because the PHEV works as an HEV when you don't plug it in (maybe not all of them, but for certain the Ford Escape PHEV and the Volvo XC60 PHEV).

Without the ability to plug it in for a charge, the PHEV is not a Plug-in Hybrid.

I also have a Ford Pro Charger, and therefore need a "regular" J-1772 charger for my wife's car.

My solution is to have 2 chargers in the garage. It eliminates any conflicts between us (regarding charging our cars, of course)

 

[devmach-e]

True, but the questions remains. Can I connect the CCS connector on the "pro" to an J1772 extension cable, or can I purchase the J1772 connector and cable from the non pro and connected to my pro station?

Just get the A2Z Thunderstorm Lite adapter listed above and you’ll be fine to charge your Plug-In hybrids. Cheaper than a J1772 extension cord.

whoops, never mind. I thought there was a CCS to simply J1772 adapter. Didn’t look closely enough. Maybe the extension cord would be better, if it works…

 

[schuman1048]

Generally, plug in hybrids are much pricier than conventional hybrids. All so you can plug in and get a short range electric charge before using your gas engine. So although your suggestion would work, it would defeat the purpose of spending all those extra $$$ to get the short EV-only range. For those with short commutes, the plug in hybrid makes sense, using EV only for the first miles on a daily basis and only using gas if taking a longer trip.

The "Short" range isn't always so short. It depends on the plug in that you have. Our RAV 4 prime gets 40 miles on a charge, and we've bought gas for it once this year. The Volt gets 50-60 miles on a charge, and I have yet to buy gas for it this year. Now that I have the MME, we will only be looking to buy gas on very rare occasions.

 

[Bad Dolphin]

If you have a place to easily plug in at both ends, those ranges work great for many daily commutes. We now live on an island, and a typical round trip with a couple of stops might be around 40-50 miles so that works great! But I know folks in the LA area, for example, whose daily commute (with no diversions) might be 50 miles or greater each way. A couple of friends drive over 100 miles each way.

And of course, longer trips are why the PHEV's are hybrids as well as plug in's?

 

[E90alex]

There’s no good solution for now. You can use a J1772 extension cord but that’s adding extra length unnecessarily. And you may need to dremel out the notch at one end so it can plug into the CSP CCS1 connector.

Maybe A2Z will make one for J1772 since they made one for Tesla AC charging.

 

[RickMachE]

Thanks for this advice. This adapter will probably work with my future cars. I'll have to store this link somewhere where I can find it in three years.

However, it still doesn't allow me to charge the plug in hybrids that I have that only have J1772 receptacles. I guess I could stack adapters and also get one of these: https://a2zevshop.com/products/a2z-stellar-plug, or something similar.

Who knows, maybe the folks at a2z or a competitor will see an opportunity, and design a new adapter. A bit of plastic, and 5 straight through pins doesn't sound too difficult to make.

Honestly, I think a J1772 extension like this one: https://a2zevshop.com/products/j1772-extension-cord-48a-16ft-5m would to the trick. I may get one and try it. That would have the added bonus of allowing the cable to reach out of the garage where the plug-in hybrid lives.

True, but the questions remains. Can I connect the CCS connector on the "pro" to an J1772 extension cable, or can I purchase the J1772 connector and cable from the non pro and connected to my pro station?

Today, you need to use a dremel to modify any J-1772 adapter or extension cable. Or, you can use 2 A2Z adapters (I wouldn't).

 

[DVX135]

I finally got my Power Promise charge station installed once the issue with ordering a charger was cleared up. Its nice, but….

Ford provided me with a Charge station Pro. I’m not sure if I had a non-pro option. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten the non-pro charge station given the option. The problem with the charge pro is that the charging connection has pins for DC fast charging, even though they are not needed for charging my Mach-E at home. I presume they are there for V2L functionality. Since the Mach-E does not have the V2L feature, the DC pins are useless. The problem is that the extra pins on the connector are worse than useless. They get in the way of using the Charge station pro to charge either of my plug-in hybrids.

A search on the web revealed that you can’t purchase a CCS Combo 1 to J1772 adapter. I guess I could get a CCS to Combo 1 to NACS adapter, and plug that into a NACS to J1772 adapter but that doesn’t sound like a good idea.

I think the problem will get worse when my next EV comes with a NACS native adapter. You can get CCS combo to NACS adapters, but they only contain the DC pins, so no help for home charging. You can get J1772 to NACS adapters for the AC pins, but I don't think they will fit for the same reason that the connector won't fit my plug-in hybrids. Clearly a future me problem, but I don't think it will be uniquely mine.

My other thought was to replace the charge cable that came with the unit, with a replacement cable for a non-pro charger.

https://chargers.ford.com/ford-connected-charge-station-charge-cable-with-coupler

I wonder if the non-pro charge cable would work with the pro charge unit. If the non-pro cable worked, then I think it would allow me to charge all of my cars.

This is clearly a first-world problem, but it is a bit annoying.

I have the same issue as in addition to my Mach E, my wife has a plug-in hybrid Escape. Checking if you found any workable solution.
I'm unable to use the 2-way setup for using EV for home power. I have a separate utility meter for EV only that gives me a discounted rate when charging off peak. Plus I already have generator.

I contacted A2Z EV about using their Thunderstorm Lite CSS1 to NACS plug, then adding a NACS to J1772. They said it would work, but not recommended. Also talked to installers and other EV sources that there is a concern with 2 adapters about arcing if connection isn't solid and clean.

That leaves either changing the Ford charger CSS1 to a J1772, or replacing the entire plug and cord. It appears the Ford plug and cord are separate and connector could be swapped out for J1772. Would either need to pay an electrician or have enough experience to do it yourself. All are unnecessary and expensive workarounds. As others have commented, the CSS1 seems to be for a need that few will have.

Anyone else find a better solution?

Sponsored