Tesla charging cable extension?

[jgregov]

A2Z’s is in beta testing both user and influencers last I checked. Cords are floating around in the wild at least.

Feel like they won’t sell it until they have the newer designed approved that doesn’t need an adapter plugged in also. But who knows…they at least still claim it’s coming.

Last update I can find:

“The extension cord is ready, it is currently in the hands of CSA and SGS for certification and testing.
We have redesigned the female inlet in order to make it safer with a dual lock instead of a slider lock like found on our 1st gen NACS to CCS1.
….
Additionally, an OEM is doing due diligence on the extension as we speak and wants to ensure its safety prior to release.”

Ford should have been proactive and partnered with A2Z to get the extension cable out a year ago.

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[RickMachE]

Ford should have been proactive and partnered with A2Z to get the extension cable out a year ago.

1) No OEM is going to endorse an extension cable.
2) Unlike Lectron, which has partnered with multiple car manufacturers, A2Z hasn't been successful in partnering with any to my knowledge. Last year the CEO did an interview where that topic came up, and he attributed it to being a small company without a track record in adapters unlike Lectron. He's tried valiantly though.
3) Every extension cable that comes out is going to crippled charging speed due to the lack of liquid cooling. And, they're going to be very pricey. Given that Tesla has told us to take 2 spots, there is little reason for a person to spend that kind of money. They'll sell a very small amount.

 

[Mark813]

3) Every extension cable that comes out is going to crippled charging speed due to the lack of liquid cooling. And, they're going to be very pricey. Given that Tesla has told us to take 2 spots, there is little reason for a person to spend that kind of money. They'll sell a very small amount.

Great point here, I don't want to pay ~$200 for an extension that limits charging speed just for convenience.

I charged at a Tesla short cable V3 station the other day. Last spot on the right and have to put the front wheels up on the curb to the right. If I had a cable extension would simpler but that might limit me to 50kw charging speed?

Separately, when I go to supercharge dot info I see the build out of V4 stations in Central Florida (Tampa) going along nicely although it has been slow.

I have to assume Tesla will eventually upgrade these "short cable" V3 to V4 stations when they get their V4 fully built out in different areas.

Doesn't make sense that they would take a V3 station and just put a longer cable on it versus updating the output of that station to V4 with 300-500kw output.

I wonder if they would start at that point with the few V2 stations by me (Tesla only) that are charging at a slow 100-150Kw (even though the MME maxes at 150)

 

[jgregov]

1) No OEM is going to endorse an extension cable.
2) Unlike Lectron, which has partnered with multiple car manufacturers, A2Z hasn't been successful in partnering with any to my knowledge. Last year the CEO did an interview where that topic came up, and he attributed it to being a small company without a track record in adapters unlike Lectron. He's tried valiantly though.
3) Every extension cable that comes out is going to crippled charging speed due to the lack of liquid cooling. And, they're going to be very pricey. Given that Tesla has told us to take 2 spots, there is little reason for a person to spend that kind of money. They'll sell a very small amount.

1) Why not?
2) A2Z made a cable and Ford should help them get it out .
3) I have waited for a Tesla charger when half of them were empty and the configuration didn't let me charge. The MME is not a charging monster. Probably wouldn't be much slower with a cable. I was ready to buy the A2Z until last week when I noticed that a Tesla charger I use 4 or 5 times a year now has a new Tesla V4 chargers. Next year we plan to take a road trip from NY to FL and would have definitely want an extension cable for that trip. The new plan is to keep the MME long term for local use and we're getting a new Tesla MY for the long trips. FSD is the main reason of the Tesla.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

A2Z hasn't been successful in partnering with any to my knowledge

And yet their adapters are the best I’ve tried (using rentals on the mainland cause no Tesla here). Which means the OEMs are accepting a lesser product for expediency’s sake. Hmmm.

I have to assume Tesla will eventually upgrade these "short cable" V3 to V4 stations when they get their V4 fully built out in different areas

Maybe not to full V4. I’d expect to see far more V3 stations with V4 cabinets, though. Either way win.

Doesn't make sense that they would take a V3 station and just put a longer cable on it versus updating the output of that station to V4 with 300-500kw output

There’s no “just” in that, they’re not flipping a switch or moving some jumpers around.

 

[Sikkun]

They'll sell a very small amount.

Over 100 sold in under 15 minutes when the website accidentally had them listed to purchase…..

 

[RickMachE]

Great point here, I don't want to pay ~$200 for an extension that limits charging speed just for convenience.

I charged at a Tesla short cable V3 station the other day. Last spot on the right and have to put the front wheels up on the curb to the right. If I had a cable extension would simpler but that might limit me to 50kw charging speed?

$200? No, >$500.

It will be limited to 400A. That won't matter much for a Mach-E, but would impact the Lightning's charging speed, and would very much impact vehicles that charge faster.

1) Why not?
2) A2Z made a cable and Ford should help them get it out .
3) I have waited for a Tesla charger when half of them were empty and the configuration didn't let me charge. The MME is not a charging monster. Probably wouldn't be much slower with a cable. I was ready to buy the A2Z until last week when I noticed that a Tesla charger I use 4 or 5 times a year now has a new Tesla V4 chargers. Next year we plan to take a road trip from NY to FL and would have definitely want an extension cable for that trip. The new plan is to keep the MME long term for local use and we're getting a new Tesla MY for the long trips. FSD is the main reason of the Tesla.

1) What's the upside for the car company?
2) Why? What's the upside for Ford?
3) So you're going to spend $500 - $700 for an extension because you can't park in a way that you can reach the cable?

Over 100 sold in under 15 minutes when the website accidentally had them listed to purchase…..

They need to sell 10s of thousands for it to make any sense, or perhaps hundreds of thousands.

 

[jgregov]

$200? No, >$500.

It will be limited to 400A. That won't matter much for a Mach-E, but would impact the Lightning's charging speed, and would very much impact vehicles that charge faster.



1) What's the upside for the car company?
2) Why? What's the upside for Ford?
3) So you're going to spend $500 - $700 for an extension because you can't park in a way that you can reach the cable?



They need to sell 10s of thousands for it to make any sense, or perhaps hundreds of thousands.

1) Customer satisfaction. Same reason Ford went to the Tesla chargers (game changer).
2) Customer satisfaction.
3) I would buy it for up to $400. It's not about parking, it's being able to charge when only one stall is available.

 

[RickMachE]

1) Customer satisfaction. Same reason Ford went to the Tesla chargers (game changer).
2) Customer satisfaction.
3) I would buy it for up to $400. It's not about parking, it's being able to charge when only one stall is available.

A fraction of people that use fast charging will use an extension.
A fraction of people that own Ford EVs use fast chargers.
A fraction of a fraction isn't worth anything.

Then you won't be buying it, because it will cost more than $400.

 

[Sikkun]

$200? No, >$500.

It will be limited to 400A. That won't matter much for a Mach-E, but would impact the Lightning's charging speed, and would very much impact vehicles that charge faster.



1) What's the upside for the car company?
2) Why? What's the upside for Ford?
3) So you're going to spend $500 - $700 for an extension because you can't park in a way that you can reach the cable?



They need to sell 10s of thousands for it to make any sense, or perhaps hundreds of thousands.

If companies only listened to armchair forum economists we wouldn’t even have EVs.

They are clearly making it, so I guess they don’t agree with your analysis.

 

[Mark813]

$200? No, >$500.

It will be limited to 400A. That won't matter much for a Mach-E, but would impact the Lightning's charging speed, and would very much impact vehicles that charge faster.

I believe you're right on the limited market for this thing.

A year ago this might have made sense to me at $200 when I bought the $200 nacs adapter - maybe a long shot case at $500 but I would have procrastinated on it.

Since then Tesla has opened two new V4 locations near me and third coming online soon. Plenty of EA EVgo FPL in my market.

When I travel outside of Tampa- mostly going north to the next county and then further to Tallahassee the mix of Tesla and other chargers is so ubiquitous that I don't have the range anxiety that I did a year ago.

The market for the adapter is going to be for people who have real range anxiety issues due to living in areas that might be called charging deserts or newbies with range anxiety but want to have all the back up on day one.

 

[RickMachE]

They missed the wave. A year ago it would have sold hugely. But EA overhauled their network. Pilot/Flying J, IONNA and other built out. We used to drive south for 197 miles to the next EA charger. Now, there are at least 12 options 120kW or higher on the way. 12. Never would have thought it would change so fast.

And, people have learned to nose between, or park on the right, or use the handicap accessible space, or the trailer spot. A year ago they were mystified.

You have to travel a lot to justify spending more than $500 on a cable that is a pain to store because it is big and bulky. It used to be shown as $300, when it was first shown as upcoming and 250kW. That was 2+ years ago. It is now an evolved, improved product, 400kW, and no price shown. Hansshow's is $600 for a 5 foot with the adapter built in, not just an extension. Their version 2 is $629 for 5 foot, $729 for 8 foot. It is 350kW, up from 250kW.

I expect A2Z will be aggressive and come to market at $500 if they can. Theirs is 400kW. Better engineered and higher speed.

I hope I am wrong about demand . A2Z is a great company, better than their competition. When they finally release their certified product, I will tell everyone I know about it and explain why it is the best choice.

 

[Mark813]

They missed the wave. A year ago it would have sold hugely. But EA overhauled their network. Pilot/Flying J, IONNA and other built out. We used to drive south for 197 miles to the next EA charger. Now, there are at least 12 options 120kW or higher on the way. 12. Never would have thought it would change so fast.

And, people have learned to nose between, or park on the right, or use the handicap accessible space, or the trailer spot. A year ago they were mystified.

You have to travel a lot to justify spending more than $500 on a cable that is a pain to store because it is big and bulky.

Especially if you have the new MME with the smaller frunk

I hope I am wrong about demand . A2Z is a great company, better than their competition. When they finally release their certified product, I will tell everyone I know about it and explain why it is the best choice.

It would also make sense if the extension had the adapter built in like you mentioned the competitor versions have.

I like A2Z, I researched adapters when I purchased my MME. I bought their nacs adapter December 2024 and it has been great and worked flawlessly.

Back then, I probably would have spent $500 for a few feet extension with the adapter built in instead of the $200 adapter only. I would probably still be praising them as I used it a couple days ago at the V3 location.

 

[MachSteve]

No, there is not.

Park on the right end and you only use 1 charger.
Or, park in the trailer spot.
Or, occupy 2 spaces as Tesla recommends.

How does parking on the right end use only 1 charger?

 

[RickMachE]

How does parking on the right end use only 1 charger?

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