Tag: charging

Disconnecting the Lectron Vortex from a Super Charger

If you are reading this, chances are you were searching for information on disconnecting the Lectron Vortex adapter stuck on that Super Charger. I’ll give the answer to that priority.

  1. Keep the NACS to CCS adapter connected to your car
  2. Grab onto the NACS cable and apply pressure as though you were pushing it into your car
  3. Squeeze the NACS release cable. This will require significant force. You may have to start squeezing with both hands
  4. Pull or work the cable out. I’ve had to use a bit of a rotation moment to work one out

Step 2 is key. If you don’t push the adapter in a little before pressing the disconnect lever, the adapter can prevent the disconnect lever from going down.

Video on Removing the Lectron Vortex from a NACS

What’s Going On Here

Now that I’ve gotten the information for the people that have found themselves in a desperate situation out of the way, I’ve gor more to say on what’s going on here. Tesla has opened their chargers to a wider variety of cars. The Version 4 super chargers have adapters built in so that they can connect to both Teslas (NACS interface) and non-Teslas (CCS interface). For the Version 3 Super Chargers (which are more widely deployed) there is no built in adapter. A driver can buy an adapter to keep in their car and use as needed. However, compared to the demand, those adapters are in short supply. People that have ordered them from Tesla may see deliver dates that are several months out. This can be a significant disadvantage for those that need to take long trips where charging options may be few. Rather than delay a trip, one might decide to get an adapter for upcoming trips to open up their options. However, note that often times the car manufacturer may prohibit the usage of a third party adapter for DC Fast Charging. Tesla also prohibits the user of third party adapters with their chargers. The key advantage that the third party adapters have over the Tesla adapter is that they are available.

What are the Third Party Options

There are a total of 2 third party adapters available in the USA at the time that I am writing this. Those are the Lectron Vortex and the A2Z Typhoon. Neither is approved by Tesla. Tesla has yet to announce a certification program.

Lectron’s first release of the Vortex had an issue where it was possible to disconnect the NACS without terminating the charging or pressing the release levers. This could have dangerous outcomes! Lectron did a recall and released an updated version of their adapter. In the update, I think they may have overcorrected. In the current version that is available, it is difficult to operate the lever and move it far enough to release the charger. While I’ve seen complaints about the need to remember to engage the lock on the A2P Typhoon. I don’t have experience with the Typhoon myself. I do have a Vortex.

Though I didn’t need a charge, I drove to a local super charger to test how the adapter fits with the car and the Super Charger’s NACS interface. When I was disconnecting, I ran into serious problems in trying to disconnect. It took me about 20 minutes to disconnect the cable. Afterward, I contacted Lectron to complain. They gave me the procedure in the begining of this post. I was hesitant to try it at another Super Charger. I did acquire an adapter with a NACS end to connect to my adapter to try the procedure. It was difficult, but it worked. While watching TV, I casually tried the procedure several more times. Later, I noticed after several inserts and disconnects, that the spring for the lever felt less agressively tight in a good way. It may be the case that with enough insert cycles that the device will settle on a reasonable grip level.

If I Get One of These, Can I Use Tesla Chargers?

Getting an adapter might not be sufficient to use a v3 Super Charger. In addition to having capabilities for interfacing (whether through having a NACS interface built in or having an adapter) the vehicle must also be authorized to use the charger. To date, Tesla has only authorized Rivian and Ford electric vehicles to use Tesla chargers. Other manufacturers have announced that they are partnering with Tesla to make charging evailable to their vehicles. But that is a promise that is yet to take usable form. GM was announced to be the next manufacturer with authorization after Ford. They had announced that they would have availability by the end of Spring 2024. Prior to then, Elon Musk laid off the entire Super Charger team. That likely had an impact on the GM integration and authorization of Super Charging. Some have reported that GM had the adapter listed for purchase for owners of their EVs for 35 USD. This is far less than the 200 to 249 USD price on the ohter adapters. But given that Tesla is behind on delivering the charger adapters to ford EV owners, the timeline for the rollout of other brands is more uncertain.

Mastodon: @j2inet@masto.ai
Instagram: @j2inet
Facebook: @j2inet
YouTube: @j2inet
Telegram: j2inet
Twitter: @j2inet

Lectron Vortex NACS (Tesla) to CCS Fast Charge adapter
Tesla(NACS) to CCS adapter
J1772 to NACS Charger Adapter

GM Tesla Charging Delayed

At this point, it is safe to say that GM will not meet its goal of having their cars open to Tesla charging by Spring 2024. The last day of spring astronomically was a few days ago. Q2 ends in a couple of days. In a previous post, I had mentioned that InsideEVs reported the following,

GM’s Supercharger Access Plan Is Still On Schedule, Despite Tesla’s Layoffs

“We plan to stick to the timeline that we previously announced, and that’s kind of all I can say,” Sanaz Marbley, director of global strategic technology communications at GM, told InsideEVs. 

I confirmed that the original timeline said that access would open up in spring of 2024.

“I think spring 2024 is accurate,” she said. 

GM Authority reported having received the following from General Motors recently.

“Thanks so much for reaching out. The Supercharger network is not yet open to GM customers,” GM Director of Strategic Technology Communications Sanaz Marbley told GM Authority. “We are working as quickly as possible to open up access to the Supercharger Network for our customers, and delivering a seamless charging experience is our priority. GM continues to expand charging infrastructure throughout North America, with GM drivers currently having access to more than 195,000 chargers. We believe that access to charging is the best way to serve our customers and grow the EV market.”

I’ve not seen a new timeline announced. That said, I’m declined to be critical of GM. Recent events of Tesla may have had disruptive effects. Musk laid off the entire Super Charger team. I cannot independently verify the results of that action, Brandon Flasche’s report of consequences in the aftermath including those that needed to contact the Super Charger team “getting bounced e-mails with references to reach out to someone else” sound like something that could result in delays for projects.

Ford, which has access to Super Charging, still has demand much larger than supply for the Tesla adapters. Presently, there are a couple of Super Charger adapters on the market that could be used. But I can’t recommend them for a couple of reasons (though I will talk about them in a Future post or two).

Tesla’s charger ToS states that third party adapters are prohibited for use at their chargers. But the odd advantage that the third-party adapters have over the Tesla made ones is that they are available! The two adapters are the A2Z Typhoon and the Lectron Vortex. I have in hand the Vortex and tested the connection on a v3 Super Charger (though no charging session was initiated). It was extremely difficult to remove! It took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to get it off. After some quick searching, I found that this is a common challenge, and came across a few reports of users abandoning their adapters because they could not remove them. I did reach out to Lectron about this and they replied with instructions on removing the adapter. They key parts of that to know are to keep the adapter connected to the car, apply pressure pushing the NACS adapter in the direction of the super charger (as though you were pushing it in further), press the NACS release lever on the adapter, then pull the NACS out. I’ve not gone back to test this procedure for fear of it getting stuck again. But I am going to try it with a “dumb” NACS adapter (If it gets stuck, at least I’ll not have to leave the adapter behind). I may also try out a Typhoon and report on hem later.

Mastodon: @j2inet@masto.ai
Instagram: @j2inet
Facebook: @j2inet
YouTube: @j2inet
Telegram: j2inet
Twitter: @j2inet

Lectron Vortex NACS (Tesla) to CCS Fast Charge adapter
Tesla(NACS) to CCS adapter

GM Access to Tesla Superchargers by Spring 2024?

Various car manufacturer adopted NACS (Tesla charging interface) as their preferred interface for their cars. Those manufacturers have also said that the cars they’ve already sold which use the CCS interface for charging will be able to acquire an adapter for charging at Tesla super chargers when the network opens. Ford vehicles already have access to the Tesla super charging network. GM had stated that they would have access to the Tesla charging network by Spring 2024. At the time that I’m posting this, 2024 June 12, it is only 8 more days until the first day of summer.

There have been concerns about hitting that date, especially since Tela fired the entire supercharger team. But according to InsideEVs, GM said that it was still on schedule to deliver according to its original deadline. With the first day of summer being only a week away, we will see whether they actually hit that mark.

“We plan to stick to the timeline that we previously announced, and that’s kind of all I can say,” Sanaz Marbley, director of global strategic technology communications at GM, told InsideEVs. 

As this rollout occurs, some, including myself, have wondered what this will mean for Tesla drivers. Newer Tesla chargers have much longer cables (Version 4 chargers). But many of the chargers already available have much shorter cables. These cables were meant to only power Tesla vehicles, which have their charge port in the back driver’s side tail light (Tesla drivers always back into the space). Many other vehicles have their charge port further away somewhere on the side of the vehicle. From the perspective of a Tesla charger, the port may also be on the wrong side. This results in a driver either needing to double-park for the cable to reach or use the charger on the “wrong side” from where they parked. Either situation results in two chargers now being unavailable to a Tesla driver.

Tesla states that drivers of other EVs may use the charger on the “wrong” side, as this is necessary for charging. But they ask that drivers not park diagnally. Though I can’t use the chargers yet, I drove a Chevrolet EUV Bolt to a local bank of version 3 super chargers and found that I could only reach the cable if I parked diagnally.

Interesting times are ahead at the Tesla charging banks.

I had to park diagnally for the cable to reach my car.

Posts may contain products with affiliate links. When you make purchases using these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Mastodon: @j2inet@masto.ai
Instagram: @j2inet
Facebook: @j2inet
YouTube: @j2inet
Telegram: j2inet
Twitter: @j2inet

NACS adapter for charging CCS Cars
CCS Adapter for charging Tesla Vehicles