- Aftermarket NACS-to-NACS extension cords exist
- The lead engineer of the Tesla Cybertruck recommends not utilizing them over dangers of shorting out the charging course of (or worse)
- Tesla is already working to resolve the issue with new charger stalls and a first-party resolution
Let’s simply get this one out of the best way up high: no matter you do, please do not present as much as a Tesla Supercharger with an NACS “extension wire.”
Yup, you learn that proper. There’s an extension wire on the market now that may lengthen the size of a NACS-terminated charging cable, and apparently, some folks suppose that utilizing them at a high-output DC Quick Charger is a good concept. Tesla’s lead engineer for the Cybertruck has one piece of recommendation for these people: do not.
Wes Morrill took the chance to shortly denounce the thought of utilizing an extension wire on Tesla’s Superchargers or any DC Quick Charging station.
It may appear apparent, however pushing 250 kilowatts (or extra) by means of copper generates some critical warmth, even over brief distances. DCFCs compensate for this warmth by liquid-cooling their cables—and that is one thing that these extension cords do not help. As Morrill factors out, that might lead to an overheated cable shorting out, opening a unique bag of points.
“There is a temperature measurement within the deal with and the supercharger derates based mostly on that temperature,” mentioned Morrill. “With the extension cable that security goes away.”
What Morrill is describing is the alternative of the “moist towel trick” the place drivers place a chilly, damp towel on a Supercharging deal with to trick the temperature sensor into sustaining an elevated cost charge. When InsideEVs reported on this trick in Might—calling it out to be a security danger—the automaker publicly said that the moist towel trick had no impact on charging velocity. Nonetheless, Morrill’s response signifies that the deal with’s temperature sensor does, the truth is, derate charging based mostly on the deal with temperature.
The vendor of the extension cable, A2Z EV, posted a video of the extension cable on X earlier this month, and it does look reasonably beefy. The OEM additionally says that it is dedicated to security and does carry out temperature checks on its merchandise. Maybe that is why the corporate replied to Morrill asking to debate additional to raised perceive his argument in opposition to utilizing the product. If I needed to guess, they’ll get a really comparable earful from the engineer.
Reaching For Effectivity
I am going to admit this: an extension cable is a great transfer. I imply, even Tesla thinks so, as a result of they’re constructing their very own NACS-to-NACS extension cable.
Tesla has been opening up its Superchargers to non-Tesla automobiles over the previous yr (together with Basic Motors, as of in the present day). The issue is that the situation of a cost port is not standardized, so automakers are simply type of inserting it at no matter nook of the car they really feel is the perfect match. Because of this GM, Ford, Rivian, and the opposite automakers that may ultimately have entry to Tesla’s chargers might want to double-park with the intention to juice up.
Once more, it is smart for an extension cable to exist. To simply have the ability to plug in an extended cable looks as if an excellent concept, and when you might do it, you should not.
Extension cables introduce resistance to the combo. The longer electrical energy must run throughout a cable, the extra resistance it encounters. This implies extra warmth. And if the charger would not derate, effectively, let’s simply say that you do not need to be the individual identified for melting an extension cable to their automobile (or, worse, to a Supercharger).
Hazard apart, these cables additionally pose an effectivity drawback. DCFCs are supposed to be quick. Plug in, cost up, and depart. If the charger is limiting itself due to an overheated cable, which means slowing down each individual ready in line for his or her flip on the charger. However then once more, so does double-parking, so choose your poison.
The Backside Line: Preserve It Easy
If there’s one factor we have discovered with the transfer in direction of EVs, it is that simplicity is commonly key. Over-complicating results in unreliability ( you, cost processors), and Tesla’s Superchargers are already a marvel of engineering constructed to take the guesswork out of charging. If you introduce variables like extension cables, you might mess up an in any other case slippery clean expertise.
Talking of which, Tesla is already engaged on addressing the issue. First-party extension cable apart, it has additionally begun putting in V4 charging stalls at new Supercharging websites in North America this yr, albeit with older V3 cupboards to produce the ability. Presumably, that is to accommodate all the new automobiles that may want a bit of additional attain within the cable, as V4 stalls have an extended attain than V3, which have been solely designed for Tesla’s charger placement port.
So let’s take it from the man who, fairly actually, constructed the Cybertruck. Whereas it might appear attractive to purchase one in every of these cables for underneath $300, the issues it dangers introducing aren’t well worth the danger. Your automobile—and different drivers ready behind you on the Supercharger—will thanks.
