Tesla has introduced the Wall Connector, a home charging station compatible with other electric vehicles, not only Tesla models.
Unlike all other electric vehicle manufacturers, Tesla uses its proprietary connector for vehicles built for the North American market. As a result, the company’s home chargers and charging network are only compatible with its own electric cars.
Tesla’s New Design
Tesla’s design has been hailed for being considerably easier to use and more efficient than the industry-wide CCS/J1772 standard. Earlier this year, there was also an attempt to make Tesla’s connector the new standard; however, it appears to have been in vain.
Tesla has been moving toward making its own charging infrastructure and goods available to other automakers’ electric vehicles. Last year Tesla launched a pilot project that saw 10 Supercharger stations in the Netherlands become accessible for other EVs. In addition, the company has hinted that it will install CCS connectors to Tesla Supercharger stations across North America as it did in Europe.
The Wall Connector
Last year, Tesla also briefly introduced a new version of its wall connector home charging station with a J1772 Wall Connector in place of its own. This indicated that the charger was designed with non-Tesla EV consumers in mind. The product was only offered for a short time, though.
Now, Tesla has launched a new version of its J1772 wall connector on its website for $550:
“Our J1772 Wall Connector is a convenient charging solution for Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicles alike and is ideal for houses, apartments, hospitality properties and workplaces.”
According to Tesla’s description, the company may target the commercial charging market. However, considering the connectivity and power-sharing features, it is quite affordable at $550, making it highly competitive with any other home EV charging station on the market:
“With up to 44 miles of range added per hour, a 24-foot cable, multiple power settings and a versatile indoor/outdoor design, the J1772 Wall Connector provides unparalleled convenience. It can also power-share to maximize existing electrical capacity, automatically distributing power and allowing you to charge multiple vehicles simultaneously.”
Tesla vehicles can also use the station; however, they must use an adaptor that comes with the car. Otherwise, Tesla owners must use the original Wall Connector from Tesla, which costs only $400 and comes with the proprietary Tesla plug.
