Tesla has officially begun retrofitting its Supercharger network with CCS1 (Combined Charging System) adapters. The charging terminals will now let owners of all cars, not just Teslas, to top up their batteries.
To use the feature, however, drivers will still need to install a Tesla mobile app first. Unlocking the adapter at the terminal and controlling the charging process are available exclusively via the application.
Tesla warns that only select outlets in California and New York will be retrofitted for the time being. The company will then start gathering feedback, troubleshooting issues and studying the demand in various regions as it keeps expanding the network. Only areas with moderate Tesla EV traffic will be plugged in; where the traffic is dense, Teslas will be given a priority.
According to InsideEVs, once the Supercharger network is upgraded to support third-party EV charging, it may end up being America’s single largest public network of its kind. It may also entitle Tesla for certain amounts of state funding: the government pledges to subsidize any charging stations compatible with battery cars of at least two different brands.