Tom Moloughney, the State of Charge YouTube channel host, had the chance to install the new charging unit and perform an initial test on an electric car that wasn't made by Tesla.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV was connected to the Universal Wall Connector after replacing the Tesla GEN3 Wall Connector. Tom reported that although the initiation of the charging session took slightly longer than with the GEN 3 Wall Connector, the first try proved successful.
The new charging solution from Tesla can be used for both NACS and J1772 vehicles since it has a built-in J1772 adapter. This adapter can be attached to the NACS plug if required. The Universal Wall Connector functions similarly to the Supercharger's DC Magic Dock but for AC charging, with its built-in CCS1 adapter.
Tesla states that the Universal Wall Connector is rated at 11.5 kilowatts (48-amp output) and has a 24-foot (7,31 meters) cable length that is relatively long. The cable length of a universal charging unit is crucial as electric vehicles have various charging inlets located in different positions.
Tesla's website discloses that the Universal Wall Connector starts at $595, which is more expensive than the standard Wall Connector, priced at $475 and only for NACS-equipped vehicles. Although orders are already being accepted, shipping for Universal Wall Connector units will not commence until October 2023.
In general, the introduction of the Universal Wall Connector appears to be a wise decision by Tesla. This move anticipates the forthcoming shift from DC CCS1 and AC J1772 charging standards to the NACS system, which combines AC and DC charging scenarios into one connector.
A few manufacturers have declared the launch of NACS charging equipment for AC charging, but none have produced an all-inclusive device that could support both NACS and J1772-equipped vehicles.
Source: InsideEVs
