Tesla has become one of the leading EV brands. With its outstanding performance and unparalleled Supercharging network, we can confidently drive a Tesla vehicle and know that we will be fine traveling long distances.
However, there will still be some occasions where we need to charge our Tesla on a non-Tesla charger with a Tesla charging adapter.
So what kind of charging adapters do you need on the market for Tesla vehicles?
Tesla Charger Adapter
Tesla Mobile Charger Adapter
A Tesla mobile connector that can deliver up to 32 amps comes with every Tesla vehicle in North America.
Tesla used to include a NEMA 14-50 adapter, but now they only give you a NEMA 5-15 plug which can just plug in a regular household outlet.
In order to improve the charge rate with the mobile charger, you can purchase a Tesla NEMA 14-50 240-volt adapter that connects to a NEMA 14-50 outlet (the most common Level 2 outlet at home) and turns the mobile connector into a Level 2 charger.
So the Tesla NEMA14-50 charging adapter is the #1 Tesla charger adapter.
Every electric vehicle comes with a J1772 connector except the Tesla vehicle which has a proprietary connector. The Tesla connector is much smaller and sleeker than the J1772 connector.
If you have both Tesla and non-Tesla vehicles and want to charge your non-Tesla with the Tesla mobile charger, you will need a Tesla to J1772 adapter.
As the mobile charger offers the top power of 32 amps, a Lectron Tesla to J1772 adapter would be a good pick to deliver the power because it has a maximum charge rating of 40 amps.
So the Lectron Tesla to J1772 charging adapter is the #2 Tesla charger adapter.
Compared with the Lectron Tesla-J1772 adapter, the TeslaTap MiNi 40-amp Tesla to J1772 adapter is obviously smaller, lighter and takes up less space, but it does cost more.
These two Tesla adapters are built well, safety certified and can handle the power that the mobile connector delivers.
You can check these two Tesla adapters for more information on Amazon: Lectron Tesla-J1772 adapter and TeslaTap MiNi 40-amp Tesla to J1772 adapter.
Tesla Wall Charger / Destination Charger Adapter
The Tesla wall charger or a Tesla destination charger can deliver a maximum power of 48 amps. If you want to charge a VW ID.4, Mustang Mach-E or a 2022 Chevy Bolt which have an on-board charger acceptance rate of around 11 kW, a TeslaTap mini 60-amp Tesla to J1772 adapter is a great choice.
So the TeslaTap mini 60-amp Tesla to J1772 charging adapter is the #3 Tesla charger adapter.
Third-Party J1772 Charger Adapter for Tesla
If you are driving your Tesla on the road, and there are no DC fast chargers or Superchargers, and there are just Level 2 chargers nearby, and you are going out of energy, you would definitely need to recharge your Tesla with the Level 2 charger before it’s going “dead”.
To charge your Tesla with a third-party Level 2 charger, you need a J1772 to Tesla charging adapter. Every Tesla comes with this adapter, but if you need another one, click here.
So the J1772 to Tesla charging adapter is the #4 Tesla charger adapter.
DC Fast Charging Station Adapter for Tesla
Tesla CCS adapter will definitely be needed when making road trips in your Tesla. Tesla has the best DC fast-charging network on the market. The fast charging speed and solid reliability will take care of your trip.
However, there may be some cases when you need to charge your Tesla at other branded DC fast charging stations.
As the CHAdeMo connector is dying out in the market in the USA, and the CSS is the future choice of fast charging connector, the adapter you would want to buy is the Tesla CCS adapter.
The Lectron Tesla CCS adapter is Lectron’s brand new product which can super fast charge up to 120 kW depending on the CCS charging station and Tesla model.
So the Tesla CCS adapter is the #5 Tesla charger adapter.
Why Do You Need An Adapter For Your Tesla?
Charging At Home
You could get away with the mobile connector that came with your car or the so-called Level 1 charging cable. But it will take a huge amount of time to charge your car with 110-volt outlets. You may want a Level 2 charging station to charge at 220 volts, which is much faster.
If you were a huge fan of Telsa or its boss Elon Musk, you probably wouldn’t need another Level 2 charging station at home because you probably will only buy Tesla vehicles in the future.
However, if you would like to buy an electric car from another manufacturer with a J1772 charging port, you probably should consider buying a Level 2 charging station with a J1772 charging port and use an adapter to charge your Tesla at home.
The reason is that other Level 2 charging stations might come with a longer charging cable and more features that you need. Besides, it will make your transition to other vehicles cheaper without the need to switch charging stations.
There are other J1772 to Tesla adapters on the market but be careful of the maximum current that it can handle.
If you are charging at a higher amperage than your adapter could take, you would probably break your adapter or even your vehicle. All Tesla vehicles except Tesla Model 3 SR+ can charge at a maximum of 48 amps with AC charging.
Charging On the Road
When you are staying not at home on a road trip, there might be other Level 2 public charging stations out there near your overnight hotel. You will be fine if the Level 2 charging station is a Tesla destination charger. But you can also charge at other AC charging stations with an adapter to make your journey more convenient.
There are two occasions where you will need the adapters for DC fast charging.
1. Busy Superchargers During Holiday Sessions
During normal usage, you will see tons of Tesla superchargers available, and you are the only one at the supercharging station.
However, during busy holiday traveling time, you will need to share charging power at V2 superchargers with others.
Sometimes, you even need to wait in line for charging at Tesla superchargers while other brands’ DC charging stations are empty. So if you had an adapter that allows you to charge at other DC charging stations, you would save a lot of time.
2. Lots Of Routes Are Not Covered By Supercharging Network
There is no doubt that Tesla’s supercharging network has the best coverage at the moment. But there are still uncovered back roads.
You might find yourself in a situation where your part of your planned route is not covered by the Tesla Supercharging network, and you will need to use a third-party DC fast charging station to complete your journey. Otherwise, you probably need to go through a much longer route.
Therefore, you would need a Tesla CSS or CHAdeMo adapter for charging your Tesla on the road to get a smooth and convenient journey.