Great news for Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and R1S owners! As of March 2024, these electric vehicles can tap into the vast network of Tesla Superchargers, significantly expanding their fast-charging options. But there’s a catch.
These vehicles use the CCS (Combined Charging System) standard, while Tesla Superchargers utilize their own proprietary connector. To bridge the gap, an adapter is needed. Here’s what you need to know:
- The NACS Adapter: This stands for North American Charging Standard. It essentially converts the the Tesla Supercharger plug to on that is compatible with your Ford or Rivian.
- Free Adapters!: Both Ford and Rivian have offered to send FREE adapters to current owners but there is overwhelming demand. Rivian hasn’t detailed how long it will take to ship adapters. With Ford, owners have estimated ship times ranging from April all the way to September.
What if you need an adapter now?
If you can’t wait for your free adapter, there are some third party options – notably A2Z & Lectron. Both of these companies have lots of experience making charging equipment and adapters for EVs.
Just be clear that Ford, Rivian, and Tesla do not officially support these adapters yet. The certification process for the adapters has not been finalized. However, both A2Z and Lectron are confident their adapters will be certified.
NACS Adapters from A2Z Typhoon & Lectron Vortex
The most important specs about these adapters are identical. They both are rated for up to 500 amps & 1000 volts. Each has thermal sensors that will halt charging if the adapter gets too hot. They also have safety features to prevent accidentally unplugging the adapter if the vehicle is charging.
There are some differences though:
- A2Z Typhoon NACS Adapter (VIDEO REVIEW): The Typhoon is the smaller of the two adapters and it weighs less. To connect the adapter to the NACS plug, there is a sliding latch that you have to lock. If the latch is not locked, charging will not begin. There were a few times when we initially tested the adapter that charging wouldn’t start because we inadvertently unlocked the adapter. Now that we are used to it, this is only a minor concern.
- Lectron Vortex NACS Adapter (VIDEO REVIEW): The Lectron Vortex feels a lot bigger and heftier than the A2Z or the free Ford/Rivian/Tesla adapter. This makes it a bit unwieldy. To secure the NACS connector, you simply insert it into the Vortex adapter. To release the NACS connector you push a button. That makes it relatively simple but it also means you can accidentally push that button while you are plugging it into the vehicle.
In our brief tests with both adapters, they each performed well. Supercharging worked perfectly and we had no issues. We monitored the heat of the adapters while charging and didn’t see any problems with either adapter.
Choosing the Right NACS Adapter for You
If you can wait, the free adapter from Ford or Rivian is what we recommend.
But if you can’t wait, both the A2Z Typhoon and Lectron Vortex are capable NACS adapters that will get you connected to the Tesla Supercharger network. The best choice depends on your individual preferences. The A2Z adapter is smaller but some people find the latch tricky at first. The Lectron adapter is way bigger and heftier.If you are in a hurry, you might want to see which one might ship first since there is heavy demand for both. If you are price conscious, check the price. Although they are nearly identical and both have free shipping, there are some discount codes for the A2Z. We have an affiliate discount code that saves you up to 15% when you enter it at checkout (machevlog) or just use this link.
Lectron Vortex NACS Adapter