Tesla Model S To Have CHAdeMO Quick-Charge Adaptor In Japan

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Tesla Model S To Have CHAdeMO Quick-Charge Adaptor In Japan

Antony Ingram

2,160 views Jan 11, 2013

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CHAdeMO standard - on ECOtality DC fast charger

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The Tesla Model S electric sedan is set to get a CHAdeMO quick-charge adaptor when it arrives on the market in Japan.

CHAdeMO is the leading quick-charge standard in Japan, and drivers have access to almost 1,900 charging stations across the country.

It's standard equipment on Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi i electric cars, but hasn't previously been an option on any Tesla model.

According to Japanese blog MONOist, Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] has announced that an adaptor will be available to convert the Model S's usual charging port for use with the CHAdeMO standard.

The Model S is set to arrive at more than 20 Tesla stores across Japan in mid-2013.

Tesla Japan hasn't yet announced local pricing, but its accessibility compared to the more expensive Tesla Roadster has meant Tesla is taking the CHAdeMO standard more seriously, in anticipation of higher sales volumes.

It isn't yet clear whether an adaptor will be made available for U.S. customers, with Model S owners not currently able to charge at the country's CHAdeMO fast-charge stations.

You can find out more on Model S quick charging via the Tesla Motors Club forum.

[Hat tip: Brian Henderson]

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Comments (14)

Tony Williams Posted: 1/11/2013 8:33am PST

Well, it's obvious if the adaptor shows up anywhere on the planet, they will end up in the USA. It's one FedEx package away.

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Patrick Connor Posted: 1/11/2013 8:58am PST

They will need them here in Oregon too. We have 50 CHAdeMO DCFCs around the state.

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Doug King Posted: 1/11/2013 3:57pm PST

While I appreciate you guys actually linking to TMC, I wish you did slightly more homework. For example the relevant thread is here:
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/7107-Likelihood-of-a-CHAdeMO-adapter-for-the-Model-S?p=249931&viewfull=1#post249931

"The Model S is set to arrive at more than 20 Tesla stores across Japan in mid-2013."

Do you have a source for that? Did you bother to call someone at Tesla? Does that even begin to make sense that Tesla would need that many stores in a country that small? Don't rely on Google translate for Japanese.

As far as I know there is one store and one service center in Japan.
http://www.teslamotors.com/findus/stores

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Doug King Posted: 1/11/2013 4:05pm PST

From my reading of the MONOist post (I've studied Japanese for some years), they mention that Tesla already has more than 20 Roadster charging stations (HPCs) installed in Japan. (Not 20 Tesla stores!) Here's a Google map of Roadster HPCs in Japan: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=205212913252844408678.00049db3a7393559861a0

While the Model S supporting CHAdeMO (at least through an adapter) in Japan is a no-brainer, how about you guys do some journalism and try to find a primary source instead of misquoting a blog in a language you can't read. I'm sure there are people at Tesla you can call or email.

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CDspeed . Posted: 1/12/2013 7:47am PST

There is one question that keeps popping-up in my head, how much could Tesla have saved in development costs if they had just gone with what appears to be existing charging standards? They developed their own plugs, so they're having to completely build their own quick charging network and produce adaptors for each car built because the car is basically incompatible with the charging infrastructure. I know level 3's standard is still being worked out but J1772 seems to be set in stone. Tesla may have to one day switch to what is standard, because their unique standard might start to turn well informed electric car buyers away.

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Steve Maifert Posted: 1/12/2013 9:19am PST

I've often wondered that myself. But then I think, if Tesla had gone with what is standard, stuffing an electric powertrain into a conventional ICE design, we wouldn't have Model S. Most charging is done at home. I don't think Tesla's proprietary connector will matter that much to EV buyers. If you were to ask Tesla, they would probably say they provide the J1772 adapter to make Model S backwards compatible, while they march forward with their Supercharger infrastructure that will make Model S, and X, the genuine cross country vehicles they were meant to be. I do hope Tesla will eventually provide the CHAdeMO adapter and software for North American owners, as it provides more opportunity charging possibilities.

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CDspeed . Posted: 1/12/2013 11:47am PST

True I guess with such incredible range the ordinary parking lot charger isn't really needed as much. And who knows when other brands start offering 300 mile ranges perhaps a new sleeker charging standard will replace J1772 so it is also possible that Tesla's charging standard could still go mainstream. I guess I'm thinking to far ahead as nothing is truly finalized and a set standard is probably a few years away.

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Just O Posted: 1/12/2013 5:18pm PST

I also see no technical reason Tesla couldn't have adopted J1772 (single-phase) or Mennekes (3-phase) for AC charging, and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging.
Expect, yes, those connectors don't look very sexy at all.

Maybe Tesla wants to be the Apple or Sony of EVs, create their own world where their stuff works, different and separate from anyone else's.
I'm no fan of this approach, esp when it comes to public infrastructure.
Good that at least Tesla plans on selling adapters; hopefully those will be available in the US too.

Btw, level-3 charging standard at up to 90kW is very much a solved problem, with CHAdeMO being around since 2009 and now being IEC standard as well.
The only entity still "working on it" is the SAE...

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Norm Satkoski Posted: 1/13/2013 9:00pm PST

Have you considered the Free-Power part of the Tesla supercharger network? For me, their unique standard is assuring me I can recharge for free without having the charging ports clogged with Volts and Leafs. Can we really expect Tesla to provide free power to the entire electric fleet? It's great marketing and the proprietary plug makes it work.

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CDspeed . Posted: 1/14/2013 5:35am PST

It might not be free forever, sure it sounds sweet now but once the supercharger network is well established they could start charging people to support the network. I can't see them building stations and employing people to permanently offer free charging services.

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Norm Satkoski Posted: 1/15/2013 9:15am PST

The charging network is designed for long-distance traveling, not every-day fill-ups. It will be complete when the major cross-country interstates are covered. The chargers will be solar powered so Tesla won't even incur power charges. They are totally automated, so there are no people employed to permanently offer free charging. Tesla has announced the service will be free for the life of my vehicle. Face it, what' not to love?

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Pat Bahn Posted: 1/12/2013 10:30am PST

i suspect we may end up with what we see in the Gasoline market, every gas pump produces 87,89 and 93 octane fuel as well as many stations have a diesel pump or a LNG dispenser. As charging grows, we may see chargers with a octupus of charging heads J1772, ChaDemo, 220 Nema 50, Tesla,,,, It's just how it will work.

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Yuval Brandstetter Posted: 1/12/2013 1:44pm PST

1900 ports in a 120 million country? that is ridiculous. Better Place has hundreds of charge ports in a 8 million resident country AND 2 scores of switch-stations active. Japan, totally oil-less should have had millions of charge ports by now!!

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James Cooke Posted: 1/13/2013 3:10am PST

Yeah, but if the 1900 Quick chargers are properly spaced, then you could drive anywhere in the country within a reasonable amount of time. Not something that you can currently do in the UK. Then as the number of newly useful EVs starts increasing on the roads, you just put in new quick chargers as needed. I'm very impressed with the number of quick chargers in Japan atm, much better than in the UK.

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