FYI: Tesla’s head engineer expressed concerns about a new Supercharger extension cable, prompting a robust defense from the cable’s manufacturer, A2Z EV, which assures safety and assumes liability.
Tesla’s Engineer Criticizes New Supercharger Extension Cable, Manufacturer A2Z EV Responds with Safety Assurances
Tesla’s lead Cybertruck engineer, Wes Morrill, recently sparked a debate within the EV community by strongly advising against using Supercharger extension cables. Morrill’s comments, delivered via the social media platform X, raised concerns about potential safety risks, including overheating, power issues, and even the possibility of fires when using extension cords with high-output EV chargers.
Morrill’s Concerns
Morrill warned that Supercharger extension cables could create an unsafe charging environment, especially as more non-Tesla EV owners gain access to the Tesla Supercharging network. These owners, whose vehicles often have charging ports in non-ideal locations for the short cables provided at Supercharger stations, saw extension cables as a solution to make their charging experience more convenient. Morrill’s warning caused a stir, making many reconsider their use of such extension cables.
A2Z EV’s Reassurance
Responding to Morrill’s critique, A2Z EV, the manufacturer of the extension cable in question, took to social media to address these concerns directly. The company assured the public that its extension cable incorporates multiple safety features designed to prevent the very issues Morrill highlighted. These features include built-in temperature sensors located at both ends of the cable, which will automatically shut down the charging process if overheating is detected.
Legal Liability and Confidence
In a bold move, A2Z EV also declared that it would accept legal liability if any issues arose that could be attributed to their extension cable, whether that be damage to vehicles or incidents like fires. This statement of confidence shows that A2Z stands firmly behind the safety and reliability of its product, despite the concerns raised by Tesla’s top engineer.
The Ongoing Debate
While A2Z EV has made its case for the safety of their product, the debate is far from over. Introducing any additional component into the charging process can introduce technical challenges. Questions remain about how these extension cables might affect the overall charging process and whether their use could affect Tesla’s warranty policies or insurance claims.
Extensive Testing and Future Collaboration?
A2Z EV has assured that it won’t release its extension cable without extensive testing to ensure safety and reliability. The company also expressed openness to collaborating with Tesla to ensure that their product meets Tesla’s standards. However, given that Tesla is reportedly developing its own extension cable, it remains to be seen how willing they will be to support a third-party product.
Overcoming Stigma
Even if future testing validates the safety of A2Z EV’s extension cable, the stigma created by Morrill’s initial comments will be challenging to overcome. Additionally, Tesla might implement detection methods in their Superchargers to disable any unauthorized accessories.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Supercharger extension cables highlights the complexities that come with EV charging infrastructure as it evolves to accommodate a growing number of non-Tesla EV owners. Whether A2Z EV can demonstrate the safety and reliability of their product sufficiently remains to be seen, but their willingness to assume legal liability and openness to collaboration indicates confidence in their product.
Stay tuned to automotive.fyi for further updates on this developing story. For more insights and updates, reach out to us at tips@automotive.fyi, or on Twitter @automotivefyi.
William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
