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Review: Tesla Model S CHAdeMO Adapter

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A little over a year ago, I put my name on the waitlist for the Tesla Model S CHAdeMO adapter. At the time I was still unsure whether I would need it, or want it, but thought it would be good to get the option. Tesla wanted a pricey $1,000 for the adapter during that time but I figured that I could always turn it down when my number came up.

Well… Something happened between then and now. Tesla dropped the price and my number was called. So… We said, “what the heck.”

Tesla Model S CHAdeMO Adapter

Tesla does such a great job with the packaging for their accessories:

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-Packaging

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-Packaging-Unboxed

Tesla’s instructions are elegantly presented in the following pictograph:

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-Instructions

Being a technical person, I found these pictographs to be well done and quite easy to follow. Now, I’m unsure whether they’re great for non-technical people, but between this pictograph and the one provided for the Premium Rear Console, I have to tip my hat off to Tesla for providing very easy to follow instructions.

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How do I use it?

Be aware that (at least in the United States) there is a waitlist (as of March 23, 2015) when it comes to placing your order for the the CHAdeMO adapter.  When your number is called, you have to make the decision whether to order it or not.

So, how do we use the CHAdeMO to Model S Adapter? Well, it depends on which CHAdeMO L3 Charger you’re using. I chose to try the adapter with an Eaton CHAdeMO charger and a Nissan CHAdeMO charger because the two locations that I identified provide quick charging without a fee. Many of the Nissan CHAdeMOs have been converted to a pay system and require an RFID and payment to charge. I have not yet used any of those.

STEP 1 is to attach the CHAdeMO cable from the L3 charger to the Adapter. Make sure to align the notches appropriately, it won’t fit otherwise.

Here is the Eaton CHAdeMO pictured

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-Eaton

STEP 2 is to mate the CHAdeMO to the Tesla Model S CHAdeMO adapter.

Here is the Eaton CHAdeMO pictured

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-2

Seat the Eaton CHAdeMO to the Adapter and make sure that it is secure. Here is the Nissan CHAdeMO pictured.

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Be sure to pull the trigger on the Nissan CHAdeMO to secure the piece to the adapter.

STEP 3 is to plug the Adapter to the Model S.

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-Plugged-In

STEP 4 is to press start on the CHAdeMO Charger to initiate the charge.

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-4 Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-5 Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-3

It’s the blue START button, I forgot to take a picture of me pressing the button. Go back to the car or go about your business, but put a note on the car if you do leave so that anyone who needs to use the charger can contact you.

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Charging

Notice the charge speed of CHAdeMO

One of the things that you will notice that is different between the Eaton and the Nissan CHAdeMO station is that the Eaton provides an estimate of how long the charge will take to full. The Nissan one that I have found do not do the same.

From the Nissan CHAdeMO’s display:

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter-6

STEP 5 – Press the STOP button when charging is complete and detach the Adapter from the charger’s CHAdeMO cable.

Side by side comparison of the Eaton CHAdeMO (left) with Nissan’s CHAdeMO (right).

Eaton-CHAdeMO-Charger Eaton-CHAdeMO-Nissan-Charger

Taking a look at how the two charging adapters compare with one another:

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Eaton-CHAdeMO-Eaton-Charger Eaton-CHAdeMO-Nissan-Charger-Adapter

[I don’t remember if there was a button on the Eaton (left), but some of them do… press that to release. Nissan’s charger (right) requires to you to slide the grey lock away from the handle to unlock.

STEP 6 – Press the black button on “top” of the CHAdeMO cable. Make sure to be ready to catch the Tesla Model  S CHAdeMO Adapter.

Eaton-CHAdeMO-Nissan-Charger-Handle

And finally, STEP 7 requires you to return the cable back to its proper charging station and stow away the Tesla Model S CHAdeMO adapter.

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO-Adapter

If you’re interested in more pictures of the CHAdeMO to Model S Adapter, here’s my flickr stream.

So, is the adapter worth $1,000? I probably wouldn’t have bought it for that much. However, since they dropped the price to $450, it came down to a price that is less than Henry Sharp’s CAN Adapters for the Roadster.

How useful is it? Well, on a recent trip to San Diego, I found a Nissan dealership (Pacific Nissan in Mission Bay) that allowed me to use their CHAdeMO. This is useful as Tesla has not completed the build out of the Supercharger down to San Diego. The nearest one is the San Juan Capistrano, one that is reported to be very busy.

Tesla-Model-S-CHAdeMO

I’m not sure how often I will need to use the adapter, but at $450, it was at a price point that is intriguing. The product is well-built, well documented, and works. Charging adapters are priceless when you need them in an emergency. There’s nothing more embarrassing than running out of charge.

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It’s a very useful adapter for folks that have access to many CHAdeMO stations and want the extra insurance of being able to access these charging locations. It’s a critical adapter for those that have limited access to superchargers and need access to travel to areas not covered by superchargers but are covered by CHAdeMO

Elon may think that the recently announced 6.2 firmware will end range anxiety, but I find the ability to charge at any rate is comforting. Even 110V at 3 miles per hour could work, in a pinch. But 130+ miles an hour over CHAdeMO is a bit better than 3 miles per hour.

This post was originally published on Dennis’ blog.

Lifestyle

Tesla Semi futuristic sci-fi acceleration sound will never get old

Videos that capture the Semi moving at speed are most notable due to their sheer cool factor.

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Credit: Tesla Owners Silicon Valley/X

The Tesla Semi is not yet in mass production, but the company has accumulated over 7.9 million miles across its test fleet. With Tesla using the Semi for its operations, it is no surprise that sightings of the Class 8 all-electric truck have been abounding. 

These sightings from Tesla enthusiasts vary, but those that capture the the Class 8 all-electric truck moving at speed are most notable, possibly due to their sheer cool factor.

Tesla Semi’s Roar

There is something that just stands out with the Semi, particularly on the road. While the Semi does not have the Cybertruck’s brutalist, angular design, it is still very striking because it’s such a massive machine that moves far too quietly for its size. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the vehicle also becomes extra noteworthy when it fires up its electric motors and accelerates.

Take this video from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, for example, which shows the all-electric hauler accelerating while pulling what appears to be a full load. In these situations, the Tesla Semi actually becomes audible, but unlike traditional diesel-powered truck, the Class 8 all-electric truck “roars” with its own, unique futuristic, sci-fi sound. In such situations, one could feel the Semi’s raw power, which comes from its three independent motors on its rear axles.

Tesla Semi Ramp

Tesla has been promoting the Semi quite a bit as of late, and recent reports have suggested that the company is putting in a lot of effort to prepare the vehicle for its production in Nevada. Tesla’s Careers website has gone live with over 80 Semi-related job openings recently as well, and a recent report has suggested that Tesla has ramped the Semi’s factory workers in Nevada to over 1,000 employees.

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The company has even shared an update video of the Semi factory’s progress near Giga Nevada, as well as the design of the vehicle’s new logo. The Semi’s updated logo is quite interesting as it features elements from the Tesla Model 3’s first logo, which was unveiled way back in 2016.

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Elon Musk jokes he will join Mr Beast’s “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla” challenge

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again.

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Credit: Elon Musk/X

Following the first quarter Tesla earnings call, CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a bit more relaxed—relaxed enough to joke about fighting a gorilla with 99 other people, at least.

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again and not too busy picking fights with politicians on social media.

The Viral 100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge

Over the weekend, a post on social media platform X went viral. The post itself was quite simple, with user @DreamChasnMike stating that he thinks 100 men could beat one gorilla. “Everybody just gotta be dedicated to the sh*t,” the X user joked. The post exploded on the platform, garnering 284 million impressions as of writing.

The silly question also triggered a massive debate about whether 100 men would really stand a chance against a literal gorilla. Some users even lamented that the premise was a sign of male hubris. Nevertheless, the question proved to be a fun topic on X, with some more dedicated users even posting simulated videos of what the “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge” could look like. 

Mr. Beast and Elon Musk Join In

The premise is quite similar to other viral videos from noted YouTube creator Mr. Beast, so it was no surprise that edited images of Mr. Beast YouTube thumbnails with “100 Men vs a Gorilla” also started spreading on the social media platform. Mr. Beast, who tends to be game to such silly ideas, actually reposted the edited image, joking “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?”

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In true Elon Musk fashion, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO noted that he would join the challenge. “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen” Musk wrote in his post on X. Musk’s reply triggered quite a few laughs on X, with some stating that the world probably still needs the CEO.

While silly, Musk’s comment and his recent, more frequent posts about his companies’ products like Starlink and Grok have been received well by his supporters. Over the past months, after all, Musk has been very political and quite confrontational on social media. With Musk soon taking a step back from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) daily operations, however, it seems like X will soon get a more tempered and lighthearted Elon Musk once more.

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Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory

The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

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Image Credit: @metgodinwilderness7130/YouTube

During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.

The Sighting

Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.

During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.

Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.

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What Lars Moravy Said

In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3. 

During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.

Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.

The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.

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