News
Tesla’s CCS Supercharger expansion ramps with dual-charge stall sightings in Europe
Tesla is yet to start deliveries of the Model 3 in Europe, but the electric car maker is already making the necessary preparations for the vehicle’s upcoming arrival. Across the region, for example, Tesla is expanding its CCS Supercharger Network, which is specifically designed to support the Model 3. Several members of the Tesla community across Europe have shared images of the dual charge stations being installed in multiple locations as well, further suggesting that Tesla’s CCS Supercharger ramp is well underway.
As noted by Tesla in a previous statement, the first dual charge CCS charging stalls were set up in the Badhoevedorp Supercharger near the Corendon Village Hotel, just outside Amsterdam last month. Tesla installed eight additional stalls on the site, each one equipped with both a Type 2 and CCS plug. The electric car maker noted that the CCS stalls are compatible with the Model S, 3, and X, though images of the chargers themselves list the stations as “Model 3 Priority.” Tesla further noted that the existing Supercharger Network in Europe would be retrofitted with the dual charge setup in the near future.
In true Tesla fashion, Tesla has not let up on its efforts to expand its CCS Superchargers in the region. Earlier this month, images of the first CCS-compatible Supercharger stall from Norway was shared on Reddit. Tesla owner enthusiast and longtime YouTube host Bjorn Nyland even featured the newly installed dual charge stations in one of his videos. In social media platforms, Tesla owners from Germany have also reported sightings of the newly-updated Superchargers being set up — an indication that Tesla is preparing for a massive influx of Model 3 in the region.
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- (Photo: Klaus Schäfer/Facebook)
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- (Photo: Klaus Schäfer/Facebook)
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- (Photo: Klaus Schäfer/Facebook)
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- (Photo: Klaus Schäfer/Facebook)
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- (Photo: Klaus Schäfer/Facebook)
A dual charge CCS Supercharger listed as “Model 3 Priority” is spotted in Germany. (Photo: Klaus Schäfer/Facebook)
Unlike the Model S and Model X — both of which are fitted with a Type 2 port — the Model 3 is equipped with a CCS port. The company’s adoption of CCS stands as a significant step forward for the electric car maker, considering that the standard is prevalent in the region, being preferred by notable European automakers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and the Daimler group. CCS combines a Type 2 design, which is utilized for slower AC charging at home or work, as well as two DC pins at the bottom for fast charging. By adopting CCS for the Model 3, Tesla is all but laying the foundations for a massive charging infrastructure that employs one of the most popular standards in the region.
This, of course, presents some advantages for the electric car maker. Considering the wide reach of the Supercharger Network, Tesla could open the doors to its charging infrastructure to other automakers, providing itself with a potentially lucrative source of revenue. This was something that was referenced by Tesla Head of Global Charging Infrastructure Drew Bennett in an interview with Auto Express UK, when he noted that several electric car companies have already reached out to Tesla about the idea of using the Supercharger Network.
“We’re definitely open to talking to other car manufacturers who want to have access to the network. Capacity is a driver for our investment; it’s new routes, new markets and then capacity. A lot of car makers have spoken to us about it, but we haven’t had any conclusive discussions on it. They’re still trying to figure out what they would need in a network, but we’re a couple of years ahead of them in terms of embracing the investment required to transition to EVs,” he said.
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As Tesla’s CCS Supercharger ramp continues, thousands of Model 3 are already being shipped to Europe from the United States. Local news reports suggest that Tesla is aiming to ship 3,000 of the vehicles every week for the region. For now, though, there is practically nothing that could stand in the way of the Model 3’s eventual saturation of the European market, especially considering that regulators recently granted homologation approval for the electric sedan.
Watch Bjorn Nyland’s video on Tesla’s CCS Superchargers in the video below.
News
SpaceX just launched a secret payload from California
SpaceX launched a classified Space Force mission from Vandenberg, revealing almost nothing about its payload.
SpaceX launched a classified Falcon 9 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday night, and the government released almost nothing about what was on board. The mission, designated USSF-366, lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E with a window that opened at 9:52 p.m. ET and ran into the early hours of Sunday, according to SpaceX’s own mission page, which described the payload only as classified. SpaceX confirmed the launch on its X account and pointed viewers to a livestream that began roughly ten minutes before liftoff.
Watch Falcon 9 launch the USSF-366 mission from pad 4E in California https://t.co/FFEzeYOds1
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 16, 2026
The lack of detail did not stop analysts from filling in the blanks. Independent tracking of the rocket’s stage drop zones matched the pattern SpaceX has used on previous Starlink Group 15 missions, according to reporting from Outer Space Today, which pointed to Starshield as the likely payload rather than a one off government satellite. Starshield is SpaceX’s national security product, a version of the Starlink satellite bus built to Pentagon specifications for earth observation, communications and hosted payloads. Unlike consumer Starlink, government agencies do not have to disclose what Starshield satellites are actually doing once they reach orbit.
USSF-366 is the latest entry in a steady flow of classified and semi classified work between SpaceX and the Space Force. The company picked up a $178.5 million task order in April to launch missile tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency, as Teslarati reported at the time, and followed that in July with a $1.6 billion award covering 18 more Falcon 9 missions from Vandenberg through the end of 2027, also detailed by Teslarati. Add those contracts up and SpaceX’s Pentagon business for 2026 alone tops $8 billion.
SpaceX scores another massive Pentagon deal to support military satellites
The Falcon 9 that flew Saturday landed back near the launch site, producing the sonic booms that have become routine for residents near Vandenberg. What is less routine is how little the public will likely ever learn about what the rocket carried. SpaceX and the Space Force have not confirmed the Starshield connection, and government satellite programs built on commercial buses rarely get identified beyond a mission number and a general orbit. For a company that live streams almost everything else it does, from Starship test flights to Optimus robot demos, USSF-366 is a reminder that some of SpaceX’s busiest work now happens entirely out of public view.
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On Friday, Tesla launched the Outlet Adapter that enabled Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) energy transfer, meaning owners could essentially utilize their cars as a power source for things like laptops, electric grills, or string lights.
However, even owners of some of the newest builds of the Model Y are finding out that their cars are not compatible with the new $80 accessory, stirring up a new complaint among members of the community.
Tesla launches V2L Outlet Adapter for Premium Model Y in the U.S.
Upon the release of the Outlet Adapter on Friday, I signed into my Tesla account to order the accessory. However, I was met with the dreaded “This product is not compatible with your 2026 Model Y” message at the bottom of the screen.
Some said their accounts also displayed the same message, but they ordered anyway. However, they might be surprised to find that this is no mistake; some of the newest Model Ys do not have the appropriate Power Conversion System (PCS). Mine, which was ordered on this day last year and delivered on August 31, has the old 48A, single-phase PCS.
Vehicles with the new, two-piece PCS are able to utilize V2L features on their cars:
🚨 Looks like you can hit the Parts Catalog and enter your VIN and check to see if your Model Y will be able to use the adapter for V2L.https://t.co/QA9zRk7n2k
h/t to @SawyerMerritt for finding this out.
-I am sad but this isn’t a huge loss. https://t.co/AYpI12QVV9 pic.twitter.com/LRFSrtRywo
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 16, 2026
Obviously, it’s disappointing. Many owners have taken delivery this year and still can not utilize the Outlet Adapter because their cars feature the old PCS:
Took delivery in February of 2026. I have the older one, so not going to work for me pic.twitter.com/RcOVq8gvvT
— Russell (@QuietTesla) August 16, 2026
It looks like if you have one of these older PCS units, you can upgrade, but the parts alone are $1,750, and that’s before Tesla adds labor for installing. It is honestly more logical to get some kind of portable power supply or power station at that point.
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It is great that Tesla has enabled V2L for Model Y vehicles, but it is also unfortunate that vehicles that are less than one year old are not able to take advantage of this awesome new feature.
With that being said, it truly is a first-world problem; can you really complain when Full Self-Driving is available, maintenance is incredibly inexpensive, and the car has been so good through a year of ownership?
Tesla has launched a new Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) Outlet Adapter for Premium Model Y vehicles in the United States, meaning you can now power devices like laptops or light strings with your vehicle’s battery.
It appears the capability will be available for any Model Y Premium trim, including those that were purchased prior to the Adapter being launched. It will also only impact Juniper Model Y vehicles, so the first-gen owners will unfortunately not have access to this capability.
If your Model Y was purchased before Tesla renamed the trim levels to “Premium” and “Standard,” it does not seem to be compatible. My Model Y is technically a Premium build, as it is the Long Range All-Wheel-Drive. However, Tesla says it is not compatible with my vehicle.
🚨 Tesla has launched the Outlet Adapter for Model Y Premium in the U.S., enabling V2L capability for all Premium trims (that’s what it appears to be as it is available for purchase with all Premium trims)
It’s available for $80. 2.4kW max power and rated for 120v, 20A pic.twitter.com/lDxlVIk5s8
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 14, 2026
For $80, you can now utilize your car as a portable charger for small appliances or devices. This is perfect for things like tailgates, concerts, or camping, as you can now plug in devices that you might use. Those string lights for camping? That laptop for the other games that are on at the tailgate?
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They’ll both utilize energy from your Tesla’s battery to be powered. This is the first time Tesla has expanded the capability to vehicles outside of the Model Y Performance and Cybertruck. However, this feature has been highly requested by owners for an extended period of time.
Tesla launched the Outlet Adapter in China last year:
Tesla China rolls out Model Y L V2L adapter, and it’s free for early owners
You will need the Mobile Connector to operate the Outlet Adapter: the Outlet Adapter will plug into the main housing of the Mobile Connector, where the appropriate adapter to charge your vehicle will plug in.
It is rated for 120 volts and 20 amps, and has a max power rating of 2.4kW.
You can buy it here from Tesla for $80.
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SpaceX just launched a secret payload from California
Tesla V2L adapter for Model Y stirs up a new complaint among owners
