Tesla's new Universal Wall Connector welcomes all electric vehicles

Tesla has just dropped a bombshell in the charging world with its brand-new invention – the Universal Wall Connector. This nifty device is not only a Level 2 EV charger designed for home use but also a key player in Tesla’s sprawling public charging network, aka destination charging. And here’s the kicker – any non-Tesla EVs will be able to use this latest Tesla charging equipment without a separate adapter.

With all the buzz about carmakers switching gears from the J1772 plugs to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) in the near future, this move doesn’t come as a huge shocker. Tesla isn’t just eyeing those non-Tesla drivers who might want to juice up at their Superchargers. Nope, they’re aiming bigger – like redefining home charging big.

The Universal Wall Connector looks like its third-gen sibling, but here’s where things get spicy. Two game-changing features are stealing the show. First off, there’s a built-in adapter that bridges the gap between Tesla’s fancy NACS plug (that’s only found on Teslas) and the regular J1772 plug that almost every other non-Tesla EV uses. It’s like magic – the same kind they’ve got going on at some Supercharger stations, making non-Tesla EVs feel right at home.

And guess what? Tesla’s app takes things up a notch. Imagine being able to play charging wizard – scheduling, starting, stopping – all from your phone. But wait, there’s more! For the first time ever, you can geek out over your charging history and energy use, even if you’re not part of the Tesla fam. It’s like leveling up your charging game.

Tesla's new Universal Wall Connector welcomes all electric vehicles — (Image credit: Tesla)

Hold on, it gets better. The current Wall Connector is already pretty smart, with Wi-Fi smarts for updates and linking up multiple units. But there’s been a catch. Only Tesla owners got VIP access to monitor their charge history. Non-Tesla folks were left out of the fun. But with the Universal Wall Connector, that’s history!

Pricing-wise, you’ve got options. You can choose between NACS ($475) or J1772 ($550) plugs with the current Wall Connectors. The shiny new Universal Wall Connector might set you back a bit more at $595, but it’s a small price to pay for all that extra awesomeness. And don’t worry about specs. You’re still looking at a max output of 11.5 kW, a sleek 24-foot cable, and the hardcore hardwire setup.

Ready for the best part? You can order the Universal Wall Connector right now. Tesla’s spicing things up with app fun coming your way around late August or early September 2023. But hey, no need to twiddle your thumbs. The actual units will start hitting the road in October.