Tesla Model S Charging Inlet In Europe

Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Aug 18, 2013 at 11:41am ET

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Mennekes charging port specification

Tesla Motors recently started selling its Model S in Europe.

As Elon Musk stated at Geneva Motor Show (see video below), the European Model S is equipped with a different charging inlet than in the US, because it needs to handle 3-phase that's popular in Europe.

Q: Definitive answer on the charge-plug on the EU versions?

A: Mennekes Type 2

In fact, Tesla adopted the Mennekes Type 2 charging port, but reinforced it for higher power needed for Supercharging.

According to Mennekes, the standard Type 2 can handle up to 43 kW AC (3-phase), 70 kW DC and about 100 kW with additional DC pins.

Tesla used a version without additional pins, so 70 kW was too low for DC.

How much current will the European Model S plug and inlet handle now? We're still unsure, but we're assuming it'll probably be comparable to the Model S in the US.

The same inlet will be of course used for AC charging via an on-board 10 or 20 kW charger. Both three phase.

Model S owners will be able to charge from any Type 2 points without adapters in Europe, and from 1- and 3-phase via adapters.

Sadly, at least for now, Model S owners will not be able to charge from CHAdeMO or CCS.

What do you think?

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In other words, in terms of DC charging, Tesla go its own way as it does now in the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ROXKwDM-q8

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