Ford CEO announces “magic dock” adapter around the corner!

[GA_Rivian]

Are you sure? I wouldn't expect the Magic Dock to have a manual release lever on the Tesla side in it.

Maybe I'm interpreting the statement wrong, but the magicdock itself is just an adapter on the end of the ev side of the tesla plug-handle. It had a release button you push to either unload only the tesla end from the charging station holster or both the tesla end and the CCS end from the charging station holster. But as I understand it, the charging station / network software also has to be programmed to allow charging once the vehicle has been identified by manufacturer.

It is going to be expensive to use and we do need competition, but this can be a stopgap measure until everyone else figures it out.

What's the point of reference here? On my maiden voyage from Bellevue, WA, to Montana, the Tesla magicdock's are all cheaper than everything else, especially when compared to Electrify America at Walmart, which was twice the price. Are non-Teslas going to be priced higher than Teslas? They didn't seem to be.

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[Dark-Fx]

Maybe I'm interpreting the statement wrong, but the magicdock itself is just an adapter on the end of the ev side of the tesla plug-handle. It had a release button you push to either unload only the tesla end from the charging station holster or both the tesla end and the CCS end from the charging station holster. But as I understand it, the charging station / network software also has to be programmed to allow charging once the vehicle has been identified by manufacturer.

This is what was shared as the adapter Ford will be shipping. On the Magic Dock adapters I have seen, there is not this bronze lever that locks the Tesla side into place, the piece of plastic is just bare. There has to be a way to separate the adapter from the Tesla cable in the Magic Dock as well, but those ones are probably electromechanical instead of being a physical lever, to prevent someone from removing it after the station releases it.

 

[emoore]

i’m really hoping we get some rivian specific flair - maybe some yellow accents or something - would be fun to see each OEM add some excitement to these

I'd prefer the free Rivian adapter ASAP but the extra ones in the gear shop could have some flair.

 

[emoore]

Very happy to see this on schedule so far with Ford. That hopefully means only good things for Rivian and everyone else as well.

When interest rates drop and all car makers can use the Supercharger network, EVs are going to go boom again. Reliable charging means so much and quite frankly, no one does it better.

It is going to be expensive to use and we do need competition, but this can be a stopgap measure until everyone else figures it out.

I just hope Tesla is further ramping Supercharger installation to deal with the upcoming increase in demand.

Seems like Tesla is still opening up superchargers are an increasing rate. They have opened up over 3 dozen this month along in the US (1 or 2 in Canada I think). Much faster than the RAN is expanding.

 

[not_a_car_guy]

Are you 100% sure that this is going to work internationally?

The statement from Farley mentions "Canada" ;-)

 

[vandy1981]

The statement from Farley mentions "Canada" ;-)

Sorry, to clarify: how do you know they will work in Mexico?

 

[DaveA]

I'd prefer the free Rivian adapter ASAP but the extra ones in the gear shop could have some flair.

It can be pink with unicorns on it for all i care....I just want it soon and want it to work.

 

[FutureTruck]

I’m not even taking this adapter of the box until I can wrap it in Xpel ultimate premium plus matte extreme film and the do a full ceramic coat on top of that.

 

[not_a_car_guy]

Sorry, to clarify: how do you know they will work in Mexico?

I don't. Just wanted to point out it is "international", but that doesn't necessarily cover every country you're right.

 

[CharonPDX]

GAME CHANGER for me here in Mexico when I can finally use the superchargers down here! Tesla is the only game in town down here when it comes to charging.

Sadly, it still won’t let me get from Tucson to Puerto Peñasco while towing my trailer. I can make it not towing by taking AZ-86 to AZ-85 and cross at Lukeville/Sonoyta (at least, once it opens back up) no problem.

With Supercharger access, I could go down I-19, cross at Nogales, take 150 to Santa Ana and Supercharge there; but from Santa Ana to Puerto Peñasco via 20 & 3 is still just too far when towing.

C’mon, Tohono O’odham Nation, add some charging! (Or Mexico, add something along 20/3!)

Although, This would let me take my Mach-E to Rocky Point… If I was willing to drive it from Oregon to Arizona in the first place…

 

[VSG]

Seems like Tesla is still opening up superchargers are an increasing rate. They have opened up over 3 dozen this month along in the US (1 or 2 in Canada I think). Much faster than the RAN is expanding.

Tesla also made 1.8 million vehicles in 2023. "Much faster" than Rivian is making vehicles. So what? Rivian should just give up and go home if they can't produce a million vehicles their first year or deploy DCFC stations at the same rate as Tesla?

So stupid that you keep repeating this as if it were a measure of relative worth. There's nothing wrong with the RAN - I wish that *all* charging networks were more like the RAN. If you're going to take potshots, aim them at some of the networks that are actually failing, not at the RAN which is doing a good job of building a robust interconnected network of reliable, well-maintained, and easy-to-use chargers. EA, EVGo, ChargePoint, etc. should start buying their equipment from Rivian instead of ABB etc.; there's a huge market for these and that's part of Rivian's business plan - to sell proven, reliable equipment.

The RAN is proceeding somewhat faster than the SC network did at the same point in its history,
which for the RAN is 18 months since its first station. And that's much *harder* to do these days since Rivian has to comply with standards rather than make up its own, and since there is now competition in the DCFC space, and since Rivian has to deal with all the current regulation and limits on EV chargers that Tesla didn't have to deal with ten years ago. The RAN, despite its current size, represents the biggest threat to Tesla dominance in the DCFC space.

 

[emoore]

Tesla also made 1.8 million vehicles in 2023. "Much faster" than Rivian is making vehicles. So what? Rivian should just give up and go home if they can't produce a million vehicles their first year or deploy DCFC stations at the same rate as Tesla?

So stupid that you keep repeating this as if it were a measure of relative worth. There's nothing wrong with the RAN - I wish that *all* charging networks were more like the RAN. If you're going to take potshots, aim them at some of the networks that are actually failing, not at the RAN which is doing a good job of building a robust interconnected network of reliable, well-maintained, and easy-to-use chargers. EA, EVGo, ChargePoint, etc. should start buying their equipment from Rivian instead of ABB etc.; there's a huge market for these and that's part of Rivian's business plan - to sell proven, reliable equipment.

The RAN is proceeding somewhat faster than the SC network did at the same point in its history,
which for the RAN is 18 months since its first station. And that's much *harder* to do these days since Rivian has to comply with standards rather than make up its own, and since there is now competition in the DCFC space, and since Rivian has to deal with all the current regulation and limits on EV chargers that Tesla didn't have to deal with ten years ago. The RAN, despite its current size, represents the biggest threat to Tesla dominance in the DCFC space.

No Rivian is behind Tesla based on when Tesla started their supercharger installations. Check out the large RAN thread. And I keep bringing it up because Rivian is installing LESS quarter to quarter vs. the large ramp for Tesla.

 

[SANZC02]

It is just the Magic Dock. Hope to be getting mine in Feb, I have a Mach E. And before anyone asks, it does not have AC pins (for safety reasons), so will not work with Destination chargers.

Will be curious if your Rivian works with it or if (as I suspect) it is reading information from the vehicle through the adapter. The video seems to show plug and charge although can’t really tell if they used the Tesla app before plugging in.

 

[mkg3]

No Rivian is behind Tesla based on when Tesla started their supercharger installations. Check out the large RAN thread. And I keep bringing it up because Rivian is installing LESS quarter to quarter vs. the large ramp for Tesla.

In agreement. While Rivian is doing well with their RAN DCFC, the number of stalls per station comparison with ANY station provider versus Tesla is laughable.

Most RAN has 6 stalls. Most EA has 4 and newer EA has 6 stalls (if all is working). Both EVgo and Chargepoint are far less. Most Tesla SC stations have 10+ stalls and along a busy interstates, its not unusual to find SC station with 40~50 stalls.

Adding F, GM initially will be amounts to a soft opening of the SC to other mfgs.

 

[azbill]

Will be curious if your Rivian works with it or if (as I suspect) it is reading information from the vehicle through the adapter. The video seems to show plug and charge although can’t really tell if they used the Tesla app before plugging in.

The claim was it was initiated via the Fordpass app, if so , I can use that with my Rivian and it should work. Tesla may need some software updates on their side to support P&C, i.e. ISO 15118. Ford does support that with EA today. With the Fordpass app you can initiate charges on EVGO, EV Connect, Shell, ChargePoint, and a few others, with all billing via Ford directly. Ford servers are tied to those network servers, and I expect it to be the same with Tesla.

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