EV Explainer: Can I charge my non-Tesla electric car with a Tesla Wall Connector?

Can I charge my non-Tesla electric car with a Tesla Wall Connector? If you have a Tesla Wall Connector that came with an older vehicle, or you’re wondering if you can use Tesla destination chargers for your non-Tesla EV, then this question may have crossed your mind.

I own a Tesla but occasionally need to charge different EVs at home, so I wanted to answer this question myself.

To clarify, this question concerns permanent wall connectors and not portable electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) that plugs into a regular power point. I’m only discussing AC charging here and not DC fast charging. For compatibility with Tesla Superchargers, see Tesla opens nearly half its Supercharger sites in Australia to non-Tesla EVs.

Tesla has stopped delivering new cars with wall connectors and the portable Universal Mobile Connector (UMC). Destination chargers are how Tesla refers to their Wall Connectors installed in public places such as hotels, restaurants and car parks.

So now to the question. Like all good questions, the answer to this one is – it depends. Firstly, it depends on the type of charge port your EV has. Thankfully just about all new EVs come with a CCS2 type-2 charge port so this is becoming less of an issue. If you need a refresher on different EV charging plugs, the image below should help.

If you’ve got an older Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or a pre-2018 BMW i3 these are all fitted with type-1 AC charge ports. However, type-2 to type-1 adapters are available to make these cars compatible with type-2 AC chargers.

Secondly, it depends which version of the Tesla Wall Connector you’re trying to use as well as how it’s configured. There are many different forum threads and websites discussing this question and unfortunately the answer is not straightforward. 

It’s also difficult to find exact information on when Tesla switched from one generation of wall connector to the next. The information given below is to the best of my understanding, so please do share any feedback via the comments below.

There are currently three generations of Tesla Wall Connector out there. The Tesla Part Number (TPN) on the side of the unit may help with identifying which generation it is. However, I’ve been unable to find a comprehensive list of part numbers so it may be best to go on looks alone.

Generation 1 was delivered with Model S and X up until 2018. It can be differentiated from generation 2 or 3 as it has a separate hook or receptacle for the charging cable rather than being built into the unit itself. Example part numbers for generation 1 end with A, B or C and include 00 or 01 as the last two digits before the letter.

Generation 2 was delivered with Model 3 from 2019 until they switched over to generation 3 sometime during 2021. Generation 2 was usually a grey colour and it has a built in receptacle for the charge cable to hang. Example part numbers end with E, H or K and include digits 03 or 07.

Generation 3 was delivered with new cars until they stopped being included towards the end of 2022. It is usually a white colour with a clear glass or acrylic coating. The wall connector as well as the handle is slightly smaller than generation 2. The cable is also a bit thinner and more flexible. Example part numbers end with D or G and include digits 02.

The summary for charging non-Tesla EVs with Tesla Wall Connectors is below:

I ended up changing over from a generation 2 to generation 3 charger to enable charging of non-Tesla EVs and found it works well. I passed on my generation 2 wall connector to a family member who recently purchased a Model Y, so it didn’t go to waste.

When charging non-Tesla EVs I’ve found there is a slight delay before charging begins as the wall connector first tries to initiate charging using the Tesla specific protocol.

For example, when charging a Polestar 2 I’ve found the car cycles through the following states – initialising (yellow light on the charge port) → error (red light) → back to initialising (yellow light) → charging (green light).

In terms of Tesla Destination Chargers, you can also check ahead of time by using apps like Plugshare or enquiring with the venue in question. I hope this helps, and happy charging!