Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed in a series of tweets that the mobile connection would no longer be included with new car orders and that the Gen 2 (Level 1) package will be sold separately for a cheaper $200 price. The mobile connection bundle includes an adapter that lets drivers charge their automobiles using a regular 110v household outlet; additional adapters may be purchased separately.
Tesla changed their support website on Saturday night, indicating that the mobile connection bundle no longer comes with the car, as it was previously advertised as an attachment that “comes with vehicle.” However, it appears that there is a typo on this page, since the graphic depicts a Gen 2 mobile connection bundle while the price is for a $400 Gen 1 (Level 2) bundle (which is also available for purchase separately). Other modifications seen by @Tesla Adri and Drive Tesla Canada support the theory that the Gen 2 charger is the one in question.
Musk acknowledged that the Gen 2 mobile connection will no longer be included with new car orders in response to a user’s reaction to the issue. “Usage data was quite low, so it felt unnecessary,” Musk remarked, adding that “in the future, Tesla will provide more plug adapters with the mobile connection kit.” It’s unclear which adapters Tesla will provide with the kit when it launches.
Musk offered another update a few hours later, claiming that Tesla will reduce the price of the mobile connection to $200 “depending on customer input.” He also stated that Tesla will “make it easy” to buy the mobile connection when purchasing a car, and that owners should install a wall charger “long before” their car arrives.
The Gen 2 mobile connection is still advertised on Tesla’s website for $275, and you wouldn’t be able to get one even if you wanted to; the mobile connector, like the Gen 1 connector, is now out of stock. However, it’s unclear how long either attachment has been out of stock or whether Tesla’s choice is influenced by a supply chain shortfall. Tesla did not react to The Verge’s request for comment right away. (Tesla’s public relations team was abolished in 2019 and the company seldom responds to media enquiries.)
Musk’s choice has elicited a mixed response. Although a mobile connection isn’t required because Tesla owners can charge their cars from a wall charger at home or at a charging station, some drivers say having it with them when driving is comfortable. The adapter allows drivers to connect their car into a regular outlet, which is useful at campsites or when driving in an area lacking charging facilities. The Gen 2 charger, on the other hand, charges at a significantly slower rate, offering around one to three miles of range after an hour of charging.
Some drivers also claim that the mobile connector is a far less expensive alternative to the pricey wall charger, while others claim that they seldom ever use it. Other EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevy Bolt, and all BMW EVs, have connectors with a 120v or 240v adaptor as standard. The Kia EV6 does not, however, come with a Level 1 or 2 charging connection, as Elecktrek points out.
Apple famously stopped supplying chargers with new iPhones in 2020, and Samsung and Google quickly followed suit. Although there are many similarities between this situation and Tesla’s, it is far too early to say whether Tesla’s decision will have a domino effect on other EV manufacturers.
