Tesla files suit over 'highly unsafe' breakaway EV charging adapters
Elon Musk-owned Tesla, the globally recognized automaker, has initiated legal action against EV charging adapter maker EVject. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Tesla alleges that EVject's Escape Connector, a MagSafe-style connector designed for swift disconnection from charging stalls during emergencies, is "highly unsafe and poses a high risk of injury to person and/or property."
EV maker seeks court intervention and damages
Tesla is seeking court intervention to prohibit EVject from promoting the product as safe. The automaker also wants a ban on the imports of the adapter into the US, and is demanding that EVject pay at least $75,000 in damages. This legal action follows Tesla's testing of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) version of EVject's accessory under high-current conditions.
Tesla's testing reveals high temperatures during fast-charging
Tesla's testing involved a high-current simulation with its Supercharger cable and an EV port. The EVject product reportedly reached temperatures as high as 100 degrees Celsius while DC fast-charging at 420 amps. Tesla's filing notes that EVject has admitted their adapter may heat up when charging a Cybertruck, further raising safety concerns about the product's use.
EVject's marketing claims and Tesla's counter-arguments
EVject markets its adapter as "fully compatible" with NACS vehicles, and specifically names several Tesla models. However, Tesla, which operates the world's largest EV charging network, argues that the Escape Connector could potentially damage its charging cables. Despite these allegations, EVject claims that the outer part of its breakaway adapter will protect the station plug when disconnected.
