Tesla sues EV charging accent geared toward stopping carjacking

Tesla is suing an organization producing an EV charging accent geared toward stopping carjacking as a result of it believes it’s making Tesla’s charging expertise harmful.

Some EV house owners are afraid of carjacking at public charging stations on account of the truth that in case you are in your automobile whereas charging, you’re a considerably straightforward goal as a result of if some individuals rush your automobile, you’d should get out to unplug earlier than you’ll be able to escape together with your automobile.

It’s not a quite common drawback within the EV trade, nevertheless it’s apparently large enough that an organization, EVject, determined to construct a product round it.

The $299 EVject Escape Connector is designed to have the ability to separate itself from the cost connector by driving away.

The corporate describes the system on its web site:

Expertise a safer EV charging expertise with EVject. In an emergency, you now not have to fret about leaving your automobile, disconnecting the charger, and speeding again to security. Merely connect the EVject connector to the charger’s head every time you plug in. Within the occasion of an emergency, disconnect the charger out of your dashboard like traditional, however now you’ll be able to instantly shift into drive—all from the security of your automobile. 

Tesla is now suing the corporate in California courtroom, claiming that the connector can attain harmful temperatures, which creates a security threat. Tesla wrote within the criticism (by way of Jalopnik):

Within the occasion of an over-temperature situation within the Connector, the dearth of overtemperature safety creates a security threat. Testing of high-current simulated charging by means of the Connector, utilized along side a Tesla Supercharger cable and Tesla EV cost port, demonstrated that floor temperatures of the Connector could attain as excessive as 100C, after half-hour of charging at 420 ADC. Throughout an over-temperature occasion, a consumer of the Connector could also be burned throughout (or following) charging by touching or grabbing the Connector. Moreover, the excessive temperature current within the Connector poses a threat of fireplace and ignition of different flamable supplies within the charger cable, the automobile linked to the Connector, and the Supercharger infrastructure.

With the civil go well with, Tesla is searching for to forestall the corporate from promoting the connector as secure and from importing it into the USA. It is usually searching for a minimal of $75,000 in damages.

Electrek’s Take

If it may possibly attain these temperatures, and Tesla seems to have examined it, then I believe it’s secure to say that the system is extra harmful than the potential arm it may possibly forestall.

Personally, I’ve by no means felt unsafe at a charging station, however I do perceive how this might occur as some charging areas will be sketchy, like in a darkish nook of a Walmart parking zone with out anybody or something shut.

However hopefully charging station operators are going to maintain that potential drawback in thoughts when researching charging areas.