Cybertruck Lead Tesla Engineer Issues Warning: Supercharger Extension Cords Pose Major Safety Risks

Tesla’s Cybertruck lead engineer, Wes Morrill, has cautioned against using Supercharger extension cords, citing risks like overheating and equipment damage. His warning highlights Tesla's strict safety protocols.

Cybertruck Engineer Warns About Extension Cords

Extending power lines to fix Supercharger stalls is something that Tesla Cybertruck principal engineer Wes Morrill has cautioned against. According to the head engineer at Tesla, there may be safety concerns with using extension cords that are not North American Charging Standard (NACS) compliant.

In answer to a question about a replacement NACS DC extension cord, an EV fan asked Morrill for his opinion. Teslarati reveals that non-Tesla vehicles, such as Rivian's R1T and R1S, can utilize the Supercharger Network with a NACS extension cord, potentially saving two charging spaces.

Overheating Risks with Supercharger Extension Cords

However, according to the head engineer of Cybertruck, it is absolutely not recommended to use an extension cord on a Supercharger or any other DC charging station. Using such devices has resulted in cable overheating on multiple occasions, according to Morrill.

When using a supercharger, or any DC charging station with a cable that is liquid cooled, it is strongly advised against using an extension cord. I have witnessed numerous cases when the cable became too hot and severed the DC +/- circuit.

Extra Connections Cause More Heat

A temperature sensor is located in the handle, and the supercharger adjusts its operation according to that reading. That security is negated by using the extension cord. Additionally, Morrill noted in his post on X that the inclusion of an extra connection causes heat, which exacerbates the situation.

It may be tempting for drivers to utilize extension cords with their Tesla Superchargers, but they should remember that the design of every part of a Supercharger is meticulous. One example is the length of the cables used by current Superchargers, which is probably fine-tuned for security and dependability.

Then, there might be certain safety issues while extending a Supercharger cable to change its length.

Tesla’s Focus on Safety in Charging Infrastructure

Both the cars and the charging infrastructure of Tesla are renowned for their emphasis on safety. This is why the business has previously cautioned about certain common charging techniques, like using a damp towel on a NACS handle to increase the charging current inside a car.

Overheating can occur if you use a moist cloth on a Supercharger cable, according to Tesla's July warning. ​