A2Z Adapter Recall: Typhoon v1 Exchange Program

[The Weatherman]

Did anyone actually watch the interview? There is ZERO reason to be concerned. Tesla got a stick up their butt and is forcing A2Z to "recall" a 100% safe adapter cuz it might fail in a hundred years when we can charge at a full 500A for one hour solid on on our EV's that have 2000kWh batteries. A2Z caved and is making the best of the situation by upgrading owners of the V1 adaptor to the Pro version. This makes Tesla happy and it makes their early adopter customers happy...win-win.

Unlike the recall for Lectron and the Tesla adapter, which had immediate risks that needed to be addressed, the A2Z V1 adapter has no immediate safety risk. Unless you are a power user and have cycled it 1000 times. The temperature claim is absurd, there are no EV's being produced that will draw 500A for an hour. In my mind, A2Z has cemented my loyalty with their response. Their communication is a step above anyone else.

Ford missed a golden opportunity to partner with them. I guess they like taking risks with companies that aren't as good. *cough*SUNRUN*cough*

I did and it was hard to watch. The CEO’s face said it all. He had definitely been beaten down by Tesla. This company has done a stellar job of customer service and communications. It was hard to see him looking so depressed over is apparently a minor failure to the standards.

I’m betting they do a better job of replacing their product than Ford/Tesla does getting theirs out and they have had several weeks head start.

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[flypony53]

I have an older A2Z first gen and no email for me yet.

I have the first gen prior to Typhoon as well, but received the email yesterday. I was a bit confused if I can get the new adapter. Would prefer the Typhoon as my first gen is a bit finicky...

 

[Zprime29]

I did and it was hard to watch. The CEO’s face said it all. He had definitely been beaten down by Tesla. This company has done a stellar job of customer service and communications. It was hard to see him looking so depressed over is apparently a minor failure to the standards.

I’m betting they do a better job of replacing their product than Ford/Tesla does getting theirs out and they have had several weeks head start.

Spot on, I got the impression he was really upset that it came to this. But he put on a strong front and I think they made the best choice possible given the circumstances.

@MountainAlive Tom asked him about the extension cord during the interview. It'll have dual sensors on either end, similar to what the adapters have. The interesting tid bit that he shared was what the cord would have some kind of resistor(?) that can signal the charger to derate. In their testing, he said they are able to achieve a ramp down in charge rate. I forget the peak, I think I recall it will settle around 70kW. It sounded like they are in communication with Tesla as part of the development.

 

[Richie740]

I haven't received this. How do we know if our chargers falls under this recall?

 

[mrau]

You can use this A2Z link to see if your adapter qualifies for their Voluntary Exchange Program.

https://a2zevshop.com/apps/vep

 

[Sherm]

Got mine ready to ship. Used the Ford adapter box.

 

[Joe.....Montana]

After watching the clip and understanding the "problem" further....I feel half bad signing up for the replacement. Clearly A2Z takes their responsibility as a safe producer seriously...the V1 under "normal" conditions can be expected to provide zero issues...so do you reward a company like A2Z and NOT get the replacement or take advantage of a slightly superior product for free?

 

[G-Zeus]

Thanks for highlighting this. The email landed in my junk folder, i never would have seen it without this forum. I was wondering why my brother's A2Z adapter for his Rivian looked different than mine, now I know he has the gen2.

 

[Ventorum94]

In conditions where the adapter is used at high amperage (≥500 amps) for extended periods (e.g., one hour or more), the surface temperature of the V1 adapter may rise by approximately 5-10°C over what the standard prescribes.

This is the important part (the “slider latch” concern is nit-picking, compared to this). I don’t know of many EVs that can pull 500A for extended periods of charging (our Lightnings certainly do not, and cannot!), but maybe this is the high bar for the potential UL-standard requirement. Better to have an enormous factor of safety when it comes to thermal effects of DCFC.

 

[Ventorum94]

After watching the clip and understanding the "problem" further....I feel half bad signing up for the replacement. Clearly A2Z takes their responsibility as a safe producer seriously...the V1 under "normal" conditions can be expected to provide zero issues...so do you reward a company like A2Z and NOT get the replacement or take advantage of a slightly superior product for free?

All true, especially for charging Lightnings, which can pull 500A only very briefly, if ever.
However, I think that if we continue to use the V1, and anything were to happen to our trucks or to a Tesla SC, we would be liable. This is now a product RECALL, not simply a goodwill gesture. We are doing A2Z a favor by returning our V1s, and taking them out of circulation.

 

[carys98]

Just got 2 emails that my exchange was approved. One indicated they were shipping the replacement and the other said to prepare and ship the old one. There weren’t any instruction how to ship it back so I’ll check with them tomorrow.

 

[detansinn]

Just got 2 emails that my exchange was approved. One indicated they were shipping the replacement and the other said to prepare and ship the old one. There weren’t any instruction how to ship it back so I’ll check with them tomorrow.

I got the same messages and also awaiting details on how I send the old adapter back. I suspect that we'll be asked to ship the old adapter back using box/label enclosed with the new adapter -- which is the most customer friendly way to do this. Thanks A2Z!

 

[Cara]

I just received an email from A2Z letting me know that the A2Z adapter I purchased last May is being recalled.

Anybody else?


Updated with email and video explanation:

Why We're Offering This Exchange
We received feedback from Tesla suggesting alleged concerns regarding the locking mechanism and surface temperature. We provided Tesla with multiple internal and external testings and reports, but a mutual agreement could not be reached. No safety event has been reported whatsoever.

Locking Mechanism : Over time, and after approximately 10,000 cycles of insertion and withdrawal, the retaining force of the locking mechanism on the V1 adapter's NACS inlet may degrade. This degradation could lead to a reduction in the locking force, potentially affecting the secure retention of the NACS connector during use. If the locking mechanism is degraded, the adapter may completely stop working as a safety measure.

High-Amperage Charging :

In conditions where the adapter is used at high amperage (≥500 amps) for extended periods (e.g., one hour or more), the surface temperature of the V1 adapter may rise by approximately 5-10°C over what the standard prescribes. This increase could exceed maximum temperature standards for EV charging equipment, more specifically adapters, potentially leading to a reduction in power or a complete halt in the charging session to maintain safety.

To mitigate the risk of personal injury, users must always ensure the adapter’s locking mechanism is used as intended. The adapter’s surface temperature may get hot if used for sustained periods of use.

We are providing the Typhoon Pro/V2 adapter to address any risks, incorporating a new locking mechanism that is easier to use and better aligned with recent advancements in EV safety standards. This will be provided to you free of charge.

Eligibility Criteria :

This exchange and recall program applies only to customers who meet the following criteria:

- Order Date: The adapter was purchased between November 16, 2023, and June 20, 2024.

- Adapter Version: You own the original Typhoon/V1 adapter with the slider lock.

- Replacement Status: You have not already received the Typhoon Pro/V2 replacement for V1.

- Return Status: You have not initiated a return or resold your V1 adapter.

Purchased mine on 6/11 but have not received an email.

 

[Cara]

You can use this A2Z link to see if your adapter qualifies for their Voluntary Exchange Program.

https://a2zevshop.com/apps/vep

Very helpful. Thanks! I was able to sign up and get exchange approved. I also feel bad for A2Z and have mixed feelings about getting the replacement. The thing that led me to sign up is how difficult it is to plug in the adapter and get the slider to click in place. We had a terrible time with it on a 2500 mile summer trip.

 

[A2ZEV]

Purchased mine on 6/11 but have not received an email.

Hi there,

Since the email has been sent to thousands of people at the same time, system errors can occur, make sure to check your spam. The undeliverable emails have been taken care of. If nothing, please reach out to us by email : [email protected]

Thank you.

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