Ford has recently announced a groundbreaking agreement with Tesla, enabling owners of Ford electric vehicles (EVs) to utilize Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network comprising over 12,000 charging stations across the United States and Canada.
This collaboration, however, transcends mere access to Tesla’s Superchargers via an adapter. Ford has revealed its plans to integrate Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), commonly known as the charge port, into its upcoming generations of EVs, starting from 2025. Ford’s second-generation EV lineup will include an electric truck and a three-row SUV. The surprising announcement was made during a Twitter Spaces event featuring Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk, as well as Ford CEO Jim Farley.
With the NACS port installed in Ford’s second-generation EVs, owners will have the option to charge their vehicles at CCS chargers using an adapter, as confirmed by Ford. The automaker also emphasized that the adapter will be reasonably priced, and Ford intends to offer diverse payment options, including subscription plans. Musk mentioned that the cost of the adapter will be within the “hundred of dollars range.”
Musk expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’re very happy to support Ford vehicles with the Tesla Supercharger network and also provide API access. So, like a Ford vehicle can charge at a Tesla Supercharger using a Ford app seamlessly. Essentially, the idea is that we don’t want the Tesla Supercharger network to be like a walled garden. We want it to be something that is supportive of electrification and sustainable transport in general.”
Tesla’s charging connector, available in all Tesla vehicles, facilitates both AC charging and rapid DC charging up to 1 MW. Its compact design and exceptional performance have garnered acclaim, surpassing the Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors commonly used in most North American EVs. In an effort to promote widespread adoption and establish it as the new standard in North America, Tesla shared the design of its EV charging connector last year, encouraging network operators and automakers to embrace the technology.
Existing Ford EV owners will be able to utilize a specially developed adapter by Tesla, enabling their Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit vehicles equipped with the Combined Charging System port to access Tesla’s advanced V3 Superchargers.
Through this agreement, Ford customers will enjoy twice the number of fast-charging stations beginning in spring 2024, significantly expanding their charging options and reducing waiting times.
During the Twitter Spaces discussion, Farley commended Tesla’s Supercharger locations, the reliability of their routing software, and the user-friendly design of Tesla’s charging connector.
Furthermore, Ford customers already have access to the BlueOval Charge Network, an extensive public charging network boasting over 84,000 chargers, including over 10,000 public DC fast-chargers. In addition, Ford dealerships will be installing approximately 1,800 public-facing fast-chargers and expanding the BlueOval Charge Network with new locations by early 2024.
