Ford has struck a significant agreement with its electric vehicle (EV) rival Tesla, granting Ford EV owners access to over 12,000 Superchargers across the United States and Canada. This collaboration goes beyond mere access, as Ford announced that its next generation of EVs, starting in 2025, will be equipped with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port.
Ford’s second-generation EV lineup, which includes an electric truck and a three-row SUV, will feature the NACS port, allowing owners to charge their vehicles at CCS chargers using an adapter. Ford emphasized that the adapter will be affordable and intends to offer various payment options, including subscriptions. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, mentioned that the adapter would be priced in the “hundreds of dollars range.”
Musk highlighted that Tesla is pleased to support Ford vehicles with access to the Tesla Supercharger network and API integration. The aim is to ensure that the Supercharger network is not limited to Tesla vehicles only but supports the wider electrification and sustainable transport movement.
Tesla’s charging connector is known for its superior performance, offering both AC and up to 1 MW DC charging. By sharing its EV charging connector design, Tesla encouraged other automakers and network operators to adopt the technology, aspiring to make it the new standard in North America.
Existing Ford EV customers, such as those with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit vehicles equipped with Combined Charging System (CCS) ports, will be able to use a Tesla-developed adapter to access Tesla’s V3 Superchargers.
Through this agreement with Tesla, Ford customers will gain access to twice as many fast-chargers starting in spring 2024. Ford customers already enjoy access to the BlueOval Charge Network, comprising over 84,000 chargers, including more than 10,000 public DC fast-chargers. Additionally, Ford dealers are set to add approximately 1,800 public-facing fast-chargers and locations to the BlueOval Charge Network by early 2024.
During the announcement on Twitter Spaces, Ford CEO Jim Farley praised Tesla’s Supercharger locations, reliable routing software, and user-friendly connector, acknowledging the value of the Tesla charging infrastructure.
