Important Information for Drivers: Ford Introduces Tesla Supercharging for Electric Vehicles

Ford Motor has announced that it is introducing Tesla Supercharging capabilities for owners of its electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States and Canada. This move comes as part of a deal between Ford and Tesla, which allows Ford to utilize Tesla’s Supercharger network. By adopting Tesla’s charging port for future EV models, Ford aims to provide its customers with more access to fast chargers.

The launch of Tesla Supercharging for Ford vehicles is expected to be supply constrained initially. Ken Williams, Ford’s director of charging and energy services, stated that the demand for adapters, which are needed to connect non-Tesla vehicles to Tesla’s network, may exceed supply during the initial phases. Ford has not disclosed the number of adapters currently available but plans to start shipping them to customers in late March.

Fast chargers are capable of adding hundreds of miles of driving range in an hour or less, making them significantly more efficient than less powerful chargers that can take hours to do the same. Automakers have been increasingly adopting Tesla’s charging technology to gain access to its extensive charging network rather than building their own chargers.

Ford customers who own the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models can reserve a free charging adapter through Ford’s owner app or website until June 30. After this period, the adapters will cost $230 each. Customers need to log in or enroll in Ford’s “BlueOval Charge Network” through the FordPass App to reserve an adapter. The adapters will be mailed out based on reservations, and some customers may experience a wait depending on when they register.

Once customers have the adapter, they can utilize the Tesla charger through the FordPass App or Charge Assist App in their vehicle’s touchscreen. This eliminates the need for onsite credit card use and allows access to Tesla’s app as well. The adapter is necessary to connect Ford vehicles with a Combined Charging System (CCS) charger port to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) system.

Under the Ford-Tesla agreement, Ford EV owners will have access to over 15,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada. Tesla claims to have more than 50,000 Supercharger connectors worldwide, though the specific number in the U.S. is undisclosed. In comparison, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that there are only about 6,900 CCS fast chargers available to the public.

With the addition of Tesla Superchargers, Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network customers will have access to a total of over 126,000 chargers, including more than 28,000 fast chargers. This expanded charging infrastructure aims to enhance the convenience and usability of Ford EVs for their owners.

By introducing Tesla Supercharging capabilities, Ford is taking a significant step towards providing its EV customers with faster and more accessible charging options. The partnership with Tesla allows Ford to tap into Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, benefiting both existing and future Ford EV owners. With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, having a robust charging infrastructure is crucial, and this collaboration between Ford and Tesla is a significant development in that direction.