Ford to bring Tesla’s charging technology to future EVs

Image Credits: Jeff Kowalski/AFP via Getty Images/Maja Hitij/Getty Images [composite] / Getty Images

Ford has reached a deal with rival Tesla that will give owners of Ford EVs access to more than 12,000 Superchargers across the US and Canada.

However, this deal goes far beyond providing Tesla Superchargers via an adapter. Ford says its next-generation EVs will be equipped with the North American Charging Standard (NACS), also known as Tesla’s charging port, starting in 2025. Ford’s second-generation EV portfolio includes an electric car and a three-row SUV. The surprise deal was announced Thursday in a series of tweets between Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Ford CEO Jim Farley.

Ford’s second-generation EVs with a NACS port will have the option of charging via an adapter with CCS chargers, Ford said. The automaker says the adapter will be affordable, and Farley says Ford will offer a variety of payment options, such as subscriptions. Musk said the adapter would be “in the hundred dollar range.”

“We are very happy to support Ford vehicles with the Tesla Supercharger network, and also provide API access,” Musk said Thursday. “So, like a Ford vehicle with a Tesla supercharger, it can seamlessly charge the Ford app. Basically, the idea is that we don’t want Tesla’s Supercharger network to be like a walled garden. We want it to be something that supports electrification and sustainable transport in general.

The charging connector in all Tesla vehicles offers AC charging and up to 1 MW of DC charging. Its compact design and performance are thought to be superior to the integrated charging system (CCS) connectors used by most EVs in North America. Last year, Tesla shared its EV charging connector design to help network operators and automakers adopt the technology and make it the new standard in North America.

Existing Ford EV customers can access the Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit vehicles with the Combined Charging System port equipped with Tesla V3 superchargers using an adapter made by Tesla.

Ford customers will have access to twice as many fast chargers starting in spring 2024 as part of a deal with Tesla, the automaker said.

During Twitter Spaces, Farley praised the location of Tesla’s Superchargers, the reliability of the routing software, and the usability of the Tesla Connect.

Ford customers have access to a public charging network called the BlueOval Charging Network, which has more than 84,000 chargers, including more than 10,000 public DC fast chargers. In addition, Ford dealers are adding approximately 1,800 public-facing fast chargers and locations to the BlueOval charging network by early 2024.