Ford & Tesla enable Ford drivers access to Superchargers

Surprising cooperation is to begin in North America. Ford will install Tesla's charging port in its new electric vehicles from 2025 onwards. In the interim, Ford vehicles with CCS ports will be able to use Tesla Superchargers by means of adapters.

Yesterday, on Twitter Spaces, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced the cooperation in a conversation with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Farley also revealed that Ford will be adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) created by Tesla.

From spring 2023 onwards – in the interim period until Tesla’s charging ports are built into Ford’s electric vehicles – owners of current Ford electric vehicles equipped with a CCS connector will be able to access the more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in the USA and Canada.

This means that Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit vehicles can access Tesla’s Supercharger network and V3 Superchargers. Access to the Supercharger network will be enabled by a Tesla-developed adapter and software integration with activation and payment with Ford’s apps, giving not only private commuters but also tradespeople access to a vast fast-charging network combining the two companies’ networks. By 2025, when Ford equips its EVs with the NACS charge port, drivers of the new vehicles will no longer need an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers.

The adapter and subsequent installation of Tesla ports in Ford vehicles will more than double Ford drivers’ access to DC chargers, which currently number around 10,000 as part of the Blue Oval Charge Network. Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO, explained: “Widespread access to fast-charging is absolutely vital to our growth as an EV brand, and this breakthrough agreement comes as we are ramping up production of our popular Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and preparing to launch a series of next-generation EVs starting in 2025.”

Tesla released the design of its proprietary Supercharger plug in North America in November 2022 and invited car manufacturers and charging network operators to use Supercharger plugs and sockets in the future to make its system the charging standard in North America.

In mid-February this year, the US government presented its requirements for charging infrastructure funding which stipulated manufacturers use the CCS fast charging standard. Tesla said it will make at least 7,500 of its Superchargers and Destination Chargers “available for all electric vehicles” by the end of 2024. Shortly afterwards, Tesla began equipping its Superchargers in the USA with CCS adapters.