Ford and Tesla have agreed to a pact allowing Blue Oval customers access to 12,000 Superchargers on the Tesla Supercharging network. Ford has welcomed the agreement as providing more security for its EV owners.
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For the last couple of years, Tesla has had the premier fast-charging network in the automotive world. For Tesla owners, the Supercharging network has assured owners of those electric vehicles that they could charge their vehicles nationwide. The fast-charging network assures that not only are Teslas provided with a stable electrical network, but they are also provided with charging rates that mean they can keep on going across the country. It is a nice feeling, like having a network of gas stations to keep an internal combustion-engined vehicle rolling from coast to coast.
Pact Expands Number Of Chargers Available
Even as Ford has built out its fast-charging networks for electric vehicles (EV) across the country– the BlueOval Charge Network (BCN) -- there are still large areas that need high-speed charging coverage. So, access to another network like Tesla’s Supercharging network gives Ford EV owners greater security. They can charge their vehicles at higher rates than those available on slower public charging networks in much of the country. The rates on other public charging networks do not match those available to Tesla owners through the Supercharging network or Ford owners on the automaker’s BCN. Moreover, proprietary supercharging networks feature redundancy and reliability that others can’t match.
Indeed, supercharging networks give owners a sense of security that others might envy. And now Ford EV owners – who already have a sense of security through Ford’s BCN -- have gained an added sense of security as Tesla and Ford have reached an agreement that adds 12,000 Tesla Supercharging outlets to those already available to Ford EV owners across the U.S. and Canada. This doubles the number of fast chargers available to Ford EV customers. Starting next spring, the agreement gives Ford EV owners access to the Supercharging network.
“This is great news for our customers who will have unprecedented access to the largest network of fast chargers in the U.S. and Canada with 12,000-plus Tesla Superchargers plus 10,000-plus fast chargers already in the BlueOval Charge Network,” said Jim Farley, Ford president, and CEO. “Widespread access to fast-charging is 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’s Network Provides Charge Confidence
Added Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director of charging infrastructure: “We’ve spent the last 10 years building an industry-leading charging network that enables freedom to travel and provides charging confidence for our Tesla owners. We’re excited to deliver on our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy by welcoming Ford owners and other electric vehicles who adopt to our thousands of Superchargers across North America.”
A Tesla-developed adapter will provide Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit vehicles fitted with the Combined Charging System (CCS) port access to Tesla’s V3 Superchargers. Ford will equip future EVs with the NACS charge port, removing the need for an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers, starting in 2025.
“Tesla has led the industry in creating a large, reliable, and efficient charging system, and we are pleased to be able to join forces in a way that benefits customers and overall EV adoption,” said Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer, Ford Model e. “The Tesla Supercharger network is reliable, and the NACS plug is smaller and lighter. Overall, this provides a superior experience for customers.”
BlueOval Network Already Biggest
BlueOval Charging Networkis already North America’s most prominent public charging network with over 84,000 chargers, including access to over 10,000 public DC fast chargers. Adding more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers creates the single largest integrated fast-charge network across the U.S. and Canada, designed to significantly reduce charge anxiety for Ford customers, with automatic routing to the nearest charger and seamless billing via FordPass.
Additionally, Ford dealers are adding roughly 1,800 public-facing fast chargers and locations to the BlueOval Charge Network by early 2024.
Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, “You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent many misspent hours hanging out at gas stations (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars. From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper "You Auto Know," an enterprise I handled faithfully for 32 years. Only a few people know that I also handled computer documentation for most of my earnings while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc. You can follow me on: Twitter or Facebook.
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