(Credit: Ford)
Ford EV drivers can now power up at Superchargers across the US and Canada.
Ford is the first non-Tesla automaker to formally roll out Supercharger support. It first announced plans to do so in May 2023; other companies followed suit throughout the year.
Ford offers two passenger electric vehicles, the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. Both will require an adapter to use Superchargers, which Ford is offering to customers free of charge until June 30, 2024. After that date, the adapter will cost $230.
To reserve an adapter, Ford customers can visit Ford.com/FastChargingAdapter. "Click on the ‘Reserve your adapter at no cost’ button to start the ordering process," Ford says. Shipping information will pre-populate from the information in your Ford Pass account.
Ford drivers can find available Superchargers on the dash screen and in the Ford mobile app, which also displays existing charging options from other brands. Then, fix the adapter to the end of the Tesla cord, plug it into the Ford vehicle, and start charging. When it's complete, Ford drivers simply pull the plug out and get on the road. Payment processes automatically through the Ford Pass App with no need to use a credit card on-site.
Starting in 2025, Ford plans to manufacture new EVs with the Tesla charge port, dubbed NACS, instead of the Combined Charging System (CCS) port, removing the need for an adapter. Ford's future plans also include integrating available Superchargers with its navigation system, as well as Apple Maps EV routing (CarPlay) and Google Maps EV routing (Android Auto).
Ford says its drivers will have access to 15,000 Superchargers, which Tesla made open to Ford drivers via a software update that occurred today. A Ford spokesperson previously told PCMag that Tesla may also have to retrofit some stations to accommodate other brands, including lengthening charging cords, though Ford declined to comment further on such changes.
All things considered, opening Tesla Superchargers to other brands could usher in a new era for EV driving. Charging concerns are the number one barrier to adoption, Ford says, though 80% of its customers charge at home, "creating an ideal ownership experience where most customers can wake up to a fully charged vehicle every morning."
(Credit: Ford)The next few weeks should be telling on whether having access to more chargers on the road will be a game changer, though it could result in longer lines and increased wait times for chargers. In the next year, all major EV brands will follow Ford's lead by giving their drivers access to the Supercharger network as well. That includes Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Porsche, and others. They, too, will build Tesla's NACS port into their vehicles starting in 2025.