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On 25 May 2023, Ford and Tesla struck an agreement that will impact the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) in North America. Under this deal, Ford EV owners will gain access to Tesla's extensive network of more than 12,000 Superchargers across the United States and Canada. Further, beginning in 2025, Ford's upcoming EV models will incorporate Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port. Announced during a Twitter Spaces session featuring Ford’s CEO Jim Farley and Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, who expressed enthusiasm for supporting each other's efforts in sustainable transport.
With the NACS port, Ford customers will have the option to charge their vehicles at Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers using an affordable adapter. Farley emphasized that Ford aims to provide flexible payment options, including subscriptions, making the charging experience convenient and accessible to all. Musk confirmed that the adapter's price would be within the "hundred of dollars range." Musk also highlighted Tesla's commitment to an open ecosystem, stating, "We don't want the Tesla Supercharger network to be like a walled garden". To achieve this, Tesla plans to offer API access, allowing Ford owners to charge their vehicles at Tesla Superchargers seamlessly through the Ford app.
During the Twitter Spaces session, Farley praised Tesla's Supercharger locations, routing software reliability, and the user-friendly design of Tesla's connector. It's evident that both companies recognize the importance of delivering a seamless charging experience to EV owners. Ford has been making significant strides in expanding its charging infrastructure, with its BlueOval Charge Network already providing access to over 84,000 chargers, including 10,000 public DC fast-chargers. Agreements such as this incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles– a kinder measure for the environment.
