Ford CEO Jim Farley made an unexpected announcement in May last year during an online event co-hosted by Tesla’s Elon Musk: Ford would embrace the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port. This spring, that unanticipated collaboration is set to materialize, as Ford’s electric vehicles (EVs) – including the F-150 Lightning trucks, Mustang Mach-E SUVs, and E-Transit vehicles – will be able to plug into the Supercharger network.
Farley committed to providing a fast charging adapter for Ford’s EV customers in the United States and Canada. This week, he hinted online that these adapters will soon be available for order. While a specific date was not provided, Farley assured that more details would be forthcoming.
“In our announcement regarding Ford EVs gaining access to Tesla Superchargers, I mentioned that we would provide customers with a Fast Charging Adapter. I am delighted to confirm that eligible Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning owners in the U.S. and Canada will soon be able to reserve a complimentary adapter,” said Farley via X, formerly known as Twitter.
At present, Ford EVs are equipped with a Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) inlet. Ford’s strategy involves providing access to the Supercharger network to its customers until 2024 through an adapter. Subsequently, starting next year, Ford plans to integrate native ports into their EVs, eliminating the need for additional parts. Ford EV customers already have access to charging at 10,000 public DC fast chargers as part of the company’s expansive BlueOval Charge Network, which includes over 84,000 charging stations. The partnership with Tesla adds another 12,000 Superchargers across the United States and Canada. Ford also intends to incorporate approximately 1,800 public fast chargers into the network this year.
Other automotive manufacturers, including BMW, GM, Nissan, Mini, Jaguar, Toyota, Mazda, Volkswagen, and Rolls-Royce, are set to adopt NACS for their EVs starting in 2025. Additionally, it is anticipated that new models from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis will be equipped with a NACS port this year. The standardization of port types across all EVs would streamline the charging process, making it as straightforward and predictable as plugging in a household appliance, whether at home or on the go.
