New adapters expand the available charging network for customers.
In May 2023, Ford Motor Company announced that it had signed an agreement with Tesla, to enable Ford customers to charge their battery electric vehicles on the Tesla Supercharger network across Canada and the U.S.
On February 29, 2024, that agreement became a reality for Ford EV customers. In honour of this historic occasion, Ford held an online press briefing, highlighting the agreement and what it means for Ford customers who operate EVs and by extension, the battery electric vehicle market across North America.
Pain points
Ken Williams, Director of Charging and Energy Services for Ford Motor Company, noted that Ford is the first rival OEM to be able to access Tesla’s Supercharger network. He noted that in EV customer surveys, Ford found that one of the biggest pain points was the lack of public charging capability. “The addition of the Tesla Supercharger network will make it so much easier for our customers to manage that [charging] experience overall,” stated Williams.
He also explained that as of February 29, 2024, Ford Customers will begin receiving complimentary adapters allowing their vehicles to be compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network.
This means that Ford EV customers will now have access to 15,000 Tesla Superchargers, which boosts Ford’s Blue Oval Charging Network charging network coverage from more than 111,000 charging locations, to over 126,000 across North America. Additionally, the ability of compatibility with Tesla’s Supercharger network now means that Ford Customers can now access more than 28,000 DC fast chargers, up from around 13,000 previously.
Multiple networks
Williams also noted that a key part and a convenience factor for customers is the ability to access and pay across multiple different charging networks, via a single FordPass app, with the addition of Tesla Superchargers now adding to that capability.
Williams said that with the addition of Tesla Superchargers to the Ford Blue Oval Charge Network, which more than doubles fast charging capability across North America, the practicality of battery electric vehicles improves in more locations across Canada and the U.S., giving customers more options when it comes to vehicle acquisition and use requirements.
Robert Hayes, Manager of Public Charging Customer Experience for Ford, provided webinar attendees with a walkthrough of the Fast Charger adapter ordering process.
Firstly, customers will need to visit Ford.com/fastchargingadapter. Customers will need to log into their FordPass account and see an offer for a complimentary fast-charging adapter. They can then click the “reserve” button to begin the ordering process.
“We will automatically fill out the order form from the information saved in their Ford Pass account,” so that all they will need to do is verify the data information is still correct and click ‘reserve,” explained Hayes.
From there, they will receive a link where they can learn all about their new fast-charging adapter, as well as a notification that is being produced. Additionally, Hayes noted that Ford customers who aren’t yet enrolled in the Blue Oval Charge Network will be prompted to do so prior to ordering their complimentary fast charger adapters.
With the addition of Tesla Superchargers to the Blue Oval Charge Network, customers can use the FordPass app to locate them as they would existing chargers within the network.
Ford says that integration to charger location map routing will come in the future, via over-the-air updates including Apple Maps EV, Google Maps EV and Ford Connected Built-In Navigation.
