Ford and Tesla Embrace at the Charging Stations

The Blue Oval recently announced that it will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its electric vehicles starting in 2025. NACS originated from Tesla with the Model S in 2012 and is now available to other manufacturers. The charging partnership is a positive step towards sustainability as more companies embrace this technology and work together towards a common goal.

Many recognize Tesla as the best Supercharger network in the electric vehicle industry. Tesla has always aimed high and continues to maintain its advantage. As a matter of fact, the electric car pioneer was so confident in its Supercharger network that it even announced a name change to NACS in November (2022). Tesla has invested significant time and resources into creating an exceptional charging network, benefiting electric vehicle owners worldwide.

“With more than a decade of use and 20 billion EV charging miles to its name, the Tesla charging connector is the most proven in North America… It has no moving parts, is half the size, and twice as powerful as Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors. NACS is the most common charging standard in North America: NACS vehicles outnumber CCS two-to-one, and Tesla’s Supercharging network has 60 percent more NACS posts than all the CCS-equipped networks combined.”

-Tesla 

Tesla has over 12,000 Supercharging stations in the United States and Canada. However, the best part is that the EV manufacturer continues to add more charging stations. What makes these stations even better is how user-friendly they are. Tesla chargers are always reliable, and in the rare case of an issue, Tesla owners can quickly and easily find alternative stations using their car or mobile app.

Recently, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk joined forces on Twitter Spaces to share some exciting news. Starting in early 2024, Ford EVs will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network with the help of NACS to CCS adapters. But that’s not all! By 2025, Ford EVs will come equipped with NACS hardware and software, making the charging process even more accessible. This partnership marks a significant milestone for the electric vehicle industry, and we are excited to see what the future holds.

Farley had been collaborating with Elon and his team for a couple of years on a plan that focused on US charging infrastructure and Tesla’s advantages. This plan had been on his mind for some time, as Farley hinted at it during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2022.

“Charging is awful. It’s awful. No high speed chargers, right? No quality metric around whether they’re broken or not. You can’t reserve one, so if someone pulls right in front of you… They’re not in locations that you want to spend time anyways,” Farley said, before commenting on the competition. “Other than Tesla. Charging plugs break. Tesla’s plug is excellent, by the way, doesn’t break if you drop it.”

-Jim Farley, Ford CEO 

When Tesla introduced their Supercharger network, many people doubted its potential success, fearing it could lead to bankruptcy. However, Tesla persevered and acquired land for a nationwide network, constructed chargers, and connected them to the grid and cars through mobile apps. As a result, the electric vehicle automaker required the creation of appealing electric vehicles and an exceptional charging experience. Now, Ford has recognized the benefits of this competitive advantage and is following in Tesla’s footsteps. It’s time for other manufacturers to follow suit. 

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Photo Source/Credit: Ford Media