Ford and Tesla Partner On Charging

Two of the world’s leading automotive brands have partnered on a deal which has been met with criticism in some quarters.

Ford revealed this week that the company will partner with Tesla to allow their network of drivers to access the company’s large network of superchargers across the United States. In giving Ford drivers access to thousands of Supercharger stations, Tesla hope to take a step towards making their adapter the industry standard, as opposed to the more generic Combined Charging System (CCS).

Commencing in 2025, Ford will produce its electric vehicles utilising Tesla's exclusive charging port. As part of the agreement, Tesla will provide Ford vehicle operators with access to its network of 12,000 Supercharger stations for charging purposes.

In 2024, Ford drivers will be able to access superchargers provided they acquire a "Tesla-developed adapter," given that their vehicles are presently outfitted with the Combined Charging System (CCS) port, which is the global standard for non-Tesla automobiles.

By 2025, Ford is planning to transition its manufacturing process by discontinuing the utilisation of CCS ports and instead implementing the Tesla proprietary connector for its vehicles.

The move is a blow for those who hoped for standardisation across the charging network, with the expectation that Tesla’s patented NACS system could isolate many drivers if it becomes standard.

Ford’s shares jumped on the news, and the company’s president Jim Farley said:“This is great news for our customers who will have unprecedented access to the largest network of fast-chargers in the U.S. and Canada.

“Widespread access to fast-charging is absolutely vital to our growth as an EV brand, and this breakthrough agreement comes as we are ramping up production of our popular Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and preparing to launch a series of next-generation EVs starting in 2025.”