In reaction to Ford’s official news that it would be connecting to the Supercharger network, the company is giving Tesla owners a new charging adaptor that lets them use Tesla’s NACS connector to charge. People who own Ford electric cars (EVs) from model years 2021 to 2024 can get the charging adapter for free from Ford until June 30, 2024. As of July 1, Ford customers will have to pay $230 for the adapter. Ford’s next generation of electric cars will come with NACS plugs, so they will be able to use superchargers right out of the box. Tesla has been letting owners of EVs that aren’t Tesla’s use its large network of Superchargers for a few months now. Previously, charging was only possible at a few Supercharger stations that had built-in switches to connect. Tesla’s Supercharger network now lets Ford EVs charge anywhere. The owner of the EV will need to carry a special switch. Ford asked us to try out the method, so we went to a nearby Supercharger station. Finally, the performance did not come as a surprise, which is a good thing. Last but not least, charging your car shouldn’t be fun or confusing. We did find some important things, like the fact that the adapter needed a safety process. Each adapter has a locking pin built in so that EV drivers can’t take out the Supercharger plug without also taking out the adapter. At this point, the connected device needs to be plugged into the car before the Supercharger cable can be linked to the adapter. $230 after July 1 You can get the charging adapter for free through the Ford Pass app until June 30 if you own a new or used Ford EV. It costs $230 to own the connector after June 30. Ford is planning to add NACS plugs to their next line of electric cars from the factory so they can use Superchargers right away. The adapter has the same maximum direct current and voltage ratings as a CCS2 charger, at 500 amps for current and 1000 volts for voltage. This means that all three of Ford’s electric cars—the Mach-E, the F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit—will easily reach their fastest charging speeds at Supercharger stations. The Supercharger network is easier to use when it comes to payments because it is easy to plug in and charge. Ford says that paying at Superchargers will be just as easy for owners of its cars because the software will use the payment information in the owner’s Ford Pro app. The Tesla app is not needed, unlike the built-in “Magic Dock” devices from Tesla. The Ford Pass app or the company’s built-in tracking system may make it easier for owners to find the Superchargers. Ford says the systems will figure out which chargers need an adapter and get rid of the ones that don’t work. Ford says that the Supercharger network has added about 15,300 chargers to its own Blue Oval charging network. This means that Ford electric car drivers now have access to more than twice as many fast-charging stations. Ford is the first car company to join the Supercharger network, but most of the big rivals have promised to do the same in the next few years. By 2025, many people will even put NACS plugs in their electric cars, and soon, many more will be able to do the same thing with an adaptor.
