Ford Offers Free Tesla Adapter for Electric Vehicle Owners, Limited Supply Available
Ford has announced that it will be offering a free Tesla adapter to its electric vehicle (EV) owners, giving them access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network. This move comes after Ford’s decision last year to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for its EVs, which led other automakers to follow suit. The adapter, manufactured by Tesla, allows EVs equipped with Combined Charging System (CCS 1) outlets to use Tesla’s Superchargers. Normally retailing for $230, Ford is offering the first adapter to its EV customers free of charge, at least for a limited time.
Ken Williams, director of charging and energy services at Ford, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that it would significantly increase access to fast charging in the US and Canada. “This will more than double our access to fast charging within the US and Canada with the addition of greater than 15,000 chargers with the Tesla Supercharger network,” Williams said.
However, not all customers will receive the adapter immediately. Ford is dependent on Tesla to produce enough adapters to meet demand, and supply is expected to be limited in the early stages. Williams acknowledged this constraint, saying, “We do believe that in the initial phases of launch, the demand will exceed supply, but we’re going to try to manage that demand on a first-come-first-serve basis.”
For years, Tesla Superchargers were exclusive to Tesla owners, but the company has recently opened up access to non-Tesla EVs. This decision was prompted by the Biden administration’s requirement for EV charging infrastructure funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Tesla CEO Elon Musk clarified that the Supercharger network was never intended to be a “walled garden.”
Tesla’s Supercharger network is widely regarded as superior to many third-party EV charging stations. With 55,000 Superchargers worldwide, including 15,000 in the US, Tesla has established a robust and reliable charging infrastructure. Ford customers will be able to access the majority of Tesla’s network using the adapter, although older V2 Superchargers and some V3 stalls will not be available to them. Adapters have certain voltage limitations and charge more slowly than a direct connection for safety reasons.
Ford acknowledges that the adapters are a temporary solution to the problem of EV charging availability and reliability. Non-Tesla EV owners have reported issues with public chargers, such as software glitches, broken chargers, and unavailable locations. In contrast, Tesla has one of the highest rates of operability in the industry. Ford and other automakers have plans to produce EVs with factory-installed Tesla NACS ports, eliminating the need for adapters. However, these vehicles are not expected to be available before 2025.
In conclusion, Ford’s decision to offer free Tesla adapters to its EV customers marks a significant step towards expanding access to fast charging infrastructure. By leveraging Tesla’s Supercharger network, Ford aims to address the challenges faced by non-Tesla EV owners in finding reliable and accessible charging options. While supply constraints may initially limit the availability of adapters, this partnership sets the stage for future collaborations between automakers to create a seamless charging experience for all EV owners.