US automaker Ford has entered into a partnership with Tesla to give its electric vehicle (EV) customers access to Tesla's vast EV charging network. Starting from next year, Ford EV owners in the United States can use the carmaker's mobile app to access Tesla's more than 12,000 Supercharger stations. The deal was announced on Thursday during a Twitter Spaces livestream by Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who said that he had "a tremendous amount of respect for Ford as a company".
As part of the partnership, Ford also announced that its next-generation EVs will have Tesla-style charging ports, rather than the CCS chargers used by most other EV makers, including General Motors and Audi. According to Farley, this will allow Ford EV owners to benefit from the increased availability of charging stations, as Tesla's charging stations outnumber those offering the CCS standard in the US.
Existing Ford electric vehicles will require an adapter to access Tesla's Superchargers. The partnership underscores the growing urgency for increased EV adoption as several US states have passed bills to restrict the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. However, critics have pointed out that many areas still lack the necessary charging infrastructure to make EVs a viable option for drivers.
Ford is the first major automaker to accept Musk's invitation to use Tesla's charging ports for its EVs. By collaborating in this way, Ford and Tesla are prioritizing customers' experiences and hoping to make it easier for drivers to switch to electric mobility.