​​Ford ships 140,000 Free Tesla Charging Adapters to EV customers​

In May 2023, Ford announced it would change the EV charge ports on its vehicles from the CCS format to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, which originated with Tesla models. This change would enable Ford EVs to access the Tesla Supercharger network, the largest and most reliable public charging network in the U.S. Additionally, current EV owners would receive adapters so their CCS-port vehicles could also utilize the Tesla Supercharger network. Dick Smith Ford is pleased to announce that over 140,000 NACS adapters have been shipped to existing Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and Transit-E owners. 

It wasn’t supposed to take this long, but initially, the only supplier of NACS adapters was Tesla itself, and production was delayed. Unfortunately, an early batch of adapters sent out proved to be defective, prompting Ford to inform its customers not to use them. However, the 140,000 adapters sent to Ford EV owners who requested them have no such issues, and Fords are now commonly seen at the once Tesla-exclusive Supercharger stations. In fact, as of last February, 20% of all public charging by Ford EV models occurred at Tesla Supercharging stations. Newer EV models with a built-in NACS port will be sold with adapters for use with CCS port chargers, which currently make up the BlueOval Charge Network, including chargers from Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint. Overall, Ford EV owners have access to over 44,000 public chargers nationwide. 

Ford has also contracted Lectron to produce adapters that are particularly durable. They subjected these to drop tests, water immersion tests, and even ensured that they would still be operable after being run over by a Ford F-150 Lightning. Unfortunately, Lectron manufactures the chargers in China, making them subject to the tariffs imposed on China as of this writing. 

The FordPass and public charging apps on a Ford EV’s touchscreen have been updated to provide Tesla Supercharger locations. To find Tesla Superchargers:

Ford Pass: 

1. Open FordPass. 

1. Tap on Energy. 

1. Select Public Charging from the Charge section. A list of nearby chargers will be displayed. 

In-vehicle Navigation 

1. Tap the Home icon on your vehicle’s touchscreen. 

1. Select Public Charging. The chargers closest to your vehicle’s location will be displayed. 

In both cases: 

• Tesla Superchargers are labeled “Adapter Needed.” 

• Incompatible Tesla Superchargers will be marked as “Station Not Compatible.” Non-Tesla vehicles cannot charge at these stations, even with a Fast Charging Adapter. 

To take advantage of fast charging, look for Tesla Superchargers with peak rates of 250+ kilowatts (kW). These will have an all-black collar behind the charger handle, as opposed to a silver collar on stations with a charge speed of 150 kW or less.  

The EV world is still experiencing rapid changes, but most of these changes point to increased EV usability, especially regarding public charging. To learn more about whether a Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, or E-Transit is right for you, consult the sales professionals at Dick Smith Ford.