Last May, Ford was the first automaker to announce its plans to adopt Tesla’s charge connector, now known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). In addition to adding Tesla’s connector to its own EVs in 2025, Ford also said it would make a free adapter available to existing Ford EV owners.
Starting today, Ford says that eligible Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning owners can request their free CCS to NACS adapter. The first deliveries are slated to begin shipping in March. Ford is also starting to roll out a software update that unlocks Tesla Supercharger support for Mach-E and Lightning vehicles.
“Today, Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E retail customers are the first of any non-Tesla automaker to gain access to Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada,” Ford says.
Free Ford CCS to NACS adapter now available to order
Ford is making the CCS to NACS adapter for free from today, February 29 through June 30 for new and existing Ford EV drivers. After this window passes, the adapter will be available for purchase at a retail price of $230.
To request an adapter, Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning drivers need to head to Ford’s website. Here, you can log in with your Ford account to confirm and validate your VIN to request your adapter. You’ll also need to be enrolled in the BlueOval Charge Network, which is free to join.
Ford’s adapter will support fast charging at Tesla V3 Superchargers. The adapter will not work at Tesla V2 Superchargers. Ford also says that some V3 Superchargers will not be available to Ford owners, as Tesla is keeping certain locations exclusive to Tesla drivers.
The adapter also will not work at Tesla Destination Chargers, which are much slower chargers typically found at hotels, parking garages, and more. More details on Ford’s website.
Still, Ford says the adapter will give drivers access to “more than 15,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada.” The adapter supports charging at up to the full 150kW fast charging speed of the Mach-E and Lightning.
Here are some of the tech specs of the adapter:
Rated Voltage: 1000VDC
Rated Current: 300A @ 35C and 500A Boost Current for 10 minutes
Safety features: Interlock to prevent the NACS connector from being unplugged and built-in temperature sensors.
Plug & Charge support
Tesla Superchargers will also support Plug & Charge for Ford EVs. This means Mach-E and Lightning drivers can simply plug their car in, and it will automatically begin to charge. If you’re not enrolled in Plug & Charge, you can plug in at a Tesla Supercharger, then manually activate the charging session via the FordPass app or via your in-car screen. Notably, the Tesla app is not required at all in the process.
As you can see in the video below, you will be able to located supported Tesla Superchargers using the FordPass app or with the Charge Assist App on your iPhone or Android device. In the future, Tesla Superchargers will be coming to:
Apple Maps EV Routing (with Apple CarPlay)
Google Maps EV Routing (with Android Auto)
Ford Connected Built-In Navigation
In addition to opening reservations for the Fast Charging Adapter today, Ford is also starting to roll out a software update to Mach-E and Lightning cars. This update enables support for charging at Tesla Superchargers. In typical Ford fashion, the update will roll out gradually across North America.
In total, Ford says it operates the “largest public charging network” in North America through its BlueOval Charge Network. This consists of over 126,000 total chargers across over 35,000 locations. There are over 28,000 DC fast chargers included in the BlueOval Charge Network at more than 7,500 locations.
Find the full press release and a couple of videos from Ford below. More hands-on and real-world testing coverage to follow from the Electrek team.
Ford Customers Can Now Charge on Tesla Superchargers in U.S. and Canada
DEARBORN, Mich., February 29, 2024 – Today, Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E retail customers are the first of any non-Tesla automaker to gain access to Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada.
According to a Cox Automotive Consumer Sentiment Study, lack of charging stations is the second largest barrier after price when it comes to purchasing an electric vehicle. As EV prices come down, improving access to reliable fast charging is critical to help more customers confidently choose an EV.
The 15,000+ available Tesla Superchargers more than double customer access to reliable DC fast charging on the BlueOval Charge Network.
Ford is saying thank you to its electric vehicle customers by making the Fast Charging Adapter (NACS) available at no cost to new and existing customers enrolled in the BlueOval Charge Network through June 30, 2024. The Adapter is required to charge at upgraded Superchargers. Ford retail EV customers are the first in the industry to have the opportunity to order the Fast Charging Adapter (NACS), and can reserve by visiting Ford.com/FastChargingAdapter.
Retail customers will be eligible to receive a complimentary adapter if ordered by June 30, 2024. Future Ford EV customers can purchase the adapter from Ford for $230.00 (including estimated tax and shipping).
The BlueOval Charge Network provides one seamless stored payment account through the FordPass App, or Charge Assist App in the vehicle’s touchscreen, which eliminates the need for onsite credit card use. Once owners have created an account and activated Plug & Charge, Tesla Superchargers will support Plug & Charge with Ford EVs. This means customers simply have to plug in and charging will automatically start with charges managed through FordPass.
Ordering an Adapter
Starting Feb. 29, 2024, F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E retail customers can reserve an adapter via ford.com/FastChargingAdapter.
From the site, log in to Ford Pass. The Fast Charging Adapter Reservation will be the first tile within the Connected Service Home Page.
Click on the ‘Reserve your adapter at no cost’ button to start the ordering process
Your shipping information will be pre-populated based on your Ford Pass account, just verify that all the information is accurate, update if needed, and click ‘Reserve’.
And that’s it! From there you will get a confirmation screen with helpful information on a forthcoming automated over-the-air software update and a link to our FAQ Hub.
Additionally, you will receive confirmation email with a personalized link to check the status of your reservation.
Customers who are not yet enrolled in BlueOval Charge Network will be prompted to enroll before ordering their fast charging adapter.
Ford Pro customers will be contacted this Spring via mail or a Ford Pro account manager with instructions on how to order.
Locating and Activating Upgraded Superchargers
Ford customers can use the FordPass App on in-vehicle Charge Assist App to locate chargers, including new Tesla Superchargers, just like before. Integration to routing will come with a future over-the-air update.
In the future, Tesla Superchargers will be coming to:
Apple Maps EV Routing (with Apple CarPlay)
Google Maps EV Routing (with Android Auto)
Ford Connected Built-In Navigation
BlueOval Charge Network
The BlueOval Charge Network, North America’s largest public charging network offered by an automaker, is a “network of networks” that provides Ford EV drivers with easy access to a variety of charging providers without the need for multiple apps and memberships.
With the addition of Tesla Superchargers, the BlueOvalTM Charge Network now has more than 126,000 chargers, including more than 28,000 fast chargers, with more being added every week.
The network provides one seamless stored payment account through the FordPass App, or Charge Assist (soon to be “Public Charge” App) in the vehicle’s touchscreen, that eliminates the need for onsite credit card use. Once owners have created an account, they can then select, activate, and pay for charging by using the FordPass App’s “View Chargers” functionality.
Ford customers can enjoy trip planning, routing and charging payment through FordPass Power My Trip on both the FordPass App and via Charge Assist (soon to be ‘Public Charge’ App) on the in-vehicle touchscreen (Superchargers route planning coming in the future).
Commercial Charging
While commercial customers primarily charge at home or at work, when they need to charge on the road at a public charger, the Fast Charging Adapter (NACS) will give them access to more than 15,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada on the BlueOvalTM Charge Network. In addition to public charging, Ford Pro offers multiple solutions to fit the charging needs of businesses with EVs in their fleets.
Charging at Home
More than 80 percent of Ford EV drivers currently charge at home, creating an ideal ownership experience where most customers can wake up to a fully charged vehicle every morning. Ford’s home and commercial depot charging offerings deliver peace of mind to EV drivers, who also have access to fast-growing public charging as needed.
Together with home or depot charging solutions, whether on a daily commute or a longer road trip, Ford EV customers are covered.
Optimizing the Charging Experience
Precondition the vehicle while charging whenever possible to optimize battery range in hot or cold environments.
Set Departure Times in the FordPassTM App or in-vehicle screen to automatically heat or cool your vehicle’s interior for when you need it, drawing energy while plugged in to help save your battery for the road and warm the battery when it is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turn cabin heat off while charging when possible and use heated seats and steering wheel (when equipped; not available on E-Transit) to reduce HVAC energy.
If snowing, remove all ice and snow from the vehicle before driving; try to keep driving speeds moderate and ensure tires are properly inflated.
When searching for chargers in the FordPass App, you can adjust your filters to make sure you’re searching for the charge station type that makes the most sense for your current need, whether it’s a Level 2 AC charger or Level 3 DC fast charger.
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(From left) CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick moderates an IoT panel with Cenk Alper, CEO of Sabanci Holding, Christina Shim, chief sustainability officer of IBM, and Mitesh Patel, interim CEO and COO of SunCable International, at CONVERGE LIVE on March 13, 2025.
Renewable energy companies can shorten the long approval process needed for their projects by communicating better with stakeholders, according to experts.
Christina Shim, IBM’s chief sustainability officer, said sponsors need to focus on the business value — in addition to the environmental benefits — when discussing their projects.
“That being said … there are some triggering words now, depending on where you sit around the world, and I think the more that you can quantify business value for what you’re doing and tie it to, again, the business operations and business decision making, it’s only going to be more and more important,” Shim said Thursday.
“As long as the outcomes are the same, you just need to make sure that you’re communicating in an appropriate way with the right stakeholders.”
She compared it to how one might talk to a CFO, versus an investor, versus someone in procurement. “You kind of have to talk about things a little bit differently.”
Mitesh Patel, interim CEO and COO at SunCable International, agrees that adjusting communication for the right audience is crucial.
“For politicians, the voters are their constituency, not your project or not your company. You have to help them translate what benefits your project will bring to the constituents,” said Patel, whose company is developing a project to deliver solar energy from Australia to Singapore via undersea cables.
The comments by Shim and Patel, who were speaking to CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick on a panel in Singapore, come as renewable energy projects often take many years to get off the ground.
A report from the Global Infrastructure hub, which is part of the World Bank’s Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility, noted the complex nature of preparation needed before an infrastructure project gets underway. It put the average project preparation time at 6 years but said it can take up to 14 years if the project is not planned properly.
Cenk Alper, CEO of Sabanci Holding, a Turkish conglomerate, said the biggest obstacle to getting renewable energy projects off the ground is often regulatory.
“The biggest problem is still government — the permits. Because from licensing to making a project ready, the total time is longer than the construction time,” he said.
The situation in Europe is worse, he added, citing a project where connecting to the grid took two years.
Alper said Western countries need to streamline the approval process for renewable energy projects, noting China has embarked on more projects in the last five years than the rest of the world combined.
Volkswagen ID.4 production at Chattanooga, TN (Source: VW)
A new study from the REPEAT Project led by Princeton University’s ZERO Lab warns that the repeal of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits could decimate the growing EV manufacturing sector.
The report “Potential Impacts of Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Repeal on US Vehicle Market and Manufacturing” clearly outlines the risks. The Princeton study states that repealing the IRA federal tax credits and the EPA’s clean vehicle regulations would sharply reduce EV demand.
Specifically, EV sales could drop around 30% by 2027 and nearly 40% by 2030 compared to sticking with the policies implemented by the Biden administration. That means the share of EVs among new cars sold would shrink dramatically – from about 18% to 13% by 2026 and from 40% to just 24% by 2030.
“While no one has a perfect crystal ball, this is our best attempt to survey available quantitative forecasts and develop an outlook on US EV sales,” explained the study’s project leader, Jesse D. Jenkins, assistant professor at Princeton’s Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy & Environment in an email. “The report is also the only analysis I’m aware of to date that draws the connection to US manufacturing as well.”
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Here’s why this matters: The report points out that repealing these policies wouldn’t just slow down EV adoption – it could seriously derail the US manufacturing renaissance now underway. Up to 100% of planned expansions for EV assembly plants could be canceled or shuttered. Battery manufacturing would also take a huge hit, with between 29% and 72% of battery cell production capacity becoming redundant by 2025. That means factories under construction or those just coming online would be at risk.
To put that into perspective, an Environmental Defense Fund report released in January found that $197.6 billion worth of investments in EV and battery manufacturing have been announced at 208 facilities around the US, with two-thirds announced since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022.
It’s probably a good time to point out that, in order to qualify for IRA federal tax credits, EVs must be domestically assembled, use battery components that have been substantially domestically produced, and use critical minerals produced, processed, or recycled in North America or free trade agreement countries.
Why, then, is the Trump administration torpedoing an industry that’s achieving the very thing it says it wants to achieve, which is to boost domestic manufacturing and jobs?
And let’s not forget the broader EV supply chain – materials, parts, and component suppliers across the country would also suffer, though these effects haven’t even been fully quantified yet.
Bottom line: Repealing the tax credits and regulations wouldn’t just slow down EV sales – it would threaten the jobs, investments, and communities counting on America’s EV manufacturing boom.
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The Optiq, Cadillac’s most affordable EV, just got a price cut. Despite being on the market for less than two months, GM cut lease prices by nearly $100 a month. Here’s how you can snag the deal.
GM cuts lease prices on Cadillac’s most affordable EV
Compared to Cadillac’s other electric vehicles, like the Escalade IQL, which starts at over $130,000, and the Vistiq, which has a price tag of over $77,000, the Optiq already looks like a steal at about $55,000.
Cadillac’s electric SUV arrived in January with lease prices starting at $489 per month. Although this was already its cheapest SUV (gas or EV), GM is making it even more affordable this month.
The 2025 Cadillac Lyriq is now listed at just $399 for 24 months with $4,929 due at signing. In less than two months, the OPTIQ’s lease prices have fallen by $90, or almost 20%. The deal is for the 2025 Cadillac Optiq AWD Luxury 1 with an MSRP of $54,390.
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Cadillac’s lease deal runs through March 31. However, there are a few limitations you should know about. The deal includes a $2,000 loyalty or conquest offer.
Cadillac Optiq EV lease deal (Source: Cadillac)
The fine print states you must be a lessee of a 2020 model year or newer non-GM vehicle for at least 30 days. According to online car research firm CarsDirect, this extends to 2011 and newer electric vehicles from a competitor brands such as Tesla, Rivian, Porsche, BMW, Ford, and Honda, among several others.
At 190″ long, 75″ wide, and 65″ tall, the Cadillac Optiq is about the same size as the Tesla Model Y (187″ long x 76″ wide x 64″ tall).
Powered by an 85 kWh battery pack, the electric SUV has a driving range of up to 302 miles. With 150 kW DC fast charging, the Optiq can gain up to 79 miles of range in about 10 minutes.
2025 Cadillac Optiq trim
Starting Price (including destination)
Driving Range (EPA-estimated)
Luxury 1
$54,390
302 miles
Luxury 2
$56,590
302 miles
Sport 1
$54,990
302 miles
Sport 2
$57,090
302 miles
2025 Cadillac Optiq price and range by trim
Inside, the Optiq features a massive 33″ infotainment and “segment-leading” cargo (57 cubic feet) and second-row space.
GM has been introducing new deals on new EV models all year. Chevy’s new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs are all available with 0% APR with leases starting as low as $299 per month.
Ready to take advantage of the savings? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find deals on GM’s most popular EVs in your area.
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