Ford officially launches Tesla Supercharger access, free adapter now available to order
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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US grid operators haven’t been practicing long-term transmission planning, but for the first time, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) just made it mandatory.
FERC now requires proactive grid planning
FERC oversees interstate electricity transmission. The rule it released today, Order No. 1920, adopts specific requirements for transmission providers in the lower 47 states for long-term planning for regional transmission facilities. They also have to determine how to pay for them. (Texas has an an isolated grid, so it’s excluded.)
FERC gathered “tens of thousands of pages of comments, filed over the course of the past three years,” from stakeholders in the power industry, advocacy groups, and government bodies.
FERC chairman Willie Phillips said, “Our nation needs a new foundation to get badly needed new transmission planned, paid for, and built. With this new rule, that starts today.”
Operators are now required to conduct and periodically update long-term transmission planning over a 20-year time horizon to anticipate future needs. The order also provides for cost-effective expansion of transmission that’s being replaced, when needed – that’s known as “right-sizing” transmission facilities. FERC says Order No. 1920 “expressly provides for the states’ pivotal role throughout the process of planning, selecting, and determining how to pay for transmission lines.”
Phillips added:
Over the last dozen years, FERC has worked on five after-action reports on lessons learned from extreme weather events that caused outages that cost hundreds of lives and millions of dollars. We must get beyond these after-action reports and start planning to maintain a reliable grid that powers our entire way of life.
The rule also encourages grid innovation by requiring transmission providers to consider advanced transmission technologies that drive down ratepayer costs. Julia Selker, executive director of the WATT Coalition, said in a statement, “Grid enhancing technologies will be vital to achieving the seven economic and reliability benefits in the rule, especially production cost savings, reducing grid congestion, and improving performance in extreme weather.”
Melissa Alfano, senior director of energy markets and counsel for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said in a statement:
Our energy system has vastly different needs than it did when the grid was built out over a century ago, and today FERC stepped up to account for many of these needs… As transmission providers comply with this rule, FERC will need to remain vigilant to ensure effective and meaningful implementation.
You can read the major points in FERC’s fact sheet here.
Electrek’s Take
Transmission providers actually having a long-term strategy in place for the US grid seems like such an obvious thing that one would assume it was already in place, but it wasn’t. Turns out grid operators weren’t planning for the long term.
As FERC’s chairman mentions above about getting beyond after-action reports, the grid operators now have to move from reactive to proactive. Better late than never with this major move to upgrade and expand the US grid.
This ruling isn’t going to be a magic bullet, as it will take years to roll out. Plus, there will be the inevitable head butting among states due to disparate rollout plans for renewables.
But ultimately, this is great news. The grid will have more capacity for renewables and become more resilient in extreme weather as these (finally) forward-looking plans are put into place.
Read more: The US just came up with a plan to upgrade 100k miles of transmission lines in 5 years
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Environment
Kia’s most powerful electric car, the new EV6 GT spotted ahead of its official debut [Video]
![Kia's most powerful electric car, the new EV6 GT spotted ahead of its official debut [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Kia-EV6-GT-update-1.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia is expected to reveal the new EV6 GT later this year as its most powerful electric car yet. Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV6 GT was spotted in a new 360-degree video, giving us our closest look yet.
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated EV based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform. After launching the EV6 in August 2021, the electric crossover is due for a facelift three years later.
This will include a sporty new GT version. Kia revealed the EV6 GT in 2022 as its most powerful vehicle yet. With up to 576 hp, the high-performance EV can hit 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
To prove its power, Kia put the EV6 GT up against a Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Hurcan EVO, with the sporty EV out-accelerating both of them. The dual-motor EV6 GT, starting at $61,600, is also quicker than most supercars at more than half the cost.
We’ve seen the EV6 facelift out testing a few times ahead of its debut and caught a glimpse of the GT version earlier this year.
Kia revealed the first teaser images of the upgraded EV6 earlier this month with several new design features. One of the biggest is the new daytime running lights with its “Star Map Signature Lightning” to reflect Kia’s new design theme.
After unveiling three new EVs during its first annual EV day in October, it was clear the EV6 was the odd one out based on lighting alone.
Kia’s new EV6 GT show in new 360-degree video
Kia plans to release additional info on the new EV6 later this month, which will include a GT version.
Ahead of its official debut, a new 360-degree video from ShortsCar gives us our closest look yet at the new electric sports car.
You can see Kia improved the new electric cars’ silhouette and rear and front map designs. After completing its certification in South Korea, new info revealed the EV6 refresh will feature an 84 kWh battery pack, similar to the upgraded Hyundai IONIQ 5.
According to TheKoreanCarBlog, the new battery pack is good for up to 505 km (313 miles) range in Korea, a 24 km (15 miles) improvement over the current generation.
When it launches in the US, the EV6 could reach up to 370 miles EPA range, up from the current 310 miles on the long-range models. In Europe, around 600 km WLTP range is expected.
Kia also confirmed plans to launch its EV9 GT in January with “enormous power” and several other upgrades. Meanwhile, leaked images from China last month revealed the EV5 GT for the first time.
| 2024 Kia EV6 trim | Starting Price | Range (EPA) |
| Light RWD | $42,600 | 232 mi |
| Light Long Range RWD | $45,950 | 310 mi |
| Light Long Range AWD | $49,850 | 282 mi |
| Wind RWD | $48,700 | 310 mi |
| Wind AWD | $52,600 | 282 mi |
| GT-Line RWD | $52,900 | 310 mi |
| GT-Line AWD | $57,600 | 252 mi |
| GT AWD | $61,600 | 218 mi |
To clear inventory, Kia is offering up to $9,000 in Customer Cash on the 2024 EV6. With the $7,500 EV lease bonus included, leases start as low as $229 per month (for 24 months). Kia is also offering other incentives like 0% APR for 60 months and owner loyalty bonuses.
Ready to drive off in a new EV6 at some of the lowest prices yet? We can help you get started. You can use our link to find deals on the 2024 Kia EV6 (and GT models) at a dealer near you.
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Tesla’s head of Cybertruck manufacturing has left the company. It’s unclear if he was involved in yet another round of layoffs or if he left on his own accord.
Over the last month, Tesla has been conducting several major waves of layoffs across its entire organization.
At least 10% of the workforce has been let go, but Electrek has heard that as much as 20% of the entire headcount could be gone by the time everything is said and done.
Tesla’s automotive business, including charging and manufacturing, as well as new product launches, took the biggest hit as Elon Musk appears to be transitioning Tesla away from its EV manufacturing roots to focus on autonomous driving products.
Now, the latest Tesla executive to leave is Renjie Zhu, director of manufacturing in charge of Cybertruck production. He announced on LinkedIn:
After triumphing the epic launch of Cybertruck program and ramping the volume production line to the steady 1K/W throughput orbit for the past 16 months in GFTX, also 7 weeks after the 5th Tesla-versary, my adventure with this great company has come to an end.
Zhu was in charge of manufacturing operations for Tesla’s highly succesful Model 3 and Model Y production lines at Gigafactory Shanghai.
In 2023, he came to Gigafactory Austin after Tom Zhu, then the head of Tesla’s operations in China, was placed in charge of roughly Tesla’s entire automotive operations with the goal of replicating Tesla’s success in Shanghai at its North American factories.
As we reported, Tom Zhu recently went back to China, leading the company’s effort there, and gave up his responsibilities in North America.
As for Renjie Zhu, it’s unclear if he left Tesla of his own accord or if he was let go as part of the layoffs.
We recently reported that some Tesla employees are leaving the company due to low morale at the company amid the layoffs.
The Tesla Cybertruck production ramp has been going about as expected, with Tesla achieving a production rate of 1,000 units in a week last month. The goal is 5,000 a week in the first half of next year.
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