Ford EVs Will Use Tesla Charging Tech in Surprise Partnership Between Rival Automakers

Ford Motor and Tesla will collaborate on charging initiatives to support its electric vehicles, both current and future. This is an unusual partnership between two rivals.

According to the agreement announced by Ford CEO Jim Farley, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Ford owners currently in the U.S. will have access to over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico starting early next.

Ford's next generation of EVs includes Tesla's plug. This will allow Ford owners to charge their vehicles at Tesla Superchargers, without adapters.

DETROIT

Ford Motor

Will partner with

Tesla

The CEOs of both automakers have agreed to collaborate on charging initiatives for their current and future electric cars in an unusual partnership between them.

Announced Thursday

.

Ford owners who have signed the agreement will be able to access more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in the U.S.A. and Canada starting early next. They can do this by using an adapter. Ford's next generation of EVs, expected to be available by the middle of the decade, will feature Tesla's plug. This will allow Ford owners to charge their vehicles at Tesla Superchargers, without the need for an adapter. Ford is among the first carmakers to tie directly into the network.

Ford CEO Jim Farley announced the initiatives during a Twitter Spaces live audio discussion with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Ford is ramping up production of fully electric cars in order to reduce emissions.

Tesla sales can be caught up with or even surpasses someday

In the segment.

Ford was second in sales of fully electric vehicles in the U.S. in 2017. It sold 61 575 electric cars.

Farley stated that the company was "totally commited" to one charging protocol in the U.S., which includes the Tesla plug-in port (also known as NACS). Ford's next generation EVs may or may not retain the CCS charging ports that are found on current models. Ford's spokesman confirmed that the company "has this option available but has no news to announce today."

Ford's separate spokesman said to CNBC that the charging prices "will be competitive on the market." Further details will be revealed closer to the launch date, which is expected in 2024.

Tesla has previously spoken about opening up its private network to non-Tesla EV drivers. In February, White House officials said that Tesla had committed to opening up 7,500 charging stations to other EV drivers by 2024. Until now, the chargers were primarily used and compatible with Tesla EVs.

Tesla's

first-quarter

Shareholders

Deck

The company revealed that there are approximately 45,000 Supercharger Connectors in 4,947 Supercharger stations around the world. The company does disclose the number of chargers or revenue generated by these devices. The company includes the revenue from Supercharging Stations under its "services and others" segment.

The Twitter Spaces event on Thursday between Farley, Musk and other executives marks the latest interaction of the two executives who have an intense rivalry. Both have expressed admiration towards the other despite their direct competition.

Ford beat Tesla in the pickup segment by a considerable margin, and will begin production of the F-150 Lightning electric version of their consistently popular trucks in April 2022. Ford used the Tesla Model Y as a benchmark for its Mustang Mach-E cross-over and also followed Tesla's price reductions of electric crossovers.

Musk, the leader of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, has repeatedly praised Ford for being a historical American company. He lauded its ability to avoid bankruptcies, unlike its rivals across town.

General Motors

Chrysler and the Great Recession

Farley expressed his excitement about working with Elon and the Ford team. Musk reciprocated his feelings, saying: "It is an honor to work with a company as great as Ford."

Farley pushed Musk a little, asking him about the new version of Roadster, the first vehicle the company produced. Musk teased an updated Roadster in the fall 2017. Musk promised that it would be able to travel 620 miles on a single charge, and have three motors among other features.

He reiterated today, Thursday, that the new version is not yet completely designed.

Farley had praised Tesla's charging network at a Morgan Stanley event earlier Thursday. He said that Ford, which has its own charging devices for commercial customers, should collaborate with automakers to create charging infrastructure for consumers.

Farley noted that Tesla's plug was different from those used by other automakers. "I believe the first step would be to work together with new EV brands as well as traditional automakers in a manner we have not done before."