Ford's Tesla Supercharger Adapter Detailed: Availability, Tech Specs, and More

In the not-to-distant future, brand-new Ford EVs will come from the factory equipped with the same NACS charge ports that Tesla uses, meaning they'll be able to plug into Tesla chargers—faster Superchargers and Level 2 destination chargers—without any special adapters. (In fact, they'll need adapters to work with current CCS1 DC fast chargers and the like!) Until then, Ford has unveiled the Fast Charging adapter owners of its Mach-E SUV, F-150 Lighting pickup, and (eventually) E-Transit van will need to plug into Tesla's Superchargers—a device that opens up 15,000 new fast chargers to Ford owners after today.

Current owners of Mach-Es and Lightnings will receive over-the-air (OTA) updates this morning that enable them to charge at select Tesla Superchargers nationwide; E-Transits will require in-person updates, as the electric vans don't support OTAs, but also will eventually be compatible with Tesla's DC fast chargers. Of course, all three electric Fords will also need the NACS-to-CCS1 adapter you see here. And for now, that adapter is free to Ford owners (one per car).

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Owners (and anyone who buys a new Ford EV in the next few months) have until June 30, 2024 to order their free adapters via a Ford.com/FastChargingAdapter; after that date, Ford says the adapter will be available for purchase. The retail price is $230, though Ford isn't being specific yet as to whether that'll also apply to customers buying one at the same time they purchase a new Ford EV, or whether such customers might receive a discount of some kind. One thing's for sure: The complimentary aspect is done after June 30.

Since the adapter itself has no communications tech onboard, it can be used with non-Ford products, provided those cars and trucks use CCS1 ports and are software-compatible with Tesla's Superchargers, meaning customers who drive non-Ford vehicles that Tesla has opened its Supercharger network to can use this adapter. At least for Ford vehicles, the adapter won't be a limiting factor in charge speeds; it's rated at 1,000 volts DC and 300 amps regularly and up to 500 amps boost current for up to ten minutes at a time. A built-in temperature sensor can throttle charging speeds or "interrupt charging as necessary," essentially to cool things off if needed.

Another key consideration for would-be adapter users: It only works on Tesla's Superchargers, not Level 2 destination or home chargers. It's specifically for DC fast charging, not lower-speed AC charging, on the Mach-E, Lightning, and E-Transit. Also, not every Tesla Supercharger is compatible—older V2 models are out, as are non-upgraded V3 versions. This will require some digging on the Ford owner's part, because for now, the automaker is still working to integrate compatible Superchargers with Google Maps, Apple Maps, and its onboard navigation systems' EV route planning protocols—the software that routes you to chargers. That functionality is coming soon.

Ford won't be shipping the adapters—even those ordered today—until later in March, so there's time to sort that little bugaboo out before customers actually receive the hardware necessary to use those Tesla Supercharger stations. When customers receive them and start using them, the charging process at Superchargers will be seamless. There is no need to get the Tesla app, either—the Superchargers are now effectively part of Ford's "Blue Oval" charge network, meaning they work with the Plug and Charge single-payment setup (so, no need for a bevy of individual apps for different charging networks) for public charging via the FordPass or the Public Charging app can pull up to a charger, plug in, and that's it. With the addition of Tesla's Superchargers, Ford's Blue Oval network now comprises 126,000-plus chargers at 35,000 locations, 28,000 of which are DC fast chargers at 7,500 locations.