Ford is offering its electric vehicle customers free Tesla Supercharger adapters until July, allowing them to access Tesla's extensive charging network. The adapters, which typically retail for $230, will be available for reservation through the FordPass app. However, supply is expected to be limited initially. The move comes after Ford announced plans to adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard connector for its EVs, following other automakers in embracing Tesla's charging system. While the adapters provide a short-term solution to EV charging availability, Ford and other automakers plan to produce EVs with factory-installed Tesla NACS ports in the future.
The U.S. has made significant progress in expanding its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, with the number of public charging ports reaching about 170,000 by the end of 2023. The Biden administration has increased the number of available EV charge ports by 70% since taking office and aims to achieve 500,000 ports by 2026, with a goal of 1.2 million by 2030. However, only 23% of the available chargers are DC Fast Chargers, and Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) makes up 64% of all publicly available DCFCs.
President Biden's $7.5 billion plan includes a $623 million investment to build 7,500 EV charging stations across the US, with a focus on creating a convenient, reliable, and made-in-America national network of electric vehicle chargers. The plan also includes funding for hydrogen corridors and aims to secure jobs and benefits for Americans in the process. The government's goal is for half of the country's car sales to be electric by 2030, and the recent surge in EV sales and publicly available charging ports is seen as a step in the right direction.
A Tesla Model Y driver in Ekalaka, Montana, made headlines in the local newspaper after plugging their car into a NEMA 14-50 outlet, becoming possibly the first electric vehicle to charge in the town. The driver had initially struggled to find a suitable charging option and decided to use the outlet, which was better than their backup plan of a slow 120-volt plug. The incident highlighted the lack of EV infrastructure in the area, with the local utility co-op considering adding chargers in the next decade. The Tesla driver paid $60 for the charge, which also covered the power used by a musician during a street dance event.
Seven major automakers, including General Motors, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, and Stellantis, have announced plans to build a large North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network, aiming to rival Tesla's network and nearly double the number of quick-charging plugs in the U.S. and Canada. The network will consist of "high power" charging stations with at least 30,000 plugs in urban areas and along travel corridors by 2030. This move is expected to address concerns about the availability of chargers for long-distance travel and attract more potential EV buyers. The network will be public and open to all EV owners, supporting both Tesla's North American Charging Standard plugs and the Combined Charging System plugs used by other automakers. The automakers plan to use renewable energy as much as possible to power the chargers and provide amenities at the charging stations. The network's success is seen as crucial in accelerating EV sales and increasing EV adoption in North America.
