Replace 4:33 pm: Cost charges up to date for accuracy. FordPass statistics have been incorrect.
Ford and Tesla unified the electrical car neighborhood by asserting a strategic resolution to collaborate.
Final month, Ford gained entry to Tesla’s Supercharger Community, giving non-Tesla EV drivers their first alternative to cost at its piles throughout North America.
Ford was nice sufficient to ship an F-150 Lightning to my home, drop it off, and permit me to drive it for 3 days. In addition they despatched a Charging Adapter, which was essential for utilizing Tesla Superchargers.
The truck arrived at my home early Monday morning, and I used to be positive to take it for a spin to deplete a few of the vary earlier than I drove it to my nearest V3 Supercharger. This was my first little bit of criticism, because the closest Supercharger that will allow the F-150 Lightning to cost was round 45 minutes away. It’s not the closest Tesla Supercharger to me, as there may be one simply ten minutes away, however its V2 capabilities wouldn’t enable me to cost a non-Tesla EV.
Ford broadcasts Tesla Supercharger entry to F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E drivers
The truck was nice, however that’s one other story altogether.
First Impressions
I arrived on the first Supercharger on Monday night, prepared to present this a primary go. I pulled right into a spot in a row of unoccupied superchargers; the Lightning’s charging port is positioned simply behind the left entrance tire, so you might want to take up two spots, one thing that Tesla is engaged on.
It was tremendous tight to get the cable to achieve. I had some room to drag ahead, admittedly, however I used to be driving a truck that I didn’t personal, and I didn’t need to take the prospect of scraping the underbody of the car. Even with repositioning myself and making an attempt to angle the truck with a view to attain the cable comfortably, it was laborious to get the cable to get to the connector.
Just a few further ft would assist even probably the most cautious drivers cost extra simply, which I imagine is essential.
General, it was a great expertise. My charging statistics for this session have been:
Charging Energy – 106 kW
Vitality Added – 37.4 kWh
Time Charged – 21 minutes
Distance Gained – 96 miles
Value – $21.16
It was not an overwhelmingly time-consuming course of. It was fast, it was straightforward, and it was good to have entry to a Supercharger. When I’ve Ford EVs, I normally need to cost at my native grocery retailer on a low-speed Volta charger, which can give me round 10-12 miles per hour.
Second Charging Session
My second session was a lot better. I used to be in a position to get right into a Supercharger stall that was placed on the facet of the spot because it was an finish house, so it was simpler and far more cheap to drag into.
There was considerably much less rigidity on the Supercharger cable, which I believe will improve longevity and hold the variety of operable stalls up.
This session was smoother when it comes to pulling in and charging. Whereas longer cables will eradicate numerous the issues I had throughout the first charging session, Tesla’s end-spot Superchargers are tremendous excellent for non-Tesla EVs. This was my most popular house, and I’d have used it the day prior if one other car wasn’t already using it.
My charging stats for this session have been:
Cost Energy – 106 kW
Vitality Added – 48.3 kWh
Time Charged – 33 minutes
Distance Gained – 115 miles
Value $22.08
High quality of the Adapter
The adapter Ford despatched alongside was tremendous high quality, stable, and heavy. It felt like a chunk of essential tools that’s designed to final a number of years and received’t break on you on account of inferior high quality.
It was packaged properly and included a pleasant message from CEO Jim Farley. It merely attaches to the Tesla Supercharger Cable and goes into the Ford EV, locking in place:
Forgot how a lot I like driving the Lightning, actually my favourite EV to cruise round in!!
Ford overnighted me the adapter for Superchargers as nicely! pic.twitter.com/0VGE0AKxj6
— Joey Klender (@KlenderJoey) March 11, 2024
I used to be impressed by the standard of the adapter and I imagine it will final years for Ford EV homeowners who plan to make use of it to entry Superchargers.
Closing Ideas
Ford EV drivers are going to make use of Tesla Superchargers for years to return, and I believe that what I skilled was a great begin of the general charging expertise.
The whole lot was high-quality, quick, efficient, and straightforward to make use of. It felt good to roll right into a Tesla Supercharger and achieve enough of vary in a brief time period, and it was one thing that I really feel numerous EV drivers will respect, even when it’s a tad expensive at this cut-off date.
I believe that the lengthening of Supercharger cables can pay dividends, however I additionally suppose that Tesla might construct new Supercharger stations with obligatory finish spot positioning. This permits simpler entry to the Superchargers for non-Tesla EVs.
I’d love to listen to from you! When you’ve got any feedback, issues, or questions, please electronic mail me at [email protected]. You may also attain me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if in case you have information ideas, you’ll be able to electronic mail us at [email protected].