Tesla Inc’s surprise agreement with rival Ford Motor Co to provide access to the Tesla Supercharger network opens the door for other automakers to follow suit, analysts say.
With about 17,000 charging connectors, Tesla has the largest and most reliable fast-charge network in the US, with Ford customers getting access to about 12,000 next year as part of the first such agreement between Tesla and another automaker. Will be received
The deal provides Tesla with additional customers and revenue for a coast-to-coast infrastructure of direct-current chargers, which makes road trips and longer journeys possible. This more than doubles the number of fast-charger plugs available to Ford customers from all charging partners.
“We are all shocked that Ford has made this announcement,” said Lorraine McDonald, CEO of the consulting firm EVAdoption. automotive news, “But now that Ford has made the decision, it’s easier for everyone else. The ice has broken and now the dominoes can fall.”
Automakers joining the Tesla Supercharger network will significantly improve the customer experience. McDonald said there is a general frustration among EV buyers with smaller and less reliable networks like Electrify America and eVego.
Until recently, Tesla kept its charging network to itself as a convenience to sell more cars. This year, it agreed to open some Superchargers to the general public in order to qualify for federal funding to expand its network. But only 3,500 connectors are opening under that agreement.
Ford’s decision to partner with Tesla is different from the rest of the industry, which has relied on deals with smaller and less reliable charging networks. According to iSeeCars, there are about 11,500 fast-charger plugs in the non-Tesla network combined.
“This news is bigger than Ford and Tesla,” Sandy Munroe, owner of the consulting firm Munroe & Associates, said on Twitter. “Today marks the end of ICE supremacy. Congratulations to Tesla and Ford on their bold move.”
Industry studies show that EV buyers remain concerned about public charging during road trips or when they are unable to charge at home. Tesla’s Supercharger network generally rates significantly higher in customer satisfaction than those of Electrify America, eVigo, ChargePoint and other competitors.
Ford’s decision to cut the deal with Tesla for fast-charge access “is an indictment of other major charging networks in the US,” McDonald said. Since most EV manufacturers are frustrated with their charging partners, he said, a future partnership with Tesla is likely to be the case for at least some of them.
Because Tesla vehicles use a unique charging plug, Ford customers will initially need adapters to charge their vehicles on the Supercharger network. Ford’s next-generation EVs, the automaker said, will adopt the Tesla plug in 2025.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ford CEO Jim Farley discussed the partnership on Twitter on Thursday using a conference-call feature called Spaces. Musk bought the social media platform last year.
“It’s certainly very exciting to be partnering with Ford,” Musk said during the 28-minute program. “I have a lot of respect for Ford as a company and it makes great, great vehicles. It’s something I’m very happy to support.”
Among automaker CEOs, Musk and Farley now have a friendly relationship after sparring at each other on Twitter in recent years. Musk was also friendly with former Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess.
“We don’t want the Supercharger network to be like a walled garden,” Musk said. “We want it to be something that supports electrification.”
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