Tesla’s open-sourcing of its charging plug specifications has led to a push to establish the NACS (North American Charging Standard) as the new industry standard. Ford was the first major carmaker to strike a deal with Tesla in May 2023, allowing them to adopt the NACS port and gain access to the Supercharger network. By the end of that year, all major EV manufacturers in North America, except for Stellantis, had also adopted the NACS plug.
Following Ford’s lead, Rivian announced its switch to the NACS plug. While the terms of the deal were standard, with access to Tesla chargers starting in early 2024, Rivian differentiated itself by promising its customers a complimentary NACS to CCS adapter. This adapter would enable them to use Tesla’s Supercharger stations that lack Magic Dock adapters.
This news was well-received by Rivian owners, who eagerly awaited the complimentary adapters. However, they were surprised to learn that Ford EV owners would be the first to receive the free adapters. Ford CEO Jim Farley made the announcement on Elon Musk’s social media network X (formerly Twitter), informing Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E owners in the US and Canada that they could soon reserve a complimentary adapter. It is rumored that the Supercharger network will gradually open to third-party EVs starting in March.
The complimentary adapter reservation process will involve validating the vehicle’s VIN, and once a customer has an adapter, activation, charging, and payment will be seamless through FordPass or the in-vehicle Public Charging App. The power handling capacity of the adapter is currently unknown, but as Ford is the first carmaker to gain access to the Supercharger network, this information will likely be revealed soon. Owners are hopeful that the adapter can handle 500 amps, allowing for up to 200 kW on a 400-volt charger. Interestingly, the adapter shown in Ford’s picture appears slightly different from the one reported as the official Tesla adapter by Drive Tesla.
