In 2024 Ford became the first non-Tesla carmaker to announce a tie-up with the latter’s Supercharger DC fast-charging network. In the interim, Ford sent out 140,000 NACS adapters to buyers of Ford F-150 Lightning trucks and Mach-E crossovers. Now, in concert with Apple Maps, Ford owners can get direct routing to Tesla Superchargers, but there’s a bit of fine print on how to make that happen. Also, there’s a little more to know about that adapter, too.
How To Make Apple Maps Route To Superchargers
The good news: There’s no need to wait for an over-the-air update from Ford to use Apple Maps to route to Tesla Superchargers. Any iPhone running iOS 17 and later paired to your Ford will work fine. Entering the destination should yield your estimated battery level upon arrival, and suggest chargers along the way.
However, before this will work perfectly, go into Apple Maps settings while connected to CarPlay and change your charge network preferences to be NACS charging stations. Ford says that with the Supercharger network, F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E drivers have access to over 44,000 DC fast chargers through the combined BlueOval and Tesla stations. If you’re on any Interstate, that puts you within 18 miles of DC fast charging in almost the entire U.S.
NACS Adapter Required
We don’t think we have to tell you, but here’s the PSA: You need a NACS adapter to juice at a Supercharger. There. Now you know. Ford customers must already know this, since the carmaker says that in February Ford electric vehicle owners used Superchargers for 20 percent of all their public fast-charging.
Ford wants you to know, too, that they tested the heck out of the adapters they sent to customers, driving an F-150 Lightning over one, pressure testing, dropping, and smashing the adapter to ensure it doesn’t bust. Yes, chargers do snap, as we’ve experienced during testing EVs, so it’s good to know Ford did the extra work to make sure they’re ensuring their end of the bargain. FYI: If you didn’t get a free adapter you may want to pester your dealer. You can also buy one for $200.
TopSpeed’s Take
The combination of Apple Maps integration with wider fast charging is pretty crucial for Ford, and as the Supercharger network expands to more carmakers this is probably (and very ironically) a necessary bridge for widespread EV infrastructure, even as there’s a backlash against Tesla, the carmaker, and from the federal government trying to defund EV infrastructure.
Oddly, in addition to Tesla’s EV credits it sells to other carmakers, the Supercharger network is easily a key crown jewel propping up an otherwise flagging brand. If customers of other EV brands take advantage of that network it’s probably going to save Tesla’s bacon. And most EV owners are agnostic about where they get voltage, as long as it works as seamlessly as possible.
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