Ford Is Planning a Huge North American Electric Charging Network
Ford will launch the largest electric charging network in North America and any electric car will be able to use it.
Once complete, the network will nearly triple the number of Tesla charging stations currently available in the same area.
While Ford currently has no electric cars on the market, that will change the soon: the company has been spending heavily on the technology.
Today Ford announced that it will be creating North America’s largest electric vehicle public charging network. The Michigan-based automotive giant will be building out 12,000 places to charge electric cars and over 35,000 charge plugs, despite the fact that it currently has no new electric cars on the market. No set date was given on the network's completion.
“Among people who already own or want to purchase electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, 48 percent say that a lack of charging stations is one of their main concerns,” says Ted Cannis, Ford director of global electrification, in a press statement. “By offering industry-leading charging access we are dismantling those barriers, allowing more customers to confidently enjoy the benefits of owning an electric vehicle.”
Ford's next attempts at all-electric vehicles, which the company calls a "Mustang-inspired SUV," will debut in 2020. Earlier this year, the company invested $500 million in the small electric car manufacturer Rivian, which has a focus on trucks and SUVs.
Ford isn't the first car company to take it upon themselves to build out a charging infrastructure. California-based Tesla has been doing the same thing for years, creating an extensive network in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The company has built out 4,375 public charging stations in the U.S, which is 12.9 percent of the 33,859 currently in operation, according to the Department of Energy.
But there will be significant differences between the Tesla and Ford networks. Telsa chargers are run and operated by the company, meant exclusively for Tesla vehicles. The Ford network, which will be comprised of Ford Connected Charge Stations, will be built with help from the company Electrify America, which will supply DC fast chargers, and the Shell Gas-owned Greenlots, which will "bring together multiple charging providers" under the FordPass banner, according to a company press release. If Tesla has built the Apple of electric charging stations with its self-contained ecosystem, Ford seems intent on following the model of the more open Android.
Electrify America and Ford both estimate that the company's coming electric SUV will be able to charge up to 47 miles in 10 minutes with an Electrify America charger. It will also be able to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 45 minutes.
The company also put an emphasis on home charging, saying that all of its future electric vehicles will come with what is known as a Ford Mobile Charger, capable of charging on a higher-voltage 240-volt electrical outlet. “The fact that most of our customers will plug in at home is a key advantage to an all-electric vehicle,” said Matt Stover, Ford director of charging, energy services and business development. “We will deliver a charging experience that is hassle-free whether you’re at home or on-the-go.”
Ford's major investment in electric vehicles is only beginning: the company hopes to spend $11.5 billion on the technology through 2022.
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