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It’s a little weird to see Tesla helping the Ford F-150 Lightning because they’re rivals. Elon Musk talks a big game about his cars and the Tesla Cybertruck coming to destroy Ford EVs. But instead of fighting, Tesla and the Ford F-150 Lightning are coming together to solve charging issues. 

Can you charge the Ford F-150 Lightning at a Tesla charging station? 

The 2023 Ford F-150 using a Tesla fast charger
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning using a Tesla charger | Ford

Yes, you can charge your Ford F-150 Lightning at a Tesla charging station. Ford and Tesla are coming together to make charging easier for all Ford EVs. 

Ford Motor Company shared that it reached an agreement with Tesla to provide charging access to over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the United States and Canada. This doubles the number of access to fast chargers for Ford EV customers, starting in the spring of 2024. 

Ford Lightning F-150, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit customers can access the chargers with an adaptor, software integration, and activation/payment via the FordPass or Ford Intelligence App. 

In 2025, Ford will offer next-generation electric vehicles with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector. The built-in connector will eliminate the need for a Tesla Supercharger adaptor.

Jim Farley, Ford President and CEO shared that this is great news for customers who will have unprecedented access to the largest fast-charging network in the U.S. and Canada, with access to over 10,000 fast chargers already in the Blue Oval Network and 12,000+ Tesla Superchargers. 

Widespread access to fast charging is vital to growth as an EV brand, and the breakthrough agreement comes as Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E production are ramping up. Plus, a series of next-generation EVs will be launched in 2025

Why is teaming up with Tesla good for the F-150 Lightning?

We’re excited about this for charging the Ford F-150 Lighting and other EVs because other chargers like EVgo and Electrify America have let us down.

During road trips in the Mustange Mach-E or the F-150 Lighting, we found charging stations that were totally offline, wouldn’t charge the vehicles, and only had Level One charging speed available. We’ve almost been stranded with the need of a gas-powered tow truck. 

Level One charging typically adds about one or two miles of range per hour, so we felt standard. But now, the reliable Tesla network will make things much easier. Plus, the NACS plug is lighter and more convenient. 

Tesla leads the industry with a large, reliable, and efficient charging system. This move benefits existing and future EV customers. It promotes freedom and confidence while reducing range anxiety. 

How long does it take to charge the F-150 Lightning? 

The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning charging at home
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning | Ford

You can recharge the Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range Model from about 15 to 80% in roughly 41 minutes with a DC fast charging station. Once it hits 80%, things slow down.

With a Level Two charger, it takes about eight hours to recharge the battery from 15 to 100%. This method adds about 30 miles of range per hour. 

The Level 1 charger, or using a 120-volt home outlet, takes about 100 days for a full charge or 4.2 days. We don’t recommend this method if you need fast results.

A licensed technician can install a Level Two charger at home. The Ford Charge Station Pro comes standard with the extended-range truck. 

The next-generation EVs might offer more range, but the F-150 Lightning is off to a great start. Finding reliable charging stations should be much easier.