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Electric vehicle charging ports are mess. Some use one type developed in Europe, others use a Japanese system, and then Teslas use their own. But, what about those who have access to a Tesla charger, but want to charge something else, like a Ford F-150 Lightning?

The Ford F-150 Lightning will not connect to a Tesla charger without an adapter

Buying an electric vehicle like this Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck requires charging
Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck | Ford

Ford F-150 Lightning trucks will not connect to a Tesla charger. They have two different connector heads. But, now, companies are starting to make adapters for the common charger head, called a J1772. One adapter, which we have not reviewed, from a company called Lectron basically turns a Tesla charger into a standard charger for Fords.

Lectron says the $149.99 adapter is compatible with Tesla chargers like home connectors, Destination Chargers (not a supercharger) and Mobile connectors. With the adapter, and a Tesla account, you can access about 15,000 more chargers. It also supports a 48 amps of power, so it can take advantage of the quicker charging capability of Tesla chargers. Just toss the adapter in your lightning and you can hook into any Tesla charger.

The Lectron adapter will allow you to charge many other cars, too, like the Chevy Bolt, the Nissan Leaf, Ford Mach-E, and others. At Tesla Superchargers, though, the cars talk to the chargers, and they only work with Tesla cars and SUVs. For now.

But, the Ford F-150 Lightning can charge a tesla

One of the coolest features of the Lightning pickup truck is its optional bi-directional charging capability. This system allows the Ford F-150 Lightning to

Buyers of F-150 Lightnings probably raised their eyebrows at one unique piece of kit that came with their trucks. According to The Verge, they got a J1772 adapter, for charging Teslas and other EVs, but also a special plug for charging Tesla EVs. That’s right, a Ford F-150 Lightning can charge a Tesla, thanks to its bi-directional charging system.

CCS vs. CHAdeMO fast charging

three types of chargers
Three chargers: CHAdeMO on the left, CCS in the center, and the older standard Type 1 connector | Ole Spata, Getty Images

Most chargers are Level 2 AC chargers, or alternating current, like your house. The charger in your vehicle converts that power from AC to DC so the battery can take that charge. The charger box has to digest the electricity first, like your stomach, while a DC charger is like an IV into your blood stream.  DC fast charging eliminates that converter so that your car can immediately use that juice, without having to convert it first. These are the CHAdeMO and CCS chargers.

Those fast chargers are the CCS or CHAdeMO units that, for example, Mitsubishi has added to the new Outlander PHEV. CHAdeMO isn’t the type of charger, but the name of the Japanese organization that certifies it. Very basically, CHAdeMO products are designed to work together, and it guarantees that they will.

CCS, or Combined Charging System chargers, are a competing system that is favored by European makes, and you can find it in the BMW i3, the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla cars and SUVs. However, according to Green Car Reports, more public chargers use the CHAdeMO system than CCS. They look different, however, so you can’t confuse the two. The CCS plug has three outlets on top, the CHAdeMO is a giant circle.

Related Do All Electric Cars Use the Same Kind of Charger?

Do All Electric Cars Use the Same Kind of Charger?

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.