Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn has expanded its BlueOval Charge Network with the addition of providers Francis Energy, Blink, and Red E, bringing the total number of available chargers to 106,000.
The additions expand charging options for Ford EV customers across the U.S. and Canada with embedded charger routing and simple payment options via the FordPass App.
The new charging providers, along with continued growth from existing charging network participants, include more than 1,700 new DC fast-chargers and more than 20,300 Level 2 chargers since Ford’s last charger count update in May. The network now includes access to more than 11,800 fast-chargers, with plans for “significant” additional DC fast-charger growth starting in the spring 2024.
Blink, Francis Energy, and Red E bring 10,000-plus new chargers to the network, including more than 550 new DC fast chargers. The remaining BlueOval Charge Network expansion comes from growth from existing charging network providers, which include Shell Recharge Solutions, Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVgo, EV Connect, FLO, and Electric Circuit.
“Continuous growth of the BlueOval Charge Network, including a critical focus on reliable fast charging, remains a top priority to provide the best possible electric driving experience for our customers,” says Bill Crider, senior director of global charging and energy services at Ford. “With the addition of the Tesla Supercharger Network along with new fast chargers coming to Ford Model e dealerships in 2024, we are working hard to make range anxiety a thing of the past for Ford all-electric drivers.”
The BlueOval Charge Network, said to be North America’s largest public charging network by an automaker, is a “network of networks” that provides Ford EV drivers with access to a variety of charging providers without the need for multiple apps and memberships. The network provides one seamless stored payment account through the FordPass App, or the in-vehicle’s touchscreen via Charge Assist, that eliminates the need for onsite credit card use.
Once owners have created a BlueOval Charge Network account, they can then select, activate, and pay for charging by using the FordPass “Find Chargers” function. Plus, Ford customers can plan trips and routes through FordPass Power My Trip on both the App and in the embedded navigation system.
For commercial customers who need to charge on the go at a public charger, payment and billing will continue to operate seamlessly with Ford Pro Intelligence software. The software enables fleet operators to easily set up a single Public Charge Management account for centralized billing, charging logs and monthly invoicing, allowing them to manage charging costs no matter where their drivers power up.
Ford also is sharing an increase to the estimated number of Tesla Superchargers being added to the BlueOval Charge Network next year from 12,000 previously announced to more than 15,000, and growing. These fast chargers will be available next spring to Ford EV customers via an adapter, which will become available on accessories.ford.com early next year. Pricing is yet to be announced.
Additionally, Ford Model e dealers are adding public-facing fast-chargers to dealerships across the U.S. and Canada, providing new locations to the BlueOval Charge Network by early next year.
More than 80 percent of Ford EV drivers currently charge at home, creating an ownership experience where customers can wake up to a fully charged vehicle every morning.
