Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO, initially boasted about his upcoming week at the wheel of an electric F-150 Lightning on social media.
This past week, the CEO set out on a journey over Route 66 in the western United States, and while there, he recognized the difficulties his customers encountered while charging electric cars.
The CEO stated he had to stop at a power station in Coalinga, California since he ran out of juice on the road. A “reality check,” he called it for Ford drivers.
He informed his followers on X that it was no surprise charging may be a struggle, but he is still learning a lot, witnessing personally the challenges consumers encounter.
He said because of this, certified dealers will install superchargers at their dealerships, and they’re working with Tesla to enable Ford drivers access to +12,000 superchargers.
A defeated Farley said, “Charging has been tough,” in one video clip.
He said even while it might be challenging to avoid unexpected fees, he’s learned a lot from seeing firsthand the problems that his buyers confront. He then reiterated the promise of collaborating with Tesla.
Farley had trouble with his charger taking too long to charge in California. He noted that he connected to a low-speed charger while Tesla Supercharger stations were all around him, which Ford’s range of electric cars cannot currently utilize.
He said charging the truck’s battery took 40 minutes and was only partially set.
The CEO of Ford reportedly had a similar experience while en route from Baker, California, to Las Vegas.
This well-known (and enormous) charging station in Baker, California, was a highlight of his trip to Las Vegas. There, he found it was simple and fast to recharge. This experience drove home the realization of the need for a convenient, rapid charging location.
Ford has committed to increasing the production of EVs, and Farley has promised to keep working to improve charging alternatives for Ford’s EV customers.
On Sunday, he told NPR that despite problems with the F-150 Lightning, Ford still plans to distribute 600,000 electric vehicles by the end of the year.
There have been complaints about Lightning’s towing capacity compared to more conventional F-150s, and cold weather is known to accelerate battery drain in these pickups.
Tesla’s network will be accessible to GM and Rivian EV owners as well.
