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Ford Taps Octopus Energy to Supercharge Public EV Charging Access

Ford is doubling down on making life with an EV easier. At the Interchange Network Conference in Berlin, the automaker announced a new partnership with Octopus Energy’s Electroverse platform, giving Ford owners access to one of the world’s largest charging ecosystems.

The initiative—branded BlueOval Charge Network x Octopus Electroverse—launches this October and promises to simplify what remains one of the thorniest parts of EV ownership: public charging. With just the Electroverse app and a single login, Ford drivers will be able to tap into over a million chargers worldwide across more than 1,200 different networks. That means no more juggling half a dozen apps and RFID cards just to top up your battery.

One App to Rule Them All

The Electroverse app isn’t just a digital directory of plugs. It displays real-time charger availability, transparent pricing, and even allows users to upload photos of charging stations—helpful when a GPS pin doesn’t quite match reality. An integrated route planner also takes the guesswork out of long-distance drives, automatically plotting the most convenient and cost-effective charging stops.

To make the system seamless, the app plays nice with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing drivers to mirror the same interface they’d use on their phone directly onto their Ford’s infotainment screen.

Perks for Private and Business Owners

Ford isn’t stopping at convenience. By linking their Ford and Octopus accounts, private owners get a three-month free trial of IONITY Premium, unlocking discounted fast-charging rates. They can also integrate public charging payments directly into their home energy bills, essentially rolling EV running costs into one monthly payment.

Business customers, meanwhile, gain access to the Octopus Fleet portal—also free for the first three months. Fleet managers can assign charging cards to specific drivers, track usage, set up automated monthly invoicing, and even apply discounts across multiple charging networks. The result? Less downtime, lower costs, and fewer headaches managing electric fleets.

The Bigger Picture

Ford says the move is all about removing barriers for customers who might otherwise hesitate to go electric. “We understand that for both private and business customers, public charging that is convenient, easy to use, and good value is paramount,” said Sven Pleines, manager of public charging for Ford Model e in Europe.

Octopus shares that philosophy. “Public charging for EVs doesn’t have to be complicated,” said Matt Davies, Electroverse director at Octopus Energy. “Thanks to our partnership with Ford, we’re able to give even more drivers more freedom and confidence over how, when, and where they charge.”

Why It Matters

EV adoption continues to hinge on charging access and ease of use. By teaming up with Octopus, Ford is tackling one of the biggest pain points for both private and fleet customers. If the execution matches the promise, this could make Ford EVs a more compelling option in a crowded market—and push rivals to up their charging game.

Source: Ford

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Ford Dealers Just Became Your New Pit Stop for EVs

Remember when stopping at a Ford dealership meant stale coffee, a stack of Focus brochures, and a salesman insisting you really did want metallic beige? Well, times have changed. Now, over 800 Ford dealers across the U.S. and Canada are quietly transforming themselves into the modern equivalent of roadside diners—except instead of a slice of pie and a cup of joe, they’re serving up electrons at more than 3,000 DC fast chargers.

And here’s the kicker: it doesn’t matter what badge is bolted to the front of your EV. Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq, or even a Tesla feeling adventurous—it’s plug in, charge up, and get back on the road with less range anxiety and fewer arguments about who forgot to check the battery before leaving.

Ford’s new network is called Ford Charge, and today it gets its official ribbon-cutting moment. Think of it as a dealer-run pit lane for the EV generation. Roughly 1,200 of these chargers are under Ford’s direct management, ensuring things actually work when you roll up—because nothing kills the EV vibe like a dead charger.

Better still, every one of these chargers ties into the BlueOval Charge Network, which is now the largest integrated charging network in North America. Translation: if you’re driving a Ford EV, you’re never more than 18 miles from a fast charger on most U.S. highways. That’s closer than the next questionable gas station hot dog.

Oh, and for those who’ve dipped a toe into Tesla’s world of Superchargers—yes, Ford’s in on that too. Thanks to Plug & Charge tech, you can just roll up, plug in, and the system takes care of the rest. No fiddling with apps, no frantic card-swiping, no awkward phone calls to customer service while your kids in the back seat start mutinying.

So here we are: Ford dealerships—once the place you dreaded visiting—are suddenly becoming heroes of the great electric road trip. Who’d have thought?

Source: Ford

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Adrenaline and Ambience: Ford Mustang GTD Meets Lincoln Navigator at Laguna Seca

It’s not unusual for one automaker to own both a mainstream and a luxury brand. What is unusual is when those brands willingly acknowledge each other in the same breath, let alone the same event. But during Monterey Car Week, Ford and Lincoln pulled off a double act at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca—one half designed to send your pulse skyrocketing, the other to bring it back down to earth.

The plan was simple, if a little sadistic: hot laps in Ford’s new 2025 Mustang GTD, the wildest road-going Mustang ever conceived, followed immediately by a spa session inside the 2025 Lincoln Navigator. To keep things clinical, Lincoln strapped a heart-rate monitor on me before the fun began. This wasn’t just marketing; this was science.

Mustang GTD: The Angriest Thoroughbred Yet

The Shadow Black GTD waiting in pit lane looked like a Mustang that had raided the paddock of Le Mans. Wide, hunkered down, and bristling with functional aero, it radiates menace even at idle. My chauffeur for the lap, Ford Performance junior driver Nathan Vanspringel, casually mentioned it was his first time around Laguna Seca. Perfect—nothing like mixing rookie nerves with 815 horsepower.

As we rocketed down the main straight, the GTD’s 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 unleashed a shove that felt like it could rearrange vertebrae. With 815 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, it makes the old Shelby GT500 look modest, and Ford’s claim seems downright conservative. Each snap of the eight-speed dual-clutch was punctuated by a snort from the titanium exhaust, the soundtrack equal parts NASCAR thunder and angry lion.

Turn 1 and the Andretti Hairpin confirmed what the spec sheet suggests: this isn’t a blunt instrument. On its Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires and trick Multimatic DSSV suspension, the GTD carved through corners with the composure of a proper GT racer. Grip was relentless, body control unflappable. Even the infamous Corkscrew—a plunge equivalent to jumping off a five-story building—was dispatched with calm violence.

By the time we cooled down in the pits, my heart monitor flashed 115 bpm. That’s not far off cardio territory, and all I did was sit there.

Navigator: The Spa on Wheels

Then came the palate cleanser. A freshly detailed 2025 Lincoln Navigator Black Label sat waiting like a therapist’s couch on 24-inch wheels. Sliding inside after the GTD was like stumbling into a five-star hotel lobby after a mosh pit.

The Lincoln rep queued up the Rejuvenate app, which instantly reclined the seat, dialed up ventilated massage cushions, and filled the 28-speaker Revel audio system with soothing waterfall sounds. On the 48-inch panoramic display, digital cascades tumbled across the screen as my real heartbeat began to tumble in parallel.

Five minutes of guided meditation later, Lincoln checked the numbers: down 21 bpm. Not quite back to resting rate, but impressive given the adrenaline hangover. The Navigator had done its job—it was less “SUV” and more “rolling recovery lounge.”

Two Brands, One Pulse

Ford and Lincoln’s unlikely tag-team worked. The Mustang GTD isn’t just the most extreme Mustang ever—it feels like a proper exotic built to hunt GT3 cars while still wearing a license plate. The Navigator, meanwhile, proved it can soothe frayed nerves with tech that borders on wellness therapy.

Together, they pulled off a rare feat: one brand spiking the heart, the other calming it. If this is what the Blue Oval has in mind for brand synergy, we’ll happily be the guinea pigs. Because while the GTD made us sweat, the Navigator made us forget.

Source: MotorTrend