Ford wants to take some of the pain out of EV charging by offering a free home charger. If you buy or lease a retail Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning or E-Tranzit between October 1 and January 2, the automaker will send a technician to install it for you at no charge. if the program is successful. (Ford Pro fleet customers will receive a trade-in cash incentive instead.)
according to Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journalthose availing the offer will get a level 2 charger at home. That should save Ford EV buyers and lessees quite a penny, as the Ford Charge Station Pro costs $1,310 and the company typically charges $2,000 for installation. Stern notes that the charger comes with an 80-foot cord and delivers up to 60 amps. Still, those looking to get in on the deal may need to make sure their garages are properly closed to take full advantage of Level 2 charging.
The EV side of Ford’s business has been struggling lately — the company expects the division to lose $5.5 billion this year. In January he Production of the F-150 Lightning has been discontinued due to lower than expected demand and diversion of resources to make more Broncos and Rangers. A few months later, the company delayed some EV models, including a planned three-row SUV, and they paid more attention to hybrids. But in August, the car manufacturer was killed the three-row SUV project completely lags other EVs further.
Incentivizing EV purchases and leases with free home chargers and installation is smart, and it could work out well for Ford. However, it may be little more than a Band-Aid for the division’s deeper problems.
