Electric cars promise cheaper driving. Ford is taking that to an extreme for some Texas residents. Ford and electricity provider TXU are teaming up to make charging an electric vehicle (EV) free.
Texas residents bought more EVs than residents of 47 other states last year.
Most EV owners can do most of their charging at home, using public chargers only when they need to drive farther than their car’s range. One recent Energy Department study predicted that when America’s charging infrastructure is large enough to support tens of millions of EVs, 96% of chargers could be in private homes or workplaces.
Only Ford, Only TXU Customers
The deal applies only to Ford EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The company currently sells the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup and Mustang Mach-E SUV, and the compact Escape PHEV SUV. Ford also sells an electric work van, the E-Transit, but the deal doesn’t cover that one.
Related: EV Chargers – Everything You Need to Know
It’s also only for those who buy their electrons from TXU.
Texas has a deregulated electricity market, meaning that residents in some areas can choose from several electricity companies that compete for their business. TXU competes to serve much of the state, including the Houston, Dallas Fort-Worth, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Waco, and Plano metro areas.
Available 18 Hours a Day
“Ford EV customers will get a credit on their TXU Energy bill for all home energy used for vehicle charging during the free charging hours, which are between 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. the next day, all year long,” Ford explains.
Related: North Carolina EV Owners Could Help Power The Grid
That encourages owners to charge “when demand on the grid is at its lowest.”
Owners who charge outside those hours will pay their regular electricity rate to do so.
$350 Bonus for Signing Up
When drivers enroll in the plan, Ford says, they’ll also receive “a $100 welcome bonus from Ford and a $250 bonus from TXU Energy for staying enrolled for a year.”
Related: Study – Your Neighbor’s EV Is Lowering Your Electric Bill
Enrollment is open now at www.txu.com/freeevmilesford.
