Ford Motor Company has partnered with TXU Energy, Texas’ leading retail electric provider and a subsidiary of Vistra (NYSE: VST), to introduce a groundbreaking energy offering for Ford electric SUV and truck customers in Texas. The new program, called TXU Free EV Miles, allows Ford EV owners to charge their vehicles at home for free, capitalizing on the fact that over 80% of EV charging typically occurs at home. Participants will receive a credit on their TXU Energy bill for all energy used to charge their vehicles during the free charging hours, which run from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. the next day, all year long.
The TXU Free EV Miles program is designed to educate Texans about the benefits of driving electric while encouraging them to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours when demand on the grid is lower. This innovative plan gives customers the flexibility to charge for free during an 18-hour window each day. Ford EV owners can schedule their charging sessions through the FordPass app or the vehicle’s in-dash touchscreen, ensuring they only charge during the designated free hours. If charging is needed outside these hours, customers will pay a simple, fixed rate that matches the cost of the rest of their home energy use.
Ford and TXU Energy are also using this partnership to explore additional retail energy offerings that incentivize grid stability in Texas, the third-largest state in EV sales in 2023.
“By encouraging our electric vehicle customers to charge during off-peak hours through the Free EV Miles program, we’re helping them save money while also supporting a more sustainable and resilient electrical grid,” said Bill Crider, Senior Director of Global Charging and Energy Services at Ford Motor Company. “Ford’s electric SUVs and trucks already have lower operating and maintenance costs compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, and at-home charging provides even more financial benefits, including future vehicle-to-grid services that Ford is committed to leading.”
The program is open to owners of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and Escape Plug-in Hybrid, who can benefit from bill credits no matter what charging hardware they use at home. In addition to the savings from free charging, Ford drivers who enroll in the Free EV Miles plan will receive extra perks, including a $100 welcome bonus from Ford and a $250 bonus from TXU Energy for staying enrolled for a year. Once enrolled and verified, customers will start receiving automatic rebates for at-home charging costs during the free hours.
“This partnership with Ford is a perfect fit with TXU Energy’s strategy of educating customers about the advantages of owning an EV, eliminating barriers to adoption, and enhancing grid resiliency,” said Sam Sen, Vice President of Energy Transition Solutions at TXU Energy. “We’re proud to support Ford’s Texas EV customers with flexible, free charging hours and significant cost savings.”
