Ford Charge - Is this new?

[Rip]

My wife caught this announcement in one of her facebook threads. Not sure if it's really new, but my guess is that it is. I do know that my own dealership--as of six months ago--did not allow us to use the chargers on their lot.

https://www.electrive.com/2025/09/01/ford-launches-ford-charge-in-north-america/

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[Rlevans]

Seems as though they are referring to the Ford branded chargers that some of the dealers have installed.
They’re pretty good if you can get them to work, they have a very specific process using the FordPass app.
Not very intuitive and (my dealership at least) seems as though dealership staff has not been trained in how to activate them.
Not complaining because it’s great to have more options for charging, but I typically have avoided the DCFC at our dealership because it’s such a pain to get started.

Your dealership wouldn’t let you use their fast chargers, or was it the level 2 ?

I’ve seen a lot of places lock down their level 2s to discourage loitering.

 

[flyct]

My local Ford dealership, Sarasota Ford, has 4 DCFC open to the public. According to plugshare they are 56 cents per kWh.

Whenever I get any service at this dealership they charge My truck for free as a courtesy. This dealership is very EV friendly. Most of the sales staff drive personal Lightnings.

 

[Rip]

Seems as though they are referring to the Ford branded chargers that some of the dealers have installed.
They’re pretty good if you can get them to work, they have a very specific process using the FordPass app.
Not very intuitive and (my dealership at least) seems as though dealership staff has not been trained in how to activate them.
Not complaining because it’s great to have more options for charging, but I typically have avoided the DCFC at our dealership because it’s such a pain to get started.

Your dealership wouldn’t let you use their fast chargers, or was it the level 2 ?

I’ve seen a lot of places lock down their level 2s to discourage loitering.

I'm not really sure. I, too, expected my dealership to charge my truck after service (but they didn't) and so I asked if I could plug in there. They told me that their chargers were only for dealership use. I was disappointed, but again this was a while ago. Tesla never charged my vehicle after service there, either. Maybe they took a lesson from ICE dealers, who might wash your vehicle after servicing, but never filled it with gas...

 

[Charge_Rob]

Seems as though they are referring to the Ford branded chargers that some of the dealers have installed.
They’re pretty good if you can get them to work, they have a very specific process using the FordPass app.
Not very intuitive and (my dealership at least) seems as though dealership staff has not been trained in how to activate them.
Not complaining because it’s great to have more options for charging, but I typically have avoided the DCFC at our dealership because it’s such a pain to get started.

Your dealership wouldn’t let you use their fast chargers, or was it the level 2 ?

I’ve seen a lot of places lock down their level 2s to discourage loitering.

Activating a charger with Ford Charge should be the same as with any of the 21 BlueOval Charge Network partners inside of FordPass - just like ChargePoint, EVgo, or any other. Would love to learn what can be improved.

 

[Rtashiro]

My dealer in Winnipeg Canada has a dcfc open to the public but it is a FLO branded charger.

 

[Charge_Rob]

My dealer in Winnipeg Canada has a dcfc open to the public but it is a FLO branded charger.

Also in the BlueOval Charge Network for easy activation with FordPass.

Not all dealers are Ford Charge, but most dealers should be BlueOval Charge Network.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I stopped at the Ford dealer in Anniston/Oxford Alabama several months ago... pulled up to their Brand New DC FAST CHARGERS, shown on Ford's APP, and realized it was going to be a very TIGHT squeeze for this LIGHTNING to fit between two 'parked' dealership vehicles... the other side of the 'dual' Charging unit was blocked by other vehicles, too...

so, I activated with my Ford Pass APP, got it started charging, and waltzed into the dealership to check out the restroom...
as I was walking out, someone came up to me and proclaimed "sir!, you can't use THAT charger, that is ONLY for the dealership..." HUNH?????


I was baffled. I was confused.


He then stated, "you can certainly use those 'non-Free' CUSTOMER chargers down by the road, pointing toward the FAR END of the dealership's parking lot, somewhat 'hidden' from everything else going on at this dealership... where another set of chargers sat. Interesting...

My Ford Pass APP had simply shown the location of the chargers as 'in the parking lot', certainly also where I found the original units - but, these 'customer units' were down where you wouldn't expect them, especially depending on which driveway you came into...

I went ahead and completed my charge, though, and left with a 'free' charge : )

As of this writing, there are now more DC Fast Chargers at the Interstate I20 exit, at RaceTrac, and are even much Faster, if not also MUCH more convenient versus this Ford Dealer, not to mention the older EA units in the Walmart parking lot, nearby... oh well. Having the Supercharger option now, has also impacted the 'need' for the dealer's investment.
While we appreciate Ford dealers for going the extra mile, sometimes even THEY do not understand how 'traveling' and 'charging' works best for the public.

But, don't get started on 'Dealers' and DC Fast Charging, as try to go to your local HYUNDAI dealer, who might have several brand new CHARGPOINT units, and see if not only the spaces are blocked by their own inventory, and not even EVs, but that anyone other than 'their' customers CAN NOT use them.... also, ask Chargepoint to identify that specific requirement on their app data, too.

 

[davehu]

Activating a charger with Ford Charge should be the same as with any of the 21 BlueOval Charge Network partners inside of FordPass - just like ChargePoint, EVgo, or any other. Would love to learn what can be improved.

from the dealership's perspective it's easier to do Ford Branded chargers as they already have a business relationship with Ford.

 

[RocketGhost]

He then stated, "you can certainly use those 'non-Free' CUSTOMER chargers down by the road, pointing toward the FAR END of the dealership's parking lot, somewhat 'hidden' from everything else going on at this dealership... where another set of chargers sat. Interesting...

I was at a local Ford dealer with a family member who was shopping for a car. I mentioned to the salesperson that it looks like they just installed new DCFCs. He looked over his shoulder and quietly said the payment system wasn't set up yet so I was welcome to go get a free charge.

Sure enough, the charger didn't show up in Blue Oval but started to charge as soon as I plugged it in. Topped off my truck while we went on test drives.

 

[UtahRookie]

Watching

 

[Phineas Magliozzi]

from the dealership's perspective it's easier to do Ford Branded chargers as they already have a business relationship with Ford.

barely

 

[jftexan]

Ford dealer chargers are public use?

I have never used one but they are open to the public right?

the dealer near me parks all their EVs there and doesn’t seem to make it easy to use.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I have stopped in a small town to grab something to eat during a trip, pulled into the local Ford Dealership and plugged in for free - typically just a L2 30A charger, but hey, for free. Around here these are typically ChargePoint chargers.
I also find these same chargers at Service Ontario and University parking lots around here.
I am hesitant to say where it is, but there is a local GM dealer with L3 Free charger... I kind of wonder how long that will/can remain free. Most GM dealers with L3 chargers are 70-cent/kWh! Way more expensive than the much faster Tesla DCFC.

It seems crazy to hear from you guys - "Dealership says the chargers are only for customers" - they don't want any NEW customers?

 

[RickLightning]

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...c-hydro-ev-and-enhances-network-access.30464/

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