New Owner, First DC charging question

[N2Wind]

I bought a new 2025 Lighting Flash on 7/30/2026. I took my first trip in it this past weekend and used a DC fast charger. Is there something I should do before fast charging? I did not seem to get the maximum charging speed and spend more time at the charger than expected. Ford stated 15% to 80% in round 38 minuted on a L3 150 Kw Charger. I looked through the setting and did not see anything (I may have missed it) about getting the truck ready to fast charge. I did see where if you are using Apple maps and go to the suggested stations in it, the truck would prepare for charging but it seemed to only want me to go to L2 chargers.

I went to a Tesla station, specifically since it was at a store we were going to visit. The maximum I saw it chart at was around 120kW. I was just below 20% when I started. I had the truck set to charge to 95% due to the trip. The truck said it was going to take over 1.5 hours to charge to 95%. I wound up stopping the charge at 80% after close to an hour. It was close to 100F outside if that makes a difference.

When I got back to my home town, I was under 9% so I stopped at a Blnk charger (160kW) and charged to 20%. The truck never went over 117 kW. Now it is back home in the garage charging on my Level 1 charger.

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[RickLightning]

No, there is no setting the truck for fast charging.

Fast charging over 80% is very slow. Fast charging over 90% is even slower. You never want to go over 80% unless you cannot make it to the next fast charger.

At a Tesla SuperCharger, with a quality adapter, starting below 20%, you should have seen speeds in the 180s or even low 190s. Then, it would drop to the 120s and hang there for the bulk of the time.

Yes, high temps can slow things down. If the charging nozzle is in direct sunlight on a very hot day, that can be an issue. Some say that a cool adapter helps, keeping it in the AC truck and not in the frunk.

You can look up both chargers on PlugShare to see what issues people might be having. Level 1 is 1.1kW per hour, extremely slow.

 

[Dahveed]

As Rick said, temperature is the enemy for fast charging. If it was really hot out and the battery was already a bit warm from driving, or maybe the charger had just been used on another vehicle and was still warm you’ll see slower charging speeds.

Charging will be fastest when you first plug in, and will slow as you approach 80%. It drops to 50kW as soon as the truck hits 80% and will continue to slow if you let it keep charging. The best strategy is to charge to 80% and move on. You’ll also frustrate other drivers if there is a queue at the station and you continue to charge past 80%.

The ‘25 Lightning tops out at about 180kW. I will say I usually get my best charging speeds at Superchargers. They always seem to be the most consistent. Everything else is hit or miss.

 

[N2Wind]

Thanks. I was making sure I was not missing anything. I understand that the charging would be slower after 80%. There were plenty of open slots and cars that were there when I got there and still there when I left. LV1 is extremely slow but I have some other (legal) issues that I am trying to get resolved before installing a L2 charger at this time.

 

[blb228]

Great info in this thread already!

Roughly over the past six months: have been seeing slower charging rates from Tesla chargers compared to what I used to see AND currently compared to EA/Blink chargers. I am seeing ~100-120Amps from Tesla chargers as a max but ~160-189Amps from non-tesla DC chargers. I will also add I had some weirdness with my 2024 Flash the first half dozen times I attempted to DC charged and if I am recalling correctly it improved after I charged to 100% at home on my L2 charger a couple times. Temperature likely was at play here for you.

 

[K6CCC]

I am seeing ~100-120Amps from Tesla chargers as a max but ~160-189Amps from non-tesla DC chargers.

FYI, that was KiloWatts (KW) not Amps. On the first one, it would be 350 - 400 Amps and on the second close to 500 Amps. Watts = Volts times Amps so for example 360 volts X 500 amps = 180,000 Watts or 180 KW.
The other one people mix up is KiloWatt Hours (KWH) vs KW. KW is a rate of charge whereas KWH is the amount of power - rate of charge X Time. For example 120 KW charge rate X 45 minutes = 90 KWH. Of course the charge rate is NOT constant so calculating it is FAR more complex, but your truck does the measurement for you.

 

[K6CCC]

Thanks. I was making sure I was not missing anything. I understand that the charging would be slower after 80%. There were plenty of open slots and cars that were there when I got there and still there when I left.

Nope, not missing anything. As previously stated, heat can be a killer. Temperature is measured in bunch of places and any of them can slow the charge rate.
What NACS > CCS-1 adapter were you using?

 

[N2Wind]

Nope, not missing anything. As previously stated, heat can be a killer. Temperature is measured in bunch of places and any of them can slow the charge rate.
What NACS > CCS-1 adapter were you using?

Thanks. I figured heat was part of it. I have sensitive hearing and all the Telsas fans running at fully power was deafening to me. The adapter was an elcheapo from amazon. The dealership is supposed to be ordering me a Ford one along with all the other stuff that was missing on my truck.

 

[K6CCC]

The adapter was an elcheapo from amazon.

Honest opinion - if you are within the return window, do so. Many reports of problems with El Cheapo adapters. Remember that the adapter has to pass A LOT of power.

I don't know what the timeline on getting a Ford adapter is currently, but it has been VERY long at some times in the past. If you decide to buy a good adapter, I recommend the A2Zev Typhoon Pro adapter - https://a2zev.com/collections/charging-adapters-home-page/products/nacs-ccs1

 

[N2Wind]

Honest opinion - if you are within the return window, do so. Many reports of problems with El Cheapo adapters. Remember that the adapter has to pass A LOT of power.

I don't know what the timeline on getting a Ford adapter is currently, but it has been VERY long at some times in the past. If you decide to buy a good adapter, I recommend the A2Zev Typhoon Pro adapter - https://a2zev.com/collections/charging-adapters-home-page/products/nacs-ccs1

The dealership said that they have ordered one... along with the tire/sealer kit, new rear driverside window. I have filed a complaint with the AG over the entire purchase. I love the truck but the dealer is the issue. Ford shows the ship date 2-3 days out so maybe there isn's a shortage at the moment and I have until the end of the month to return the one I purchased.

 

[K6CCC]

I love the truck but the dealer is the issue.

That sounds familiar!

Ford shows the ship date 2-3 days out so maybe there isn's a shortage at the moment and I have until the end of the month to return the one I purchased.

2-3 days is fine. At the time I bought mine, it was close to a year out (and I was not provided one at all). A lot to do with why I bought the A2Zev adapter - which I got in two days (even with Canada to So Calif. shipping).

 

[blb228]

FYI, that was KiloWatts (KW) not Amps. On the first one, it would be 350 - 400 Amps and on the second close to 500 Amps. Watts = Volts times Amps so for example 360 volts X 500 amps = 180,000 Watts or 180 KW.
The other one people mix up is KiloWatt Hours (KWH) vs KW. KW is a rate of charge whereas KWH is the amount of power - rate of charge X Time. For example 120 KW charge rate X 45 minutes = 90 KWH. Of course the charge rate is NOT constant so calculating it is FAR more complex, but your truck does the measurement for you.

Gahhh, this I know. Thank you for the correction here.

 

[K6CCC]

Gahhh, this I know. Thank you for the correction here.

You're welcome. I fully realize that many people really don't understand some of the differences. My Dad worked in a utility generating station, so I grew up learning electrical terms from a quite young age. I spent so much time there that I could give tours. Electricity and electronics were childhood interests, and I turned that into a career in electronics with the first 24 years working for a different electric utility. Later on part of my job involved working with large 48 volt battery systems for power to communications sites. So yes, I speak power pretty well.

 

[blb228]

You're welcome. I fully realize that many people really don't understand some of the differences. My Dad worked in a utility generating station, so I grew up learning electrical terms from a quite young age. I spent so much time there that I could give tours. Electricity and electronics were childhood interests, and I turned that into a career in electronics with the first 24 years working for a different electric utility. Later on part of my job involved working with large 48 volt battery systems for power to communications sites. So yes, I speak power pretty well.

Wanna be neighbors? lol

 

[JayF]

You're welcome. I fully realize that many people really don't understand some of the differences. My Dad worked in a utility generating station, so I grew up learning electrical terms from a quite young age. I spent so much time there that I could give tours. Electricity and electronics were childhood interests, and I turned that into a career in electronics with the first 24 years working for a different electric utility. Later on part of my job involved working with large 48 volt battery systems for power to communications sites. So yes, I speak power pretty well.

Yep I'm a computer guy and my dad was one of the chief engineers at a coal fired power plant growing up. EVs make all that electrical math knowledge start being a lot more valuable

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