1760 mile trip - 0 EA charging

[Oafy44]

Hey guys. Pardon the dumb question but I literally picked up my new Lightning day before yesterday and know very little regarding the charging on this vehicle. I was told that they would go into detail and answer any questions at delivery but the kid who delivered the truck was a new employee with 3 months on and knew absolutely nothing about the truck. Was a joke.
So reading your post I wanted to ask if you have to have the membership you mentioned in order to even use the Tesla or other charge sites, or can you just pull in and hook up and enter your credit card info?

Thanks guys.

Fords not perfect but has done a really good job since 22’ trying to build their ecosystem while relying on other networks. If you use the ford pass set up and have your credit card - it really is mostly plug and play . Most people sign up for Tesla when going on a long road trip because it’s cheaper and more readily available (vs not signing up and paying full rate ) but that is even starting to change with how many quality charging stations are coming on line.
I suggest if you have a day or so to try it out. That’s what did- and then you get the hang of it and you realize it’s easier and a lot more chargers closer to you than you realize. And don’t be afraid. It’s a learning curve. But once you do it and gain some confidence you will wonder why more people don’t have a lightning.

I’ve had probably 20 trucks in my lifetime - from raptors / to f450s. I am on my second lightning because I think it’s one of the best trucks I’ve had. And am excited when the next version comes out and we can charge in half the time or even less

congrats on the new truck !

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[K6CCC]

Thanks for the Info on Fenner. I'm suspecting that Baker may be the same issue. And yes, it was Friday evening that Baker went unavailable.
Looks like damn near everybody is doing upgrades at Baker... Bummer

 

[Robert1380]

Fords not perfect but has done a really good job since 22’ trying to build their ecosystem while relying on other networks. If you use the ford pass set up and have your credit card - it really is mostly plug and play . Most people sign up for Tesla when going on a long road trip because it’s cheaper and more readily available (vs not signing up and paying full rate ) but that is even starting to change with how many quality charging stations are coming on line.
I suggest if you have a day or so to try it out. That’s what did- and then you get the hang of it and you realize it’s easier and a lot more chargers closer to you than you realize. And don’t be afraid. It’s a learning curve. But once you do it and gain some confidence you will wonder why more people don’t have a lightning.

I’ve had probably 20 trucks in my lifetime - from raptors / to f450s. I am on my second lightning because I think it’s one of the best trucks I’ve had. And am excited when the next version comes out and we can charge in half the time or even less

congrats on the new truck !

Thanks my friend. I appreciate the information. The entire delivery process was approximately 30 minutes and the salesman spent 20 of those putting on the front license plate bracket crooked. When I asked him to show me the procedure for charging, he walked over to their charger on-site and pointed to the cord and said, “you just plug it in.”

So I’m gonna have a lot of dumb ass questions as time goes on but thanks to all those who chimed in with some great information. You guys are awesome!

 

[Robert1380]

I just finished my 12th EV trip of more than 1500 miles and currently have nearly 300 DCFC charging sessions. Trust me, I figured out the math of this a LONG time ago.

Yeah well you sorta have to figure it out. What worries me is the charging stations being out of service or some unforeseen issue. Thanks for your response.

 

[RickLightning]

How exactly does their membership work? The pricing isnt transparent like Tesla. I want to know the membership kwh price for stations before hand.

Really? You have it backwards.

EA shows pricing for EVERY location on their app.

EA's membership discount is 25%.

Tesla is NOT UPFRONT about their discount. It is not a standard percentage, but varies between 20 and 24% in my experience.

 

[Robert1380]

You need to have an account with Tesla. Open their app, make an account, add payment info and select your vehicle. When you want to use a Tesla location, pull up to a charger, select the charger number on the app and initiate a session then plug in. If you have a discounted session, it will automatically give you the reduced member rate. The grand majority of all charge apps work the same way.

The lightning has plug and charge for Tesla, Electrify America and some other ones. This is where you set up your payment method on your ford account and its tied to your VIN. You pull up to a plug and charge compatible vendor, plug in and it will automatically initiate the session and bill you through Ford. Problem with that is you bypass any reduced rates if you purchased a membership for Tesla or EA, etc.

I highly recommend downloading plugshare and A Better Route Planner and tinkering with both apps. Plugshare is a user feedback rating system for charging stations and ABRP, well, plans routes in an efficient manner. For me, ABRP is better than our native nav at the moment.

Appreciate the advice sir.

 

[RickLightning]

EA is the worst company in America. The way it hides the cost per kW/h - even in the app - is inexcusable. EV charging companies should have the same legal requirement as gas stations do - to clearly post the cost in such a way that it is clearly readable before arriving at the “pump.”

I am mystified at this claim. Couldn't be easier to find.

 

[RickLightning]

As has been previously pointed out, yeah you can pay using the Ford app, but you will be paying the HIGHEST possible price, rather than the membership rate. The difference on all the major networks is significant - 25% or more.

Never seen a discount higher than EA's 25%.

all true. I pay .avg .50 at Tesla in Grass Valley via FordApp. 90% of the time I’m charging at home…. Tesla subscription is $14.11/mo w tax which works out to say 140kW of charging to break even.

I don’t quite use it enough to warrant yet another subscription but run the numbers and that will help make your decision.

Membership is $12.99. No tax, unless in CA they charge it. I have paid exactly $12.99 each time.

 

[ScottC]

Never seen a discount higher than EA's 25%.


Membership is $12.99. No tax, unless in CA they charge it. I have paid exactly $12.99 each time.

Since you asked, they do. A minor point if you’re using SC at your level of frequency and saving money. For me 1-2x a month it’s a wash and I am pretty satisfied with the convey of the single Ford App.

 

[Scorpio3d]

Hey guys. Pardon the dumb question but I literally picked up my new Lightning day before yesterday and know very little regarding the charging on this vehicle. I was told that they would go into detail and answer any questions at delivery but the kid who delivered the truck was a new employee with 3 months on and knew absolutely nothing about the truck. Was a joke.
So reading your post I wanted to ask if you have to have the membership you mentioned in order to even use the Tesla or other charge sites, or can you just pull in and hook up and enter your credit card info?

Thanks guys.

First off congrats on getting the Lightning!
This is a great forum and loaded with great information and helpful people for the most part.
Did you get the NACS adapter (it will be necessary to have the adapter to charge at many Tesla supercharger locations) with your Lightning purchase It would’ve also included the mobile charger?
I don’t know if you got the Ford charge station pro for home use(or some other EVSE) but I would definitely recommend getting one if you don’t already have one. Home charging is definitely the way to go. DCFC charging is way more expensive.
Charging is pretty intuitive pretty much just like fueling your old ICE vehicle but it takes a little longer. If you are road tripping and are feeling anxious about it I would recommend just finding a local Tesla supercharger and go try it out so you feel comfortable and also go find another brand charger locally (EV Go or EA, etc.)and do the same thing. I don’t road trip very often so I just plug in it every day just like I plug in my phone every night and it’s ready to go the next morning!

 

[Robert1380]

First of all for @Robert1380 you DO NOT NEED the Tesla, or EA apps to charge. You can simply plug in and your truck will start charging. It will bill through Ford. However you can get a cheaper rate using their apps with a paid membership. The Telsa membership costs $12.99 per month (plus sales tax) and lets you get the same rate that Tesla vehicles pay. It's 10 - 15 cents per KWH less than if you just plug in and have it bill through Ford. If you are going to use a particular network a lot, the paid membership will pay for itself in one or two charges. If you look at Public Charging in the FordPass app, and select a station, you are looking for the Plug & Charge wording in the description. Below are two screen captures from my phone. On the left is an EA station near my house (as usual, it's all full), and on the right is a Tesla SC near my house (as usual, it has stalls available) . I have circled the Plug & Charge wording for you.
Regards to pricing, I just looked at the Tesla SC. If you pay through FordPass it is $0.60 per KWH, but with a Tesla subscription it is $0.46 per KWH. I don't have an EA subscription so I can't make that comparison, but I think I read that with the EA subscription, you save 25%.

You mentioned that you get billed thru the Ford app. I looked for something in the app to set up a credit card for billing but found nothing within the app for that purpose. Am I not looking in the right place?

 

[Robert1380]

First off congrats on getting the Lightning!
This is a great forum and loaded with great information and helpful people for the most part.
Did you get the NACS adapter (it will be necessary to have the adapter to charge at many Tesla supercharger locations) with your Lightning purchase It would’ve also included the mobile charger?
I don’t know if you got the Ford charge station pro for home use(or some other EVSE) but I would definitely recommend getting one if you don’t already have one. Home charging is definitely the way to go. DCFC charging is way more expensive.
Charging is pretty intuitive pretty much just like fueling your old ICE vehicle but it takes a little longer. If you are road tripping and are feeling anxious about it I would recommend just finding a local Tesla supercharger and go try it out so you feel comfortable and also go find another brand charger locally (EV Go or EA, etc.)and do the same thing. I don’t road trip very often so I just plug in it every day just like I plug in my phone every night and it’s ready to go the next morning!

Thanks for the response. So yes I got the charger and the Tesla adapter included with the cord but not the Ford charging station pro. The dealer said all I needed was that small charger and power cord. Does the Charging Station Pro plug into that dryer looking 50 amp receptacle or does it have to be direct wired by an electrician?

Thank you sir!

 

[RickLightning]

You mentioned that you get billed thru the Ford app. I looked for something in the app to set up a credit card for billing but found nothing within the app for that purpose. Am I not looking in the right place?

Setup on WEBSITE. Ford.com, account, then go into Wallet and Transactions.

 

[Robert1380]

Setup on WEBSITE. Ford.com, account, then go into Wallet and Transactions.

Awwww. Gotcha! Thanks a bunch

 

[Scorpio3d]

Thanks for the response. So yes I got the charger and the Tesla adapter included with the cord but not the Ford charging station pro. The dealer said all I needed was that small charger and power cord. Does the Charging Station Pro plug into that dryer looking 50 amp receptacle or does it have to be direct wired by an electrician?

Thank you sir!

Well…
The mobile charger that you got will work for a while, but they are not the best charger in the world as far as longevity from what I understand from this forum. -it should be fine for a while.

The FCSP(Ford charge station pro) it is probably overkill for your vehicle as you probably have a single charger in the truck and would be maxed out at 48 amp. The charge station pro can be dialed up to 80 amp on 100 amp breaker(plus the FCSP is very expensive relative to the other options). There are other home charging units(EVSE) that can be hardwired (probably the best way to do the install if you can )or you could put in the “dryer plug” it is actually called a Nema 14-50 plug and if you went that route you would want to be sure you got a high-quality plug!
There are other threads on this forum that discuss this in greater detail.-both the 14-50 and EVSE‘s!

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