Charging Basics: How to Charge Your Mustang Mach-E Video from Ford

[ChasingCoral]

"Member" is not the same as "membership fee". It may be free to join.



For EA, there's also the problem that their card reader often doesn't work. But you can still use their mobile app to start the session. (That's what I read on the Internet. Maybe that has since been fixed. I don't own an EV right now.) So the plug is available, but you can't use it if you're not a member. I suppose you don't have to be a paid member, but you still have to register in their app. (Again, I don't have first hand experience.)

EA has real reliability problems. But some of their problem aren't really blockers if you know their quirks.



For those, your membership card may have to be enrolled into the organization in order to start a session on those chargers.

Agreed. And just to be clear, with EA having their app does not mean being a member. Their membership program requires a fee and reduces the cost.

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[GregM]

My understanding is that you get free access to the Ford Pass Charging Network (one payment method via Ford Pass but many charging network providers under that umbrella). Then in 2 years it will probably become a subscription if you would like to keep having one payment method instead of many separate memberships to each charging provider. Either way you pay for the electricity (it's not free after the complementary 250 kWh on EA runs out).

So to get that, you have to buy the $800 charger...interesting, I though all order holders got the two year EA deal just with purchasing the car, not the charger.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

So to get that, you have to buy the $800 charger...interesting, I though all order holders got the two year EA deal just with purchasing the car, not the charger.

No, to get that you have to buy the $60,000 USD car. The home charger part is optional.

 

[timbop]

So to get that, you have to buy the $800 charger...interesting, I though all order holders got the two year EA deal just with purchasing the car, not the charger.

You are conflating 2 different things. There is a plugin level 2 AC charger that comes with the car for home charging. There is a hardwired level 2 AC home charger for $800 that chargers at home faster than the free one.

The Ford charging network is for on-the-road charging when you're away from home. Essentially there is a group of companies offering level 3 (DC fast charging), and normally you'd have to have an account with each of them to use their chargers. The "ford pass" network is simply a bundling service: you have one ford account that lets you use level 3 chargers from any of those companies on the road, and you don't have to have a direct membership with them. Ford is essentially acting as a broker for you; you pay 1 bill from ford and have 1 account, but get to use anyone's chargers. That privilege is free for 2 years, after that you'll have to pay a fee to ford for them to be your broker

 

[zhackwyatt]

So, these charging stations I see around don’t work like gas stations? You have to belong to the charging station network to use their charging stations? Would the analogy be that I would pay a membership fee to Sunoco, then I could fill my car at Sunoco gas stations?

Depends on the company. With EA you can just stick your credit card into it to initiate the charge. You can also join the membership for a fee for reduced rates when charging. Other charging companies require a login and their app to start charging.

Ford is trying to simplify this with their Fordpass network. The ideal scenario is you have payment set up with Ford pass. You plug the charger into the car, it knows who you are (based on communication between the vehicle and the charger) and bills you appropriately in the Ford pass app. So you just plug in, and unplug and don't have to worry about anything else.

There is also Volta which is free, although they aren't in many locations.

 

[SnBGC]

So, these charging stations I see around don’t work like gas stations? You have to belong to the charging station network to use their charging stations? Would the analogy be that I would pay a membership fee to Sunoco, then I could fill my car at Sunoco gas stations?

The Electrify America network is just like a gas station except their card readers and display screens are incredibly problematic. So, often times you have to call the toll free number to get them to activate the 'pump' for you. Sometimes it takes 10-15 minutes because they run you through some diagnostic steps and then remotely reboot the machine. When that doesn't work....they ask you to move to a different machine at that same station. Usually a machine with the most recent successful transaction. No membership needed. You just pay a $1 transaction fee if you don't have a membership.

Most other networks don't have credit/debit card readers. They have touchless pads for RFID cards that are issued to you by that network. (EVgo, ChargePoint etc). Many allow you to activate the machine from your cell phone with simulated RFID signal or via an app. So, in order to get an account or RFID card, you have to sign up with a member profile. That has always been free of charge as far as I remember.

There was some talk about a new method to pay where you load your credit card info into the vehicle and then all you have to do is plug in and the vehicle communicates with the provider and arranges payment. That avoids the step of having to swipe at a card reader, RFID card or enable with a smart phone. I thought that feature was supposed to appear on all new EVs by now but I am not sure what happened. It used to be listed on Electrify America's website but I can't find it any longer. I will try and do some digging and see if that is still a thing and if so, will our Mach Es support the feature.

For me, since I use DCFC hardly ever....it would be very convenient for my payment method to reside in the car that way I don't have to worry about swiping a card or calling a phone number. Of the few times I have used DCFC, it has just been for a quick splash to make sure I can get home. With the MME, that would be about a 3-5 minute charge at the EA station to get enough juice to make it home from almost anywhere in the Phoenix area.

 

[JBB_JD]

I have seen the slick pics of the Ford Connected Charging Station that appears to be hardwired to a circuit breaker box somewhere but do we have it in writing from Ford that the thing cannot be plugged in to an outlet? To me, Connected implies hardwired but call me Thomas, I want to see the words. Several EVSEs go both ways and since the Ford one has 'adjustable power levels', I wonder if there will be a plug option.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

Sorry,
Ford Mustang Mach-E: Frunkgating Basics has not been posted yet.

"yet"? so you're saying it's coming? cool! ?????

 

[hybrid2bev]

I have seen the slick pics of the Ford Connected Charging Station that appears to be hardwired to a circuit breaker box somewhere but do we have it in writing from Ford that the thing cannot be plugged in to an outlet? To me, Connected implies hardwired but call me Thomas, I want to see the words. Several EVSEs go both ways and since the Ford one has 'adjustable power levels', I wonder if there will be a plug option.

Ford Connected Charging Station is hardwire only. This is an older pre-COVID form so the dates are off, but the specs are the same.

 

[Raymondjram]

60 --I've probably asked that question 10 times, so it's easy for me to recall

That is easier to remember with math. The circuit is 1.25 times (or 125%) the load current.

 

[ChasingCoral]

That is easier to remember with math. The circuit is 1.25 times (or 125%) the load current.

Or the continuous load limit to a circuit is 0.8 times the maximum capacity.

 

[Raymondjram]

Or the continuous load limit to a circuit is 0.8 times the maximum capacity.

I knew that. But you tend to buy the device first, and discover the needed load current, then you install the calculated circuit breaker at the panel, wire the circuit, and attach the load or the outlet last.

 

[JamieGeek]

The Electrify America network is just like a gas station except their card readers and display screens are incredibly problematic. So, often times you have to call the toll free number to get them to activate the 'pump' for you. Sometimes it takes 10-15 minutes because they run you through some diagnostic steps and then remotely reboot the machine. When that doesn't work....they ask you to move to a different machine at that same station. Usually a machine with the most recent successful transaction. No membership needed. You just pay a $1 transaction fee if you don't have a membership.

Most other networks don't have credit/debit card readers. They have touchless pads for RFID cards that are issued to you by that network. (EVgo, ChargePoint etc). Many allow you to activate the machine from your cell phone with simulated RFID signal or via an app. So, in order to get an account or RFID card, you have to sign up with a member profile. That has always been free of charge as far as I remember.

There was some talk about a new method to pay where you load your credit card info into the vehicle and then all you have to do is plug in and the vehicle communicates with the provider and arranges payment. That avoids the step of having to swipe at a card reader, RFID card or enable with a smart phone. I thought that feature was supposed to appear on all new EVs by now but I am not sure what happened. It used to be listed on Electrify America's website but I can't find it any longer. I will try and do some digging and see if that is still a thing and if so, will our Mach Es support the feature.

For me, since I use DCFC hardly ever....it would be very convenient for my payment method to reside in the car that way I don't have to worry about swiping a card or calling a phone number. Of the few times I have used DCFC, it has just been for a quick splash to make sure I can get home. With the MME, that would be about a 3-5 minute charge at the EA station to get enough juice to make it home from almost anywhere in the Phoenix area.

Its more than EA: With many of the systems you can call the 800# on the charger, give them your CC info and they will activate the charger (I don't think any of them want to leave you out in a lurch).

Er at least if the station is networked (there a few ChargePoint stations that aren't networked but usually those don't require payment either).

 

[Matthewmohan]

To use the Ford connected charging station 48amps, what is the minimum circuit it will run safely on? I'm guessing 60 and not 50?

My local utility was offering a $500 rebate on an Enel-X juicebox 40, so I decided to go that route instead of the Ford Connected option. The Juicebox is only 40amps and the logic would dictate a 50 amp would cut it, however my electrician recommended 60. Done and done and for the last 2 months I’ve had a very cool looking garage illuminating dongle sitting idle and who’s primary function is to remind me I don’t have a car.

 

[hybrid2bev]

I saw this video back when it was posted internally on September 3rd. Hopefully they publish the other videos too, they are all short like this one and have a similar look and feel so we'll see.....

Ford Mustang Mach-E: At Home Charging
Ford Mustang Mach-E: Charging on the Go
Ford Mustang Mach-E: Connected Navigation
Ford Mustang Mach-E: Drive Experiences and One Pedal Driving
Ford Mustang Mach-E: E-Latch
Ford Mustang Mach-E: Over the Air Updates
SYNC 4A Personalization

Next one is posted. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Charging on the Go

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