Bad PR article for Ford v Tesla

[Mrn]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/electric-vehicle-trip-charging-infrastructure-1.6932074

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[Vulnox]

That sucks and isn't a huge surprise. Even if there were other options as the article goes over (L2 chargers and that), that isn't the point. It shouldn't be a gamble if a charger is going to work on a road trip, and when I was with Ford I mentioned it when they first announced their "Ford Charging Network" how much it mattered that the chargers work and it was clear that 50kW chargers aren't going to be enough when they were advertising their "10,000+ chargers". And here we are, with people loving the vehicle but hating the road trips, and I agree with the truck owner that buying a truck like that and being limited to local commuting sucks.

Before anyone says it, I know many have completed longer drives without issue. Our only long road trip with the MME went perfectly. But the issues are real, especially in some corridors. Out of Spec just tried to do a race to Las Vegas with a Model S, Porsche, and Lucid. Their charger issues for the CCS vehicles were significant, and they had to completely change the plan for the "race" because they got stuck at one of the stops where chargers were down or full, and the nearby SuperCharger install was half empty and all working, but they had way more cabinets.

The NACS adoption can't come fast enough, and I am glad other companies are working to leave EA behind. It's clear they aren't interested in this business.

 

[HGxxx]

That sucks and isn't a huge surprise. Even if there were other options as the article goes over (L2 chargers and that), that isn't the point. It shouldn't be a gamble if a charger is going to work on a road trip, and when I was with Ford I mentioned it when they first announced their "Ford Charging Network" how much it mattered that the chargers work and it was clear that 50kW chargers aren't going to be enough when they were advertising their "10,000+ chargers". And here we are, with people loving the vehicle but hating the road trips, and I agree with the truck owner that buying a truck like that and being limited to local commuting sucks.

Before anyone says it, I know many have completed longer drives without issue. Our only long road trip with the MME went perfectly. But the issues are real, especially in some corridors. Out of Spec just tried to do a race to Las Vegas with a Model S, Porsche, and Lucid. Their charger issues for the CCS vehicles were significant, and they had to completely change the plan for the "race" because they got stuck at one of the stops where chargers were down or full, and the nearby SuperCharger install was half empty and all working, but they had way more cabinets.

The NACS adoption can't come fast enough, and I am glad other companies are working to leave EA behind. It's clear they aren't interested in this business.

Tesla can just sell a adapter for CCS cars and let everyone use their chargers. NACS adoption is good news, but I think the adapter is a faster option

 

[Vulnox]

Tesla can just sell a adapter for CCS cars and let everyone use their chargers. NACS adoption is good news, but I think the adapter is a faster option

Well the adoption includes the adapter. Tesla can't "Just" sell an adapter, both the CCS vehicle and the Supercharger need to be able to communicate, which is why we won't get our adapters until at least early 2024, and even if the adapter is available, will rely on Ford pushing the communication software to the existing MMEs, and Tesla loading the VIN data for all the Ford vehicles so it can handle billing and plug and charge. So it still needs to be adopted, by both Ford and Tesla in this case, which is what I was referring to.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Well the adoption includes the adapter. Tesla can't "Just" sell an adapter, both the CCS vehicle and the Supercharger need to be able to communicate, which is why we won't get our adapters until at least early 2024, and even if the adapter is available, will rely on Ford pushing the communication software to the existing MMEs, and Tesla loading the VIN data for all the Ford vehicles so it can handle billing and plug and charge. So it still needs to be adopted, by both Ford and Tesla in this case, which is what I was referring to.

Having charged my Lightning at a Magic Dock that didn't have my VIN data, I can assure you charging on Superchargers doesn't require software on the vehicle side. It does require software on the charger side.

They can definitely get this going faster if charging uses the Tesla app like it does now on Magic Dock stations. Plug & Charge will take more work. I'd rather get access sooner than to wait until everything is set up for P&C.

 

[superdave80]

Unfortunately, planning out road trips is a necessity for CCS vehicles at this point. The guy relied on a single charger out in the middle of nowhere (although it did have a 10 rating, so not sure why it wouldn't work) with no backup plan if it didn't work. I don't even know why he drove to Elk River, because a quick look on plugshare shows that it has been inoperative for about six months. Probably his useless Ford naviagtion told him there was a charger there.

Tesla charger adapters can't come soon enough...

 

[Say Watt]

I set up a Tesla account to try out the Magic Dock at Placerville, CA. I activated from the Tesla app and CCS adapter connection was seamless. Output was only 42kW so I wasn’t overly impressed. There were two Teslas charging and one said he was having the same slow issue. It could be grid problem since this is PG&E in summer mode.

 

[Jim622]

I don't think the Tesla charging network will be the answer. All the Tesla charges are always full, and have cars in line waiting to charge. Adding more vehicles to the already overcrowded system may just be a disaster waiting to happen. The EA chargers seem less busy for the most part. However this is rapidly changing. I am seeing more that EA chargers have a waiting line at times.

 

[SWO]

I set up a Tesla account to try out the Magic Dock at Placerville, CA. I activated from the Tesla app and CCS adapter connection was seamless. Output was only 42kW so I wasn’t overly impressed. There were two Teslas charging and one said he was having the same slow issue. It could be grid problem since this is PG&E in summer mode.

42kw does not sound like a great experience to me. I get the voltage limitations for the V3 superchargers, but I think this is a good example of how moving to the Tesla plug isn't going to be Nirvana. I'm excited about more charging locations but that's about it.

 

[Jimrpa]

I set up a Tesla account to try out the Magic Dock at Placerville, CA. I activated from the Tesla app and CCS adapter connection was seamless. Output was only 42kW so I wasn’t overly impressed. There were two Teslas charging and one said he was having the same slow issue. It could be grid problem since this is PG&E in summer mode.

That doesn’t look like a Mustang Mach E i

 

[Vulnox]

Having charged my Lightning at a Magic Dock that didn't have my VIN data, I can assure you charging on Superchargers doesn't require software on the vehicle side. It does require software on the charger side.

They can definitely get this going faster if charging uses the Tesla app like it does now on Magic Dock stations. Plug & Charge will take more work. I'd rather get access sooner than to wait until everything is set up for P&C.

You absolutely did not charge with the Magic Dock using P&C, a thing I mentioned in my response that you even quoted and is part of the NACS adoption by Ford.

From Farley:
" So they’ll get an adapter from Ford, they go on FordPass, they pick the payment option they want, all the billing is the same as it is today, so it’s going to be super easy. "

That will only be possible if both the SC and Ford system are working together.

Before someone else quotes me with something that either isn't correct or misses the point entirely, I suggest reading up about the proposed NACS transition.

I agree that getting it sooner would be nice, but people are confused enough as it is when it comes to charging, and asking the average EV owner to get another app and figure out the activation isn't a winning strategy for a company like Ford. It's fine for most everyone here, but for most others, they won't understand the distinction. So P&C is necessary.

 

[ChasingCoral]

You absolutely did not charge with the Magic Dock using P&C, a thing I mentioned in my response that you even quoted and is part of the NACS adoption by Ford.

From Farley:
" So they’ll get an adapter from Ford, they go on FordPass, they pick the payment option they want, all the billing is the same as it is today, so it’s going to be super easy. "

That will only be possible if both the SC and Ford system are working together.

Before someone else quotes me with something that either isn't correct or misses the point entirely, I suggest reading up about the proposed NACS transition.

I agree that getting it sooner would be nice, but people are confused enough as it is when it comes to charging, and asking the average EV owner to get another app and figure out the activation isn't a winning strategy for a company like Ford. It's fine for most everyone here, but for most others, they won't understand the distinction. So P&C is necessary.

I'll disagree. Lots of Ford owners charge at EVGo, ChargePoint, and many other companies' chargers that don't use P&C. We download the app and charge.

Given the option of charging earlier with the Tesla app or waiting longer for P&C to work, I'll definitely take earlier!

 

[superdave80]

All the Tesla charges are always full,

I actually see more Tesla charging locations mostly empty rather than full. In fact, I can only recall one instance at a shopping center where literally every Tesla charger station was full, which kind of shocked me at the time.

My one time trying out the magic dock in Placerville, I was the only vehicle there.

So, no, all Tesla chargers are not always full.

 

[Vulnox]

I'll disagree. Lots of Ford owners charge at EVGo, ChargePoint, and many other companies' chargers that don't use P&C. We download the app and charge.

Given the option of charging earlier with the Tesla app or waiting longer for P&C to work, I'll definitely take earlier!

Yeah, and I am saying I agree I would also take earlier. But it doesn't change that it isn't Ford's plan so I don't know what you want me to do and it has nothing to do with my message you first responded to where you brought up your Lightning charging experience that had nothing to do with it.

I am aware P&C isn't required to charge an MME, but that IS what Ford is doing, so what you did with your Lightning is irrelevant and doesn't take away from the fact that accomplishing what Ford wants requires the VINs (or some identifier, they may use some other value).

 

[superdave80]

Output was only 42kW so I wasn’t overly impressed. There were two Teslas charging and one said he was having the same slow issue. It could be grid problem since this is PG&E in summer mode.

When I charged there I got the full 80-ish kW. But your example does show that even Tesla isn't immune to all charging problems. They just suck less than the CCS charging companies

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