Hey Ford, you are useless (at solving the lack of DC charging)

[SWO]

Haven't seen a single one installed and with the recent backtracking of the Ford EV program who knows. That article is now a year old and what has happened since?

Ironically, NEVI might be partly to blame. Why expend money installing DCFCs when you can apply to your state's program and have the install subsidized by taxpayers. Can't say I blame them.

Kudos to GM, Mercedes, and Rivian for moving the ball forward, but they all seem to be mostly token efforts for marketing purposes, IMO.

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[Logal727]

Mercedes has opened up their chargers in Florida at a Buc-ee's and what has Ford done to improve DC charging for CCS EV owners? Made a deal with Tesla regarding NACS + Superchargers (who knows exactly when we will get real world access) and the idiotic "Charging Angels" public relations BS.

GM has partnered with EVGo + Pilot/FlyingJ to build stalls at those gas stations. A tiny little startup named RIvian has built 57 RAN fast-charging locations with 340+ chargers also. And various other carmakers have joined together to build a network also (https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/26/...nt-venture-north-american-ev-charging-network)

Is Ford actually serious about EVs?

Of course the one time I was in Daytona the past two days I skipped Buc-ee’s.

 

[Logal727]

Of course the one time I was in Daytona the past two days I skipped Buc-ee’s.

Actually doesn’t look like it’s open yet? PlugShare still says coming soon

 

[c max]

Haven't seen a single one installed and with the recent backtracking of the Ford EV program who knows. That article is now a year old and what has happened since?

OTOH, I've actually used real world DC chargers (ChargePoint) installed at Hyundai dealerships. I believe Hyundai forced dealerships to install chargers as part of the EV certification process and a handful have public DC chargers. Ford is full of hot air.

Both of the Ford dealers within 5 or so miles of my house have installed fast chargers within the last year....then even had to change where their gates were to allow 24/7 access

 

[JoeDimwit]

It’s odd to me that Ford is so crap at setting up a charging network when their gas station network is so well built.

 

[bbulkow]

Mercedes has opened up their chargers in Florida at a Buc-ee's and what has Ford done to improve DC charging for CCS EV owners? Made a deal with Tesla regarding NACS + Superchargers (who knows exactly when we will get real world access) and the idiotic "Charging Angels" public relations BS.

GM has partnered with EVGo + Pilot/FlyingJ to build stalls at those gas stations. A tiny little startup named RIvian has built 57 RAN fast-charging locations with 340+ chargers also. And various other carmakers have joined together to build a network also (https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/26/...nt-venture-north-american-ev-charging-network)

Is Ford actually serious about EVs?

1) Adding EV chargers doesn't help Ford, it helps all EV makers. You mention Rivian : they lock non-rivian vehicles out.

2) Adding our cars - and pressuring the industry - to make the Tesla charging network available, and get us on one plug / data standard - is the single biggest possible positive impact Ford could possibly have. If all goes well, we'll have access (first) to about 10,000 new chargers, including in places that will take a long time to *ever* get another network.

3) Ford dealers *are* adding chargers. My closest dealer put in 2 50KW chargers and they are spanky and new and easy access from the freeway. It seems the problems are:
* It doesn't show up on plugshare if you filter for KW > 10, so I think no one notices
* 50KW is kinda slow, it would be more of an emergency thing

Access to Tesla is the One Big Thing. And Ford lead the way.

You're seriously complaining about Ford doing the best possible thing?

Example. I'm looking at a drive to a nearby town for a long weekend. They have a cool lights display. There is a "desert" of about 75 miles to and from that town (150 total) with very limited charging. There are a few one-two 50KW chargers. There are almost no chargers in the town itself, although if we stay overnight somewhere with an L2 we'll be fine.

How many tesla chargers? 3 stations of 12 chargers each.

Go ahead, tell me how getting access to the Supercharger network isn't the best possible thing.

 

[ChehRob]

My dealer is installing DC chargers. But that really is not an answer to 'range anxiety'. I will soon have my own charger in my condo parking spots, and do not need a local charger. I really wish ford would instead sponsor level 3 chargers where they would do the most good. Putting their name on those chargers would ensure that they had to be maintained - or suffer reputational loss.

 

[GatorGrowl]

Are you sure they are operational, the articles I have found say by the end of 2024? Also, do the Mercedes EV's use a different plug than the Mach E?

"Mercedes-Benz will build charging hubs at most Buc-ee's existing travel centers, starting with about 30 by the end of 2024," the release said, including stores in Texas, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Depending on region and location, the hubs will offer 4 to 12, and potentially up to 30 high-power chargers (HPC).Dec 14, 2023

https://www.news-journalonline.com/...electric-vehicle-ev-charging-hub/71908141007/

So far, the two Buc-ee’s I’ve been to in Florida only had Tesla Superchargers.
According to a friend that works for a c-store/gas station company, the power companies are provided grants by the state in exchange for limiting the cost per kWh to $.30. They charge variable rates to commercial customers, so station owners have no way of knowing how much powering the chargers will cost them. Investing $100k+ in a charging site is too risky when you don’t know how long it will take to recoup the cost.
Big companies can afford the risk, but smaller regionals and franchise stations can’t.

 

[GatorGrowl]

Of course the one time I was in Daytona the past two days I skipped Buc-ee’s.

Daytona only has Tesla chargers currently.

 

[voxel]

Actually doesn’t look like it’s open yet? PlugShare still says coming soon

It was online yesterday and now offline and removed. WTF. Some Rivian owner was there a few days ago and it was still under construction. I was there too but only for the brisket sandwiches lol.

 

[Logal727]

It was online yesterday and now offline and removed. WTF. Some Rivian owner was there a few days ago and it was still under construction. I was there too but only for the brisket sandwiches lol.

Yeah there’s a pic posted today that still shows construction. St Augustine is under construction too, this will be very nice. I can’t seem to find the Mercedes charging app though.

 

[Logal727]

Daytona only has Tesla chargers currently.

Both FL Buc-ees currently have Mercedes CCS chargers under construction

 

[MachEMaster]

My local Ford Dealer always has their Lightning "Parts Truck" blocking the lot's L2 charger after hours.

 

[evfinder]

I'd rather they teamed up with McDonald's or Wendy's than force a dealer to install them. Would you want to spend 45 minutes at a dealer with no food, limited restrooms and sales people running around? Not to mention the limited hours they are open.

My local dealership, Galpin Ford, actually has quite a nice restaurant on site. My wife and I like to eat there while waiting for our car to be serviced. Last time I was there they only had L2 chargers but Galpin have a Polestar dealership across the street that has 4 DCFC chargers and they allow their Ford customers to use those if they need to fast charge.

 

[ctenidae]

I'd rather they teamed up with McDonald's or Wendy's than force a dealer to install them. Would you want to spend 45 minutes at a dealer with no food, limited restrooms and sales people running around? Not to mention the limited hours they are open.

Charging at McDonalds would make me use the restroom for 45 minutes...

Right idea, though. There are no good reasons for charger installation to cost so much- there are reasons aplenty, but none are especially good. McD's et al ought to be able to put in 3-4 charge spots, it would be hugely convenient.

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