Ford Power Promise: 29 days from delivery to L2 power at home

[condition5]

Short version: 29 days after delivery, Ford Power Promise delivered L2 power in our garage. It wasn't all smooth sailing.

Details:
-Purchased car on Dec 27th. Sales guy said I would hear separately from Ford (for the home EVSE delivery) and from qmerit (which provides installers under the program).

-Hardware was easy. It arrived on January 11th. I didn't do anything except sit back and wait for the Ford magic to happen. Imagine my surprise when it was the Ford Charge Station Pro (FCSP)...which is basically twice the price of the Ford Connected charger. During electrician discussions (a longer story) I called Ford to ask if they would downgrade me to the Ford Connected hardware...they would not!

-Installation:
-First, in the background, I knew a local electrician with a strong EVSE install business line. He had wired two friends to high satisfaction and indicated that once the charger was in hand, about a two-day turn around to install. This did not account for holidays or a bitter cold spell...with snow. I was inclined to use them even with Ford's consideration under the Power Promise program. I contacted them between Christmas and New Years...their website did not indicate closed for the holidays (which they were...we'll return in a second).

-Next, I first heard from the Ford-arranged, qmerit provider (not as local as my above...one county over). We did a remote inspection of the install environment via my phone. They provided an estimate the same day. It included additional hardware at a total cost of $950 above Ford's standard installation allowance (for load management and because of the length of the cable runs). I approved this the same day...and then they ghosted me about scheduling. I mean...they would not return a call. Since I couldn't get them to return my call to cancel the work, I was able to get this done by one phone call to qmerit.

-So I called my longtime household electrician. They came out and offered three options. The lowest was $5K and the highest (including a panel upgrade) was $10K. I was plunged deep into EV buyer remorse.

-Happily, our closed-for--the-holidays-around-the-corner EVSE speciality guys returned from break in the meantime, and proposed their solution for $1200 (no load management hardware needed). We had a two-day delay for cold weather. Actual install took about 5 hours, most of that running conduit and figuring out the drilling point from basement to garage. I live in Maryland which has a (soon to expire...when the funds run out) EVSE rebate program. You get back 50% ($700 max) of expenses for professionally installed EVSE. Equipment has to be new, you have to show documentation of EVSE installation by licensed contractor and a photo of the energized, installed equipment).

The addition of home L2 charging makes EV driving seem less like a science project now (until it's time for the first road trip!).

Overall, a pretty good deal. I was lucky to have alternatives and some budget flexibility. This isn't true for everybody, and I might STILL be waiting for the qmerit installer (but probably not...I think I could have escalated it...but will save that energy for something else).

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[SonicBlue]

Next, I first heard from the Ford-arranged, qmerit provider (not as local as my above...one county over). We did a remote inspection of the install environment via my phone. They provided an estimate the same day. It included additional hardware at a total cost of $950 above Ford's standard installation allowance (for load management and because of the length of the cable runs). I approved this the same day...and then they ghosted me about scheduling. I mean...they would not return a call. Since I couldn't get them to return my call to cancel the work, I was able to get this done by one phone call to qmerit.

So… what was Ford’s allowance? Sounds like a hell of a deal compared to other options. Terrible winter weather happens = busy electricians.

 

[condition5]

So… what was Ford’s allowance? Sounds like a hell of a deal compared to other options. Terrible winter weather happens = busy electricians.

The standard labor allowance for install was $1000 (I think...maybe 1300, but that's the price of the Pro charger).

The morning of my install was our 2nd consecutive below zero sunrise. Even for January...way colder than normal here. It was a balmy 30 in the garage when they hung the charger.

 

[Schmedlack]

Hi - Maryland Driver here too..... Don't waste a minute asking for your $700 EVSE Grant. Their budget ain't that big. BTW - it's a taxable grant. You know what that means, right? Also, Maryland now has an annual $125 EV surcharge tacked on to your registration. Why? - All car drivers are supposed to pay their "fair share".

Good luck with your new ride. Charge at home as much as you can, 'cause most public charging here is only L2.

 

[Sikkun]

Maryland now has an annual $125 EV surcharge tacked on to your registration. Why? - All car drivers are supposed to pay their "fair share".

Because the roads get paid for out of fuel surcharge taxes…

 

[FrogDriver]

For what it's worth, also MD, purchased my MME 12/26. Dealer had the charger for me on hand, so I went home with the box. Contacted by QMerit 12/31 morning (Tuesday morning, following my Thursday night purchase). I was on vacation, and didn't respond to QMerit until 1/5. After my response, they assigned me to an electrician on Monday, 1/6 (was from an adjacent county, about an hour away).

I had submitted photos to Qmerit, as requested. The electrician said that the photos indicated not a standard installation, so they wanted to send their guy to check things out in person. He came 1/8, and told me that although it was going to require about an 80 foot run of wire, and a short five foot trench, he was confident that Ford would pay - he said he personally was doing 2/3 of these a day.

The electrician submitted the estimate to Ford. It was approved 1/14. It was installed 1/22 (could have been installed 1/17, but I was out of town). Total cost to me: nothing.

Awesome to have this in my garage!!

 

[Schmedlack]

Because the roads get paid for out of fuel surcharge taxes…

Of course you are right. But my friend, Maryland State Government made a big deal over it's EV programs and how they are a leader in planet freindly transportation. At that time, "no road tax" for EVs was touted as a worthwhile incentive to promote clean transportation. Not anymore - nothing is more important than revenue generation.

 

[dtbaker61]

Short version: 29 days after delivery, Ford Power Promise delivered L2 power in our garage. It wasn't all smooth sailing.

Details:
-Purchased car on Dec 27th. Sales guy said I would hear separately from Ford (for the home EVSE delivery) and from qmerit (which provides installers under the program).

-Hardware was easy. It arrived on January 11th. I didn't do anything except sit back and wait for the Ford magic to happen. Imagine my surprise when it was the Ford Charge Station Pro (FCSP)...which is basically twice the price of the Ford Connected charger. During electrician discussions (a longer story) I called Ford to ask if they would downgrade me to the Ford Connected hardware...they would not!

-Installation:
-First, in the background, I knew a local electrician with a strong EVSE install business line. He had wired two friends to high satisfaction and indicated that once the charger was in hand, about a two-day turn around to install. This did not account for holidays or a bitter cold spell...with snow. I was inclined to use them even with Ford's consideration under the Power Promise program. I contacted them between Christmas and New Years...their website did not indicate closed for the holidays (which they were...we'll return in a second).

-Next, I first heard from the Ford-arranged, qmerit provider (not as local as my above...one county over). We did a remote inspection of the install environment via my phone. They provided an estimate the same day. It included additional hardware at a total cost of $950 above Ford's standard installation allowance (for load management and because of the length of the cable runs). I approved this the same day...and then they ghosted me about scheduling. I mean...they would not return a call. Since I couldn't get them to return my call to cancel the work, I was able to get this done by one phone call to qmerit.

-So I called my longtime household electrician. They came out and offered three options. The lowest was $5K and the highest (including a panel upgrade) was $10K. I was plunged deep into EV buyer remorse.

-Happily, our closed-for--the-holidays-around-the-corner EVSE speciality guys returned from break in the meantime, and proposed their solution for $1200 (no load management hardware needed). We had a two-day delay for cold weather. Actual install took about 5 hours, most of that running conduit and figuring out the drilling point from basement to garage. I live in Maryland which has a (soon to expire...when the funds run out) EVSE rebate program. You get back 50% ($700 max) of expenses for professionally installed EVSE. Equipment has to be new, you have to show documentation of EVSE installation by licensed contractor and a photo of the energized, installed equipment).

The addition of home L2 charging makes EV driving seem less like a science project now (until it's time for the first road trip!).

Overall, a pretty good deal. I was lucky to have alternatives and some budget flexibility. This isn't true for everybody, and I might STILL be waiting for the qmerit installer (but probably not...I think I could have escalated it...but will save that energy for something else).

so.... I am thinking that a more cost effective way to go for *most* people is:

- have a decent local electrician install a flushmount NEMA 14-50 outlet ... $300-$500

- get an inexpensive mobile charger (<$200), set to 32amps max, and you are done.

 

[rhougey]

Short version: 29 days after delivery, Ford Power Promise delivered L2 power in our garage. It wasn't all smooth sailing.

Details:
-Purchased car on Dec 27th. Sales guy said I would hear separately from Ford (for the home EVSE delivery) and from qmerit (which provides installers under the program).

-Hardware was easy. It arrived on January 11th. I didn't do anything except sit back and wait for the Ford magic to happen. Imagine my surprise when it was the Ford Charge Station Pro (FCSP)...which is basically twice the price of the Ford Connected charger. During electrician discussions (a longer story) I called Ford to ask if they would downgrade me to the Ford Connected hardware...they would not!

-Installation:
-First, in the background, I knew a local electrician with a strong EVSE install business line. He had wired two friends to high satisfaction and indicated that once the charger was in hand, about a two-day turn around to install. This did not account for holidays or a bitter cold spell...with snow. I was inclined to use them even with Ford's consideration under the Power Promise program. I contacted them between Christmas and New Years...their website did not indicate closed for the holidays (which they were...we'll return in a second).

-Next, I first heard from the Ford-arranged, qmerit provider (not as local as my above...one county over). We did a remote inspection of the install environment via my phone. They provided an estimate the same day. It included additional hardware at a total cost of $950 above Ford's standard installation allowance (for load management and because of the length of the cable runs). I approved this the same day...and then they ghosted me about scheduling. I mean...they would not return a call. Since I couldn't get them to return my call to cancel the work, I was able to get this done by one phone call to qmerit.

-So I called my longtime household electrician. They came out and offered three options. The lowest was $5K and the highest (including a panel upgrade) was $10K. I was plunged deep into EV buyer remorse.

-Happily, our closed-for--the-holidays-around-the-corner EVSE speciality guys returned from break in the meantime, and proposed their solution for $1200 (no load management hardware needed). We had a two-day delay for cold weather. Actual install took about 5 hours, most of that running conduit and figuring out the drilling point from basement to garage. I live in Maryland which has a (soon to expire...when the funds run out) EVSE rebate program. You get back 50% ($700 max) of expenses for professionally installed EVSE. Equipment has to be new, you have to show documentation of EVSE installation by licensed contractor and a photo of the energized, installed equipment).

The addition of home L2 charging makes EV driving seem less like a science project now (until it's time for the first road trip!).

Overall, a pretty good deal. I was lucky to have alternatives and some budget flexibility. This isn't true for everybody, and I might STILL be waiting for the qmerit installer (but probably not...I think I could have escalated it...but will save that energy for something else).

Long story, but I guess the moral of the story is to be proactively involved when using contractors on your home, get multiple bids and opinions, pick the contractor you like, and push it along so the project doesn’t get bogged down.

 

[GrantK]

I needed a new 200 amp panel to install my charger, $8K later. TBF the old panel was only 90 amp and was already operating on the limit.

 

[chuckles]

get an inexpensive mobile charger

Hasn't there been a spate of users with charging errors from less-than-good EVSE?

I'd recommend spending the extra $ to get a well-rated EVSE. I got my Emporia EVSE along with their CT clamp energy monitor, so for ~$650 I can charge entirely with excess solar from my roof, if I want. They gave me a discount when I bought bits together.

 

[AngryMan]

I can't stress enough how important not cheaping out on this install is . THIS could be you . Garage and 2 Teslas up in smoke and total losses . Luckily the house had only smoke damage . This is my neighbors house . This is bad because the HOA may now look at some sort of EV rules and the other neighbors are now worried about ALL EVs .

 

[dtbaker61]

Hasn't there been a spate of users with charging errors from less-than-good EVSE?

I'd recommend spending the extra $ to get a well-rated EVSE. I got my Emporia EVSE along with their CT clamp energy monitor, so for ~$650 I can charge entirely with excess solar from my roof, if I want. They gave me a discount when I bought bits together.

I used my Ford Mobile charger for 90k miles of charging 2 vehicles before I saw ANY issues with it. I got a yellow light error or two, and moved it to my trunk cargo as a spare, and bought a new Vevor mobile for under $200, which is programmable time and current and has wifi built in even! been happy with that for about a year.

 

[SonicBlue]

The standard labor allowance for install was $1000 (I think...maybe 1300, but that's the price of the Pro charger).

$1,000 for install plus a nicer charger is a heck of nice perk we early adopters didn’t get. Gift horses. Mouth.

Of course, we got plenty of nice perks, too.

Btw, running heavy gauge copper from basement to garage is $$$$$.

 

[dtbaker61]

I can't stress enough how important not cheaping out on this install is . THIS could be you . Garage and 2 Teslas up in smoke and total losses . Luckily the house had only smoke damage . This is my neighbors house . This is bad because the HOA may now look at some sort of EV rules and the other neighbors are now worried about ALL EVs .

most likely to be a crappy install than bad equipment. Was there ever a forensic report done?

Most common errors are undersized wire, or pushing the charge rate too high. Especially for Teslas where there was a period people were getting destination chargers intended for hardwire, putting tails on instead, and plugging in via NEMA 14-50 pulling a full 50amps.

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