RickMachE
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2021
- Threads
- 200
- Messages
- 13,135
- Reaction score
- 17,856
- Location
- SE MI
- Vehicles
- 2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat
- Thread starter
- #1
Did a 2 day trip from MI to Florida.
Summary - EA's network is crap, and/or the Mach-E cannot consistently communicate it's desired level of charge. I will pursue with both to see what I can find out.
Highest rate seen was 125kw. Most often above 100 but not 125. Saw an Audi connected to 150 charger, and it quickly maxed out at 150, so this is a Ford issue, not an EA issue.
Tip - EA 150kw chargers will generally charge faster than 350kw chargers, at least for our Mach-E. Since we can't top 150, or even exceed 124 in my 2 day experience, why even try a 350?
Failing - FordPass doesn't tell you the location of the EA charging locations it maps to for easy lookup in PlugShare. Tip - find location with EA app, then lookup on PlugShare.
Failing - FordPass doesn't let you create detour, like avoiding the 24/7 backup when crossing from Ohio into Kentucky on I-75. Nor does it allow you to set arrival state of charge.
Tip - at ~73 mph, getting 2.7 - 2.8 miles per kWh, i.e. just under 250 range. Since generally going from 80% to 20%, max range between stops is around 140 miles. With two people, charging allows separate bathroom trips into Walmart with time to spare.
Tip - at 90mph, feels like 75... Yikes!!!
Tip - if you want to switch to EA's Pass+ once your Ford free hours are gone, finish using them, end session. Then turn off Plug and Charge, then use EA app, after upgrading to Pass+ instantly.
Left with 100% charge. Thought car would still be running with AC on, it wasn't. Started trip with damp tee shirt... It is amazing to me that Ford did not put in ventilated / cooled seats. Big miss for me.
Used 3 mapping apps. FordPass fed to car with trip setup prior, ABRP also trips setup, Google maps to ensure route is proper, and no refueing stop is too far off road.
First stop set the tone for the day. EA, Huber Heights, Ohio. Connected to 350 charger, maxed out at 35. Switched to other 350, same result. After wasting 20 minutes, EA told me to try 150 charger, which charged over 100. Left at 80%.
Tip - other drivers are generally clueless. 2 Bolts charging, one told me that "charging is ramped down during the peak hours". Other said " I just plug in, have no idea of speed". At another stop, helped an 80 yo VW driver charge. He had no clue how to do anything, and then told me that the VW was the same as the Mach-E... Audi driver with car full of kids and temp tag had no idea she should use the 350kw...
Tip - Many Walmarts have water fountains tuned off due to pandemic, can't refill water bottle.
As expected, FordPass recalculated route. ABRP let me adjust the POC leaving the location, and I discovered the slider to adjust battery to match reality as I drove.
Next stop was Georgetown, KY. Arrived with 18% charge, learned that vehicle warns at 20%, hit OK to clear warning. Left with 69%.
Tip - EA has so many broken and malfunctioning chargers, if you want to accurately report issues to them, write things down. At one stop, two chargers were down with large wet areas around them. Coolant leak? FordPass battery charge log doesn't show location unless you click through to detail.
Tip - free charging hour receipts from Ford don't show specifics of which charger you were on.
Next was Williamsburg, KY. 1 malfunctioning 350, 1 dead 150. Successful on 2nd 350.
Next was Knoxville, TN. First charger worked. WTH! ?
Arrived at hotel in Dalton, GA. After a dozen phone calls during trip planning, found LaQuinta with brand new chargers. Using ABRP, planned trip with 30% SOC for arrival, which would allow ability to make next EA charger. When I called hotel, they knew zero about chargers, said they would research them. Called back a few days later as requested, they still didn't know, so they went out and looked. Clipper Creek. No other info. Teslas and other vehicles have charged. "Round end on hose". Note - I added charger to PlugShare, noting that it was a 7.2kw charger.
Car was done charging just before 6AM. Set preconditioning for 7:40AM, car was icy cold inside ?. Due to humidity, shirt was again went and lack of ventilated seats was again noted. ?
Great to have 100% charge. Got 50 minutes of driving before hitting 80%.
First stop Stockbridge, GA. Wasn't scheduled, but since we needed a bathroom break, decided to do it at an EA stop and charge. Worked fine...
Next stop Cordless, GA. Fine.
Then Valdosta, GA. One broken charger.
Bushnell, FL. 350 dropped to 64 quickly. So did second 350. 150 was fine. Transitioned to Pass+ for last 4 kw. Faster than Plug and Charge.
Summary - EA's network is crap, and/or the Mach-E cannot consistently communicate it's desired level of charge. I will pursue with both to see what I can find out.
Highest rate seen was 125kw. Most often above 100 but not 125. Saw an Audi connected to 150 charger, and it quickly maxed out at 150, so this is a Ford issue, not an EA issue.
Tip - EA 150kw chargers will generally charge faster than 350kw chargers, at least for our Mach-E. Since we can't top 150, or even exceed 124 in my 2 day experience, why even try a 350?
Failing - FordPass doesn't tell you the location of the EA charging locations it maps to for easy lookup in PlugShare. Tip - find location with EA app, then lookup on PlugShare.
Failing - FordPass doesn't let you create detour, like avoiding the 24/7 backup when crossing from Ohio into Kentucky on I-75. Nor does it allow you to set arrival state of charge.
Tip - at ~73 mph, getting 2.7 - 2.8 miles per kWh, i.e. just under 250 range. Since generally going from 80% to 20%, max range between stops is around 140 miles. With two people, charging allows separate bathroom trips into Walmart with time to spare.
Tip - at 90mph, feels like 75... Yikes!!!
Tip - if you want to switch to EA's Pass+ once your Ford free hours are gone, finish using them, end session. Then turn off Plug and Charge, then use EA app, after upgrading to Pass+ instantly.
Left with 100% charge. Thought car would still be running with AC on, it wasn't. Started trip with damp tee shirt... It is amazing to me that Ford did not put in ventilated / cooled seats. Big miss for me.
Used 3 mapping apps. FordPass fed to car with trip setup prior, ABRP also trips setup, Google maps to ensure route is proper, and no refueing stop is too far off road.
First stop set the tone for the day. EA, Huber Heights, Ohio. Connected to 350 charger, maxed out at 35. Switched to other 350, same result. After wasting 20 minutes, EA told me to try 150 charger, which charged over 100. Left at 80%.
Tip - other drivers are generally clueless. 2 Bolts charging, one told me that "charging is ramped down during the peak hours". Other said " I just plug in, have no idea of speed". At another stop, helped an 80 yo VW driver charge. He had no clue how to do anything, and then told me that the VW was the same as the Mach-E... Audi driver with car full of kids and temp tag had no idea she should use the 350kw...
Tip - Many Walmarts have water fountains tuned off due to pandemic, can't refill water bottle.
As expected, FordPass recalculated route. ABRP let me adjust the POC leaving the location, and I discovered the slider to adjust battery to match reality as I drove.
Next stop was Georgetown, KY. Arrived with 18% charge, learned that vehicle warns at 20%, hit OK to clear warning. Left with 69%.
Tip - EA has so many broken and malfunctioning chargers, if you want to accurately report issues to them, write things down. At one stop, two chargers were down with large wet areas around them. Coolant leak? FordPass battery charge log doesn't show location unless you click through to detail.
Tip - free charging hour receipts from Ford don't show specifics of which charger you were on.
Next was Williamsburg, KY. 1 malfunctioning 350, 1 dead 150. Successful on 2nd 350.
Next was Knoxville, TN. First charger worked. WTH! ?
Arrived at hotel in Dalton, GA. After a dozen phone calls during trip planning, found LaQuinta with brand new chargers. Using ABRP, planned trip with 30% SOC for arrival, which would allow ability to make next EA charger. When I called hotel, they knew zero about chargers, said they would research them. Called back a few days later as requested, they still didn't know, so they went out and looked. Clipper Creek. No other info. Teslas and other vehicles have charged. "Round end on hose". Note - I added charger to PlugShare, noting that it was a 7.2kw charger.
Car was done charging just before 6AM. Set preconditioning for 7:40AM, car was icy cold inside ?. Due to humidity, shirt was again went and lack of ventilated seats was again noted. ?
Great to have 100% charge. Got 50 minutes of driving before hitting 80%.
First stop Stockbridge, GA. Wasn't scheduled, but since we needed a bathroom break, decided to do it at an EA stop and charge. Worked fine...
Next stop Cordless, GA. Fine.
Then Valdosta, GA. One broken charger.
Bushnell, FL. 350 dropped to 64 quickly. So did second 350. 150 was fine. Transitioned to Pass+ for last 4 kw. Faster than Plug and Charge.
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