Bad PR article for Ford v Tesla

[ChasingCoral]

Just to clarify, Plug and Charge is one way of charging. Vehicle data needs to be transmitted through the EVSE network to Ford to approve billing.

Another way is by activating the EVSE in the FordPass app. No vehicle data is needed, Ford sends an ok to bill to the EVSE network and the sessions begins.

The latter could clearly be activated before Plug and Charge if Ford chose.

And even easier to implement is to activate the charge session using the Tesla app.

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[RickMachE]

And even easier to implement is to activate the charge session using the Tesla app.

Which Ford would have zero interest in doing.

 

[Ghost Ryder]

Thats great as a desperate backup plan. $0.53/kWh ??

That's cheaper than my home electricity rate at peak times.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Which Ford would have zero interest in doing.

That’s what happens at ChargePont, EVGo, etc.

 

[RickMachE]

That’s what happens at ChargePont, EVGo, etc.

You keep switching back and forth.

Today, you can activate multiple network chargers via the FordPass app. Tesla is not one of them.

You said "And even easier to implement is to activate the charge session using the Tesla app."

My reply was that while Tesla could do that, Ford has zero interest in that. They want the experience through FordPass, and eventually Plug and Charge. Using Tesla's app likely isn't even on the list.

 

[AhardFSU]

When the V3 Telsa chargers open to most EVs in early 2024, I hope that Plug Share and/or the Telsa app clearly identifies which stations non-Teslas can use. That's going to be the only way to determine which station to stop at. Unless you want to go from Tesla station to Tesla station until you hit the right one.

 

[Mirak]

We actually just finished talking about this article over dinner - it’s the #1 trending story in Canada on Apple News. My first impression was he seemed a bit unprepared for his trip and kinda gave up a bit too easily.

It would take quite a lot for me to consider “abandoning” my Mach-E and renting an ICE. L2 sucks as an option, but at least it’d be charging - he didn’t even try.

Having said that, we *should* be in a place where charging is as easy as gassing up, but we are not. I have a feeling this guy was unaware of that fact, and expected to be able to charge almost as easily.

Also, if he towed it to Ford, why would they not have at least been able to charge it? A 50kWh DCFC perhaps?

The piece just seems a bit dramatic to me…

"Gave up too easily," "seems a bit dramatic," ugh. I loathe this sort of victim-blaming. "He didn't even try" plugging in for - half a day?! - at an L2? Is that a serious suggestion?

People want - need - to get to their destination. Especially with a family in tow. I don't fault a dude for a minute for deciding to rent a car, not ruin his trip, and pick the EV up on the way back home. This actually seems quite sensible.

The guy's mistake was diverting over to podunk Elk City instead of continuing into MSP, where he would have found more abundant and faster chargers. But the bottom line is that it shouldn't be this damned hard in 2023 to road trip with an EV.

 

[curtisfinney]

We actually just finished talking about this article over dinner - it’s the #1 trending story in Canada on Apple News. My first impression was he seemed a bit unprepared for his trip and kinda gave up a bit too easily. It would take quite a lot for me to consider “abandoning” my Mach-E and renting an ICE. L2 sucks as an option, but at least it’d be charging - he didn’t even try.

Having said that, we *should* be in a place where charging is as easy as gassing up, but we are not. I have a feeling this guy was unaware of that fact, and expected to be able to charge almost as easily.

Also, if he towed it to Ford, why would they not have at least been able to charge it? A 50kWh DCFC perhaps?

The piece just seems a bit dramatic to me…

I agree

I’m traveling from Minneapolis to the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and then to the LP (Lower Peninsula). I would love to drive my Mach E, but am not due to the lack of high speed chargers on that route. Upper Wisconsin and the UP just don’t have enough level 3 chargers.

I can’t understand why someone would invest so much money in a vehicle and do apparently no research on charging.

 

[Mach Al]

If he had just held on a little longer, he could charge at a Tesla charger. There are many issues with the current situation, but it will get better. I hate when people make drastic moves and give bad press based on a knee jerk ill-informed decision. This can impact adoption, which the world really doesn't need.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

I have both.

If you could only have one; which do you prefer?

 

[MellowJohnny]

"Gave up too easily," "seems a bit dramatic," ugh. I loathe this sort of victim-blaming. "He didn't even try" plugging in for - half a day?! - at an L2? Is that a serious suggestion?

People want - need - to get to their destination. Especially with a family in tow. I don't fault a dude for a minute for deciding to rent a car, not ruin his trip, and pick the EV up on the way back home. This actually seems quite sensible.

The guy's mistake was diverting over to podunk Elk City instead of continuing into MSP, where he would have found more abundant and faster chargers. But the bottom line is that it shouldn't be this damned hard in 2023 to road trip with an EV.

Seriously? I’m not blaming anyone, I’m saying he didn’t exhaust all his options. Why not charge for a few hours on L2? Perfectly reasonable suggestion. I would have. Go get some lunch. But he didn’t even try, which is the definition of “giving up”. Did he ask the Ford dealer for help? Dunno, but it doesn’t sound like it. He was rightfully frustrated, and said F* this, I’m out. His response was dramatic - he essentially threw up his arms and abandoned his truck. That’s got an element of drama to it.

We made the same point - is it should not be this hard. But it can be, and you need to be prepared. I don’t think he was. When I road trip I have Plan A and B and C. I get that there are a lot of people who buy an EV and just think they can charge it like an ICE. Fair assumption. But we all know right now that can be a poor assumption.

Ironically you’ve suggested the “mistake” he made was going to a smaller town with fewer options, which is victim blaming, no? Why was that a mistake? He should have been just fine doing what he did, as DCFC should just work. But you assume had he chosen a different route, with more options, he would have been fine, which is actually sound advice, given by someone who knows shit can go sideways in a hurry with an EV right now. And I suggested had he tried a last-resort L2 charger he would have also been fine, and could have continued on. But somehow L2 is an unreasonable suggestion. I think if I took a poll the vast majority of us here would have rocked up to the ChargePoint L2 and waited it out. Hell there are plenty of stories on this forum about people spending an extra night in a hotel to use an L2 so they could continue on.

 

[curtisfinney]

"Gave up too easily," "seems a bit dramatic," ugh. I loathe this sort of victim-blaming. "He didn't even try" plugging in for - half a day?! - at an L2? Is that a serious suggestion?

People want - need - to get to their destination. Especially with a family in tow. I don't fault a dude for a minute for deciding to rent a car, not ruin his trip, and pick the EV up on the way back home. This actually seems quite sensible.

The guy's mistake was diverting over to podunk Elk City instead of continuing into MSP, where he would have found more abundant and faster chargers. But the bottom line is that it shouldn't be this damned hard in 2023 to road trip with an EV.

Map Elk River, MN and you will find it’s a northwestern suburb of Minneapolis. Coming from Winnipeg, he could have stopped in St Cloud, MN or Motley, MN (depending on his route) to charge at high speed chargers before Elk River. That would have easily got him to Woodbury, MN for EA (eastern Twin Cities) and taking 94 to Wisconsin Dells is a breeze from there. I’ve taken 94 through Wisconsin with no issues. The more I look into this story, his story isn’t making sense to me.

 

[Mach-Lee]

After reading the story, my guess is he was doing the charger authorization in the wrong order. If you plug in before authorizing it, it will say "charge station fault" etc. and won't start. You have to fully hang up the cable and start over again, authorize first, then plug in. ZEF stations seem to be picky that way.

He might also need an OBCC update in his truck if there was a charger compatibility issue, but he had problems with an ABB Terra.

I think he just has flustered/inexperienced person syndrome. This is one reason why Plug & Charge needs to become more standardized.

 

[Blue highway]

Which Ford would have zero interest in doing.

I use lots of charging apps (unfortunately) but I'd rather have the app then not be able to charge on a road trip. Just a guess, but I'll bet there will be charging activated through the app before plug and charge with Tesla SC... either way, it can't come too soon.

 

[Blue highway]

After reading the story, my guess is he was doing the charger authorization in the wrong order. If you plug in before authorizing it, it will say "charge station fault" etc. and won't start. You have to fully hang up the cable and start over again, authorize first, then plug in. ZEF stations seem to be picky that way.

I think he just has flustered/inexperienced person syndrome.

Maybe... but this is insane... The charge station needs to work regardless of the order of events.

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