Charge Assist Beta Has Ended

[Mirak]

For everyone complaining about it only being usable while stopped:

Agree that it's a big negative, but it was beta. It's completely possibly they have every intent for the final version to usable in motion but the lawyers didn't want people using beta software in a moving vehicle.

Lol. I highly doubt that. It’s in a browser interface, for starters.

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[Mike G]

It's possible you had a filter on so that specific charge station didn't show up. The filters had an option for AC (↯), slow DC (↯↯), and fast DC (↯↯↯) (denoted with lightning bolts). I forgot what the default filter was, I think ↯↯↯? so only fast stations may show up by default.

Mine only showed chargers up to 150Kw. So if all of those at my local Walmart were occupied or not working, the 350Kw stations could be available and working, but I’d never know it. I confirmed this a couple of times while driving through town.

That and the “Chargers” filter on the map could be selected while driving to find a charger, but you had to be stopped to get the Charge Assist app to work? Hopefully those two shortcomings can be corrected.

 

[azerik]

I see this as an emergency app.
Oh shit I don't have a charge to get home, where can I grab some L2 for free.
(I'd open plugshare..)

 

[SWO]

I found it was far easier to just use PlugShare plus whatever proprietary app corresponds to the charger I want to use. We are a looooong way away from the ease of just swiping a card at a gas pump.

That's funny. I'm pretty sure Ford is using plugshare for this. Even the pictures of the stations in the app are plugshare pictures.

Did you try using the the feature in the Fordpass app? What you're describing sounds a lot more convoluted.

 

[SWO]

Lol. I highly doubt that. It’s in a browser interface, for starters.

Ok? It's beta. I'm not a software developer but I don’t see why the navigation software couldn't hand off to charge assist when you reach the destination and put the vehicle in park with the final version.

 

[Logal727]

The current charge search already shows what’s in use though, or is this using a different source now?

 

[ChasingCoral]

Honestly, it’s just another half-baked concept from Ford. In theory, great idea. But in application it is slow, clunky, and unusable while driving. It isn’t even a hard-coded app, but just a browser interface!

I found it was far easier to just use PlugShare plus whatever proprietary app corresponds to the charger I want to use. We are a looooong way away from the ease of just swiping a card at a gas pump.

I actually found Charge Assist to be very nice in that regard. I've used Charge Assist to start charging sessions on EVGo, ChargePoint, and Electrify America. All were immediately billed to my FordPass card that I use on my Blue Oval Charging Network account. It saves new owners from having to set up accounts with EVGO, ChargePoint, Electrify America, etc. It's especially good to not have to carry a balance with umpteen different charging companies. Ford doesn't even require you to float a balance. Each charging session goes straight on your credit card as a charge from Ford.

 

[ChasingCoral]

sounds like a missed opportunity unless the moving restriction is removed. would be even better if it was directly integrated into the Nav app for real time updates and adjustments.

Just use the Ford nav to navigate to the charger, then activate Charge Assist when you get there to start the session. Yes, it would be better if there were a handoff between the two once you arrive. That may come in the future.

Remember that if you navigate to a DCFC using the Ford Nav, your Mach E preconditions the battery for the charging session.

 

[ChasingCoral]

We can see the availability speed and pricing as well (the expansion arrow on the right). The problem with CC payment as I said previously is that if it goes through Ford you won't get membership rates or special rates like AAA rates.

Ford is looking into coupling charge company programs into P&C and Charge Assist. That's not to say they will actually implement such a connection.

I'll speculate that Ford will start offering its own discount programs for the various companies -- for a fee.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Ok? It's beta. I'm not a software developer but I don’t see why the navigation software couldn't hand off to charge assist when you reach the destination and put the vehicle in park with the final version.

That's what I'm guessing they will do eventually.

 

[bbulkow]

interesting all the reports about not running while driving. In Android auto plugshare, ea, evgo, chargepoint, abrp, and Google maps all work while driving on the big screen (and i can swap between them and sometimes have two in the screen at the same time). and i have used them, love that bluecruise. The have more minimal i/f because it is the driving version, but pulling up plugshare or the chargers app is the best

 

[kodiakng]

Just use the Ford nav to navigate to the charger, then activate Charge Assist when you get there to start the session. Yes, it would be better if there were a handoff between the two once you arrive. That may come in the future.

thanks - glad you agree this is a big missed opportunity for ford and they should have enhanced the Nav app instead of giving us yet another unreliable, partially functional, and cumbersome app.

ford is wasting time if they continue to try and repurpose existing apps/modules/parts with a completely different use case if they want to catch up to tesla; they need to move faster, much faster, cuz tesla isn't waiting around for them.

Remember that if you navigate to a DCFC using the Ford Nav, your Mach E preconditions the battery for the charging session.

the one thing i wanted from ford in the charge assist app was a "Precondition now" button and you're saying i still have to use the Nav app to get that functionality? yippee.

 

[hack-e]

As a beta tester, I'm not going to talk about things I didn't like until I see the official released version. They made it clear that they are doing some work on it before they release it. It may have been a bad idea to release us to talk about it before it's released.

 

[Rob-Mach-E]

I saw this on Electrek this morning: https://electrek.co/2023/09/26/ford-electric-vehicle-drivers-charging-upgrade/

 

[azerik]

Because someone on here works for them and is in the "breaking news dept"..

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