Charge Assist Coming Soon?

[mkhuffman]

Yeah, it just suddenly appeared (I noticed it for the first time this morning at least), but I received no notice of an update or anything going on with the car. It must have been lurking in a previous update just waiting to be turned on by the mothership.

Can you confirm you are not in the EA program?

If it has been released to the general public, I think we can talk about it now.

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[JohnnyForensic]

Can you confirm you are not in the EA program?

If it has been released to the general public, I think we can talk about it now.

I’m not Early Access. If anything, I’ve been proven to be in the “Late Access” program!

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Ok, now that it’s public, @Ford Motor Company two things:

1. Specific to Charge Assist, I get it you want to make us “safe”, but preventing use of a feature designed to help us find chargers while on the road to only times when the car is not in motion, makes the feature virtually useless.
2. Specific to the Early Access program: tell us when the secret isn’t a secret anymore, please!
   
   

 

[Howard]

Neither of my MME's are showing this app (at this time lol). Both are updated through 5.1.1. I did notice on page 1 of this thread that it would be rolled out in batches starting 9/4.

 

[mkhuffman]

Ok, now that it’s public, @Ford Motor Company two things:

1. Specific to Charge Assist, I get it you want to make us “safe”, but preventing use of a feature designed to help us find chargers while on the road to only times when the car is not in motion, makes the feature virtually useless.
2. Specific to the Early Access program: tell us when the secret isn’t a secret anymore, please!
   

I think the purpose is primarily to start a charge on a charger after you have already arrived at the station. The navigation system does a good job of finding chargers, but it cannot start a charge. I used it while stopped in front of the pump I wanted to use: I selected the pump and initiated the charge. Then all I had to do is plug in. I appreciated eliminating the insecurity that comes from plug and charge, which doesn't always work.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

I think the purpose is primarily to start a charge on a charger after you have already arrived at the station. The navigation system does a good job of finding chargers, but it cannot start a charge. I used it while stopped in front of the pump I wanted to use: I selected the pump and initiated the charge. Then all I had to do is plug in. I appreciated eliminating the insecurity that comes from plug and charge, which doesn't always work.

To me the real value is (supposed to be) the near-real time status of charging stations. In this time of limited options, finding available chargers that actually work has been big challenge (on road trips). Once I'm there and at a charger, I honestly care little about the actual payment process. But maybe that's just me?

 

[MacherAWD]

Quick update, the charge assist beta has ended. They are working on a few bug fixes before pushing this out to others. We are no longer bound by an NDA. So be on the lookout.

To me the real value is (supposed to be) the near-real time status of charging stations. In this time of limited options, finding available chargers that actually work has been big challenge (on road trips). Once I'm there and at a charger, I honestly care little about the actual payment process. But maybe that's just me?

Isnt that in the current Nav? the option to see real time charger status, its a toggle and routes me to "charger #3 of 4"

 

[Chapschaps]

Been a part of the testing but honestly I haven’t used it once,it’s released to the general public now

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Ok, now that it’s public, @Ford Motor Company two things:

1. <snip>
2. Specific to the Early Access program: tell us when the secret isn’t a secret anymore, please!

Well that was fast! (No I don’t really think they did it in response to this comment.)

 

[Glen Boise]

As of this morning, my Mach-E has a "Charge Assist" button. It is on the main screen. It lists info. on local chargers. I have a 21 Select RWD.

 

[ZombieJester]

Now that the NDA has ended:

I liked the feature. It was touch and go with EA chargers but when it works, it was nice. Make sure you hit the refresh icon before you use it.

 

[DadzBoyz]

Since we've been released from the EA NDA, here goes...

When I used it, I'd arrive at the charger and it would be ready to go. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

Which Way????
That said, my first comment to Ford was that this should have been built into the map/NAV system. As it stands, it gives you a list of nearby chargers, distance only, status, etc. and will prep the charger for when you get there. Great. BUT, a list with only distances is a crap shoot. There may be one that's 5.5 miles away and another that's 7 miles away. The one 5.5 miles away might seem to be the first choice, until you realize that it is in the opposite direction from your next stop or destination. If the one 7 miles away is on the way, that's the one I want.

They should put the results on a map when your not using the NAV, and integrate it with the NAV when you are using it so you can add a stop.

 

[mkhuffman]

Since we've been released from the EA NDA, here goes...

When I used it, I'd arrive at the charger and it would be ready to go. So I go that going for me, which is nice.

Do you prep a charger before you arrive? What if someone else gets to the charger first? Does that mean nobody can use it until you arrive? That will win friends and influence people.

I activated the charger after I knew which one I would actually be using.

To me the real value is (supposed to be) the near-real time status of charging stations. In this time of limited options, finding available chargers that actually work has been big challenge (on road trips). Once I'm there and at a charger, I honestly care little about the actual payment process. But maybe that's just me?

I was frustrated the first time I tried to use it, because I tried to use it when driving. It seems like it should work just like the other functions do: it should ask you if you are the passenger, and you click on "yes" and proceed to use it while driving.

Does it find chargers better than the navigation system does? I pick the charger I want using the nav, and it gives me the estimated charge at destination. I like that feature.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

I was frustrated the first time I tried to use it, because I tried to use it when driving. It seems like it should work just like the other functions do: it should ask you if you are the passenger, and you click on "yes" and proceed to use it while driving.

I agree that at most it should have a click-through to be able use it while driving. Better yet would be a single setting in a setup screen saying you take responsibility for, you know, driving the damn car! ???

Does it find chargers better than the navigation system does? I pick the charger I want using the nav, and it gives me the estimated charge at destination. I like that feature.

Honestly I've not used the built-in nav all that much, so it may have functionality in this area I'm not aware of. And since I have no more roadtrips planned for the rest of the year, I'll not be able to do more testing until 2024...

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Isnt that in the current Nav? the option to see real time charger status, its a toggle and routes me to "charger #3 of 4"

I've not seen that, but I'll (try to remember to) look for that next time I roadtrip (which isn't likely until next year)... Good to know that the Nav has it.

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