Charging On the Road

[dan_meh]

You should take her and try things out before she leaves.

I also vote up!

Also, I had your experience:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/wife-road-trips-an-electric-car-as-a-car.49485/

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[Red Hawk]

New to EV and Mach-E owner 4 weeks yesterday. Drinking from a fire hose!!

My wife is going on a solo trip in two days. We've only charged at home and at our local Ford dealer.

She can make it no problem to our daughter's house (120 miles), but will need to charge to head home. I'm the tech half, she's not.

Please confirm or correct my current understanding of using Tesla Superchargers. Tesla is part of the BlueCharge network, so plug and charge should work? Correct?

If plug and charge does not work, she would need the Tesla app on her phone set up? You don't need to own a Tesla to use the app?

I'm of the understanding that there are also fast charging options in the Lansing, Michigan area. Will she need an app for that or can she just swipe a credit card to charge?

Thanks,

Hi! I am The Wife. I highly recommend using the BlueOval Charging network for compatible Tesla stations. You NEED the NACS adaptor that is compatible with a Supercharger! There are different generations of Tesla Superchargers, too. Ford had an offer of a free adaptor with a Mach-E purchase, check with your dealer to see if one is on the way. If not, borrow or buy one (save the packaging & return it later!)

My daughter also lives 150 miles away. I used the Ford app to locate a Tesla station near her. I actually picked one NOT listed just to test compatibility. It refused my car. Not compatible. Lesson learned. Even the Tesla charging stations at rest stops aren't open to Fords yet.

Two days is not much time. I also suggest looking at other charging station options. The phone app and car Nav system will list stations and the wattage. There is a flap in the charge port to fold down for Ultra Fast chargers. Ford used to give "free" charging in its network, to a certain point. Ask about it. Maybe it's been discontinued.

Good luck! It will be fine.

 

[RickMachE]

Charger location is irrelevant,. incompatible is due to age or congestion. If Ford app doesn't show it, don't waste your time.

 

[canmachine]

Parking at the Tesla stations can be tricky. I found that the hardest part. The older stations have short cords so you sometimes have to have the lip over the curb and take up two spots.

 

[Rookie]

Suggest you set up the Ford app so she can monitor charging status via smart watch/phone. It will show her both % of battery and miles she can travel without going out to car to check status. I use an Iwatch - works great.

 

[rad1234]

I have passed through Lansing a couple times and used the Electrify America at Walmart on I-69 and MI 43. As others have said, you probably have enough range to make the entire trip. If you do stop, you will only need to charge for ten minutes or so until your range anxiety is satiated. Long enough for a bathroom/snack break.

 

[rts5]

I live near Lansing and have used some free L2 chargers at the outlet mall near Howell (there are some DCFCs there too). Also on the way to Grand Rapids we have used the Chargepoint chargers at Ionia at a gas station too. Worked well. PlugShare is where I get all my info. At many car dealers along the way are L2 stations too. (but i've never personally used them) McLaren Hospital in Lansing has some charge point chargers in their parking deck too.

 

[gregsfortytwo]

I have passed through Lansing a couple times and used the Electrify America at Walmart on I-69 and MI 43.

I used this at Christmas, and there are also a number of Tesla Superchargers in Meijer parking lots in that region which I found quite convenient when driving my father’s Bolt from Detroit to Chicago round trip. (I brought my Ford adapter from home, although the older-model Bolts take a LOT more stops than especially my extended-range Mach E!)

 

[R/L]

Update:

My wife headed to our daughter's in Lansing, Mi from our house in South Haven, Mi, this morning.

I had charged the Mach-E to 100%. She reported having 53% upon arrival.

Within a couple hours of arrival, I got a notification that a charge to 80% had been completed on an Electrify America at a Walmart near our daughter's house.

She reported that it took about 20 minutes and was very easy. It charged back to our Blue Oval Ford account. She said she only had to accept charges on her phone.

Interesting that we both got a notification that 80% charge was complete and that staying any longer may incur additional per minute charges. I knew that parking fees are a possibility to prevent blocking chargers, but what if you really want to charge beyond 80%? Not complaining, just want to learn the nuances of charging on the road.

Bottom line, my wife was happy and relieved with her first on the road charging experience and so was I!!

 

[MacherAWD]

Update:

My wife headed to our daughter's in Lansing, Mi from our house in South Haven, Mi, this morning.

I had charged the Mach-E to 100%. She reported having 53% upon arrival.

Within a couple hours of arrival, I got a notification that a charge to 80% had been completed on an Electrify America at a Walmart near our daughter's house.

She reported that it took about 20 minutes and was very easy. It charged back to our Blue Oval Ford account. She said she only had to accept charges on her phone.

Interesting that we both got a notification that 80% charge was complete and that staying any longer may incur additional per minute charges. I knew that parking fees are a possibility to prevent blocking chargers, but what if you really want to charge beyond 80%? Not complaining, just want to learn the nuances of charging on the road.

Bottom line, my wife was happy and relieved with her first on the road charging experience and so was I!!

Amazing nice!

If your daughter owns her house you might want to check the cost of installing an L2 there. We go to my parents a lot in the summer, so I covered the cost for my dad to install an L2. We have been using it almost 5 years now and is so worth it. It will also make it easier when my parents (or your daughter) transition to an EV that the charging is already set up!

In my case my dad just wired in a 220v outlet himself directly out of his panel (its in the garage) so the cost was low. I do check my charging costs and venmo him after I "fill my tank"

My wife goes up to her mothers a lot, its a condo in Canada. I am debating on installing an L2 there and then enabling it on the FLO network so that we could earn money on it while it sits empty. Another option to consider.

 

[dan_meh]

Glad it’s going well! Safe journey back for her.

I knew that parking fees are a possibility to prevent blocking chargers, but what if you really want to charge beyond 80%? Not complaining, just want to learn the nuances of charging on the road.

Good question about the “idle fees.” Different networks have different rules, but in general, yeah, they’re trying to move you along. Charging gets really slow over 80%. Get to what you need to get to the next charger and move along.

When I visit my family, I charge to 80% at a nearby DC fast charger and then do the rest on level 1. It usually works out fine. I charge, then mooch my sister’s power to get to around 90 overnight. Then I drive around, and it goes down to 70, I bring it up to 80 on L1… you get the idea.

It takes some getting used to: you don’t “fill’er up.” You just get what you need. And ABC: Always Be Charging!

 

[RickMachE]

Update:

My wife headed to our daughter's in Lansing, Mi from our house in South Haven, Mi, this morning.

I had charged the Mach-E to 100%. She reported having 53% upon arrival.

Within a couple hours of arrival, I got a notification that a charge to 80% had been completed on an Electrify America at a Walmart near our daughter's house.

She reported that it took about 20 minutes and was very easy. It charged back to our Blue Oval Ford account. She said she only had to accept charges on her phone.

Interesting that we both got a notification that 80% charge was complete and that staying any longer may incur additional per minute charges. I knew that parking fees are a possibility to prevent blocking chargers, but what if you really want to charge beyond 80%? Not complaining, just want to learn the nuances of charging on the road.

Bottom line, my wife was happy and relieved with her first on the road charging experience and so was I!!

That message is sent by Ford at any fast charger. Has nothing to do with fees.

 

[R/L]

That message is sent by Ford at any fast charger. Has nothing to do with fees.

I said above she charged at an Electrify America charger. This is copied off the Electrify America website FAQ:

Drivers who do not unplug and move their vehicle ten minutes after their charging session is complete will be charged a $0.40 per-minute idle fee. This fee encourages drivers to move their car promptly so that others can use the charger. You can be notified when your charging session is complete by text message 2 or see it on the charger screen.

 

[Tampamike]

I said above she charged at an Electrify America charger. This is copied off the Electrify America website FAQ:

Drivers who do not unplug and move their vehicle ten minutes after their charging session is complete will be charged a $0.40 per-minute idle fee. This fee encourages drivers to move their car promptly so that others can use the charger. You can be notified when your charging session is complete by text message 2 or see it on the charger screen.

That message applies when you hit 100%. The message she got at 80% is a different scenario. IIRC, EA implemented this 80% fee at certain, busy charge locations to encourage unplugging at 80%. This frees up spots faster when people are waiting since the charge rate slows significantly for most cars past 80%. It isn’t in effect at every EA location, just some.

 

[Jgg181]

Bob,
I guess it comes down to how much you like your wife!!! If she's a pain in a** then just flip her the key fob and tell her "good luck" and then enjoy watching sports or Star Wars reruns all weekend while she's gone. You might want to temporarily block her on the cell phone so you don't have to deal with the annoying call about, "how does this charger thing work again" or " how long do I have to sit here while it charges". Make sure your local Pizza Joint delivers to the house; so, you don't even have to get out of the barka lounger all weekend. ENJOY!!!

Now, if she's not a pain in the a**; then please consider a few things.
1. Make sure Plug and Charge is "Enabled" on the FP App
2. Take her on a dry run to your local Tesla or EA DCFC and let her see how it works 1st.
3. Find the charger you want her to go to either near her destination or on the way back using PlugShare App or website before she leaves. (If she really has to charge to make it home)
4. Help her set up Apple Maps or equivalent if you're one of those "weird" Android users, as you can put in the DCFC as stops on her trip. I figured that out on my last trip and it was pretty darn nice instead of having to input a new destination at every stop.

Either way enjoy.......

Good one!

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