First public DCFC experience

[EVCheese]

The day has finally come where I needed a midday charge up. So I tried pulling up to a Whole Foods. Of 4 stations, 2 cars were just parked not charging, no cable connected. But someone finally moved and I got to plug in.

Apparently I still don't have plug and charge set up right and just ended up using the EVgo app.But eventually got it to work and in 25 min added a 29 kWh.

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[Maquis]

Makes me wonder - is there a “private” DCFC experience? Does it require the purchase of an overpriced bottle of Champaign?

 

[generaltso]

Apparently I still don't have plug and charge set up right and just ended up using the EVgo app.But eventually got it to work and in 25 min added a 29 kWh.

Ford’s plug and charg only works with Electrify America. EVgo has Autocharge, which is similar, but you have to set that up on their end.

 

[AZBill]

You can use the EVGO app to set up Autocharge+. Look under vehicles, it will ask for your vin after setting it up as Mach E. Then you have to go to an EVGO station, select the charge by name and then plug in.

once you do that setup, then you can just plug in without using the app. The billing for that is with EVGO, not Ford.

 

[dj_stang]

You can use the EVGO app to set up Autocharge+. Look under vehicles, it will ask for your vin after setting it up as Mach E. Then you have to go to an EVGO station, select the charge by name and then plug in.

once you do that setup, then you can just plug in without using the app. The billing for that is with EVGO, not Ford.

Does anyone know if all this authentication is just VIN based? If so, it would be pretty easy to develop a CCS adapter that sits between the DCFC and the car to tamper with the data, especially since the standard is open (despite this, that's good). Do we know if there's any authentication planned?

 

[mkhuffman]

Now you know: public charging sucks!

 

[AZBill]

Does anyone know if all this authentication is just VIN based? If so, it would be pretty easy to develop a CCS adapter that sits between the DCFC and the car to tamper with the data, especially since the standard is open (despite this, that's good). Do we know if there's any authentication planned?

It uses the MAC address from the car, as well as the vin. GM would provide the MAC address to EVG, so the setup was not needed. With everyone else, it reads the MAC address on that first charge.

FYI, within the app you can turn off the Autocharge. I sold an EV that had this, and removed that car from my EVGO account.

 

[EVCheese]

Ford’s plug and charg only works with Electrify America. EVgo has Autocharge, which is similar, but you have to set that up on their end.

Ah. That is confusing.

The Blue Oval charge network includes EVgo. But plug and charge is only EA. And the FordPass complimentary 250 kWh is only EA. And EVgo's plug and charge feature is Autocharge+.

Got it.

 

[EVCheese]

The day has finally come where I needed a midday charge up. So I tried pulling up to a Whole Foods. Of 4 stations, 2 cars were just parked not charging, no cable connected. But someone finally moved and I got to plug in.

Apparently I still don't have plug and charge set up right and just ended up using the EVgo app.But eventually got it to work and in 25 min added a 29 kWh.

Also for some reason my Settings > Connectivity > Connected Vehicle Features menu disappeared. Then I turned the car off/on. Then Wi-Fi off/on. And then the menu came back. And then the options for Connected Navigation and FordPass Power My Trip showed up but we're turned off.

 

[dj_stang]

It uses the MAC address from the car, as well as the vin. GM would provide the MAC address to EVG, so the setup was not needed. With everyone else, it reads the MAC address on that first charge.

FYI, within the app you can turn off the Autocharge. I sold an EV that had this, and removed that car from my EVGO account.

Interesting so it would seem that the MAC is probably updated within the OEM’s database even if it were to be replaced, and then that would link to the VIN. Thanks.

 

[Maquis]

Also for some reason my Settings > Connectivity > Connected Vehicle Features menu disappeared. Then I turned the car off/on. Then Wi-Fi off/on. And then the menu came back. And then the options for Connected Navigation and FordPass Power My Trip showed up but we're turned off.

The random disappearance of the “Connected Vehicle Features” is a known bug. Just letting you know that you’re not alone!

 

[kodiakng]

Does anyone know if all this authentication is just VIN based? If so, it would be pretty easy to develop a CCS adapter that sits between the DCFC and the car to tamper with the data, especially since the standard is open (despite this, that's good). Do we know if there's any authentication planned?

It uses the MAC address from the car, as well as the vin. GM would provide the MAC address to EVG, so the setup was not needed. With everyone else, it reads the MAC address on that first charge.

FYI, within the app you can turn off the Autocharge. I sold an EV that had this, and removed that car from my EVGO account.

just to add to this a bit: EVgo does do some other heuristics in their system to protect against fraud (i.e.charging sessions at geographically different stations, too short of period between sessions). i haven't seen any indication they've had issues with it but it's not what they'd publicize anyway.

it isn't trivial to spoof MAC and VIN on the charge port communication so pretty safe overall.

 

[dtbaker61]

Now you know: public charging sucks!

I have yet to get a true 'fast charge' at a public station. None available on my (few) trips up in northern NM. Best I could find were two 20kW stations in small towns. I had time to have a nice lunch, and visited a local museum I didn't even know existed in Antonito.

We have plans to put in a few in NNM over the next 12 months. Just pulling together private investors now.

 

[AZBill]

just to add to this a bit: EVgo does do some other heuristics in their system to protect against fraud (i.e.charging sessions at geographically different stations, too short of period between sessions). i haven't seen any indication they've had issues with it but it's not what they'd publicize anyway.

it isn't trivial to spoof MAC and VIN on the charge port communication so pretty safe overall.

I had actually heard the Tesla was using the same protocol for their original plug and charge.

 

[kodiakng]

I had actually heard the Tesla was using the same protocol for their original plug and charge.

same concept - since they control both the supercharger and car it makes it easier and enrollment is automatic.

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