Ford is extending BlueOval™ Charge Network access – with no annual fee

[ChasingCoral]

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[generaltso]

The annual fee for the BlueOval Network was always wishful thinking on Ford's part. Was anyone really going to pay for it? I don't think so.

Now they just need to wise up on the new BlueCruise pricing.

 

[kdonnel]

Has Ford abandoned the idea of having a subscription that allows users to get discounted rates for Electrify America?

 

[kennelh]

Has Ford abandoned the idea of having a subscription that allows users to get discounted rates for Electrify America?

I'd be happy if they just let us link our EA membership to BOCN.

 

[billy_at]

I'd be happy if they just let us link our EA membership to BOCN.

It's such a pain that it doesn't work like this.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

I'd be happy if they just let us link our EA membership to BOCN.

Depending on what you mean by "membership" ... they already do that. If you set up BOCN and have a payment method on file ... you can turn on plug & charge and your EA charge sessions will bill the payment method via BOCN.

What you don't get (at least not yet) via BOCN is the ability to have a Pass+ membership for the discounted rate. Ford did tease that it was coming ... but so far as I'm aware it was never made available to the masses.

If BOCN wont require a subscription, they could still make a small amount of money on charging network memberships. E.g. EA used to charge $4/month for Pass+ (I think it's up to $7/mo now). But back when Ford teased that the Pass+ membership feature was coming, the proposed price was $50/year (instead of $4/month). Some quick math would tell you that even if you bought the Pass+ membership for a year (it really is a per-month membership ... not an annual membership) that would amount to $48. Ford would make $2 (I'd argue they aren't "making" anything given the infrastructure and support they need to have in place to make this work -- and at only $2/year per the percentage of cars that even decide to sign up for it ... that's not exactly a lot of money.)

 

[Timelessblur]

Honestly crazy ford though people would pay for this. Honestly just allowing ford to be a payment processor part and Plug to charge is great. Ford could easily demand to take a small cut from who ever we are charging from to cover the cost. I have a feeling most of them were be VERY willing to sign up for it.

I'd be happy if they just let us link our EA membership to BOCN.

Honestly that what I want. I dont need a Membership cost more than a few times a year so dont want to pay for it year round when I might useful for me 3-4 times a year.

 

[kennelh]

What you don't get (at least not yet) via BOCN is the ability to have a Pass+ membership for the discounted rate. Ford did tease that it was coming ... but so far as I'm aware it was never made available to the masses.

Yes, that's what I was referring to. I rarely DCFC but when I'm going on a long trip I'll upgrade to Pass+, which means I have to start the charging session through the EA app. Once I thought I'd done that, but for whatever reason EA didn't activate the charger, so it ended up being billed thru BOCN at the higher rate.

 

[RickMachE]

Depending on what you mean by "membership" ... they already do that. If you set up BOCN and have a payment method on file ... you can turn on plug & charge and your EA charge sessions will bill the payment method via BOCN.

What you don't get (at least not yet) via BOCN is the ability to have a Pass+ membership for the discounted rate. Ford did tease that it was coming ... but so far as I'm aware it was never made available to the masses.

If BOCN wont require a subscription, they could still make a small amount of money on charging network memberships. E.g. EA used to charge $4/month for Pass+ (I think it's up to $7/mo now). But back when Ford teased that the Pass+ membership feature was coming, the proposed price was $50/year (instead of $4/month). Some quick math would tell you that even if you bought the Pass+ membership for a year (it really is a per-month membership ... not an annual membership) that would amount to $48. Ford would make $2 (I'd argue they aren't "making" anything given the infrastructure and support they need to have in place to make this work -- and at only $2/year per the percentage of cars that even decide to sign up for it ... that's not exactly a lot of money.)

You're assuming that Ford doesn't negotiate with EA for a discount, and then offer it.

Today it would be $84 a year for $7 x 12, vs. $48 prior to the August increase.

The nice thing about EA is you can upgrade the morning of a trip, then immediately downgrade, and it takes effect in 30 days. I would never pay in advance for a year, then again a lot of people do, and say "it's only $XX dollars" or "I can't be bothered to do that for each trip".

 

[New2EV]

So does that also mean the 250kw of free charging that I've barely used is also extended beyond 3 years?

 

[Richard L.]

I had 500kw complimentary charging with an expiration date. I went into Connected Services and it now shows 250kw with no expiration. So the original complimentary charging carried over.

 

[Hammered]

Mine came with 400hrs of charging and still have half of it left and a $500 evgo card too. Just don't use public chargers that much and as such I'm rarely disappointed in them. It was rather naive of them to want to charge for this in the first place.

 

[hack-e]

Does anyone recall how much the BOCN subscription previously cost per year?

It's curious that this announcement came out 3 weeks after taking effect. Did someone forget to hit the Send button on that email?

 

[RickMachE]

Does anyone recall how much the BOCN subscription previously cost per year?

It's curious that this announcement came out 3 weeks after taking effect. Did someone forget to hit the Send button on that email?

It never cost anything.

 

[generaltso]

Mine came with 400hrs of charging

Hours?

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