New Year's Eve Charging Nightmare

[Rfehl62]

At least now you can share the truth with your customers. It's also worth noting that there's not much of an advantage to "in network" chargers. They're not even cheaper.

You are correct, I just had my filter on the app preset for in network is all.

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[RickMachE]

I get what you're saying and you're 100% correct. My main frustration is the need to double check becasue I cannot trust Fords own app. If this needs to happen then they need to get rid of the app all together and people can just use plugshare. Ford needs to understand they have a shortcoming on this front and I am going to make sure the correct people know...at least for the Texas regions.

PlugShare doesn't plan trips. They need to pull PlugShare's data into the Ford navigation.

 

[DR.J56]

Disclaimer - I am not casting dispersions on any member of this forum, their families, or distant relatives...

Lol

 

[Rfehl62]

There are several "advantages".

1) Use of the free hours.

2) The ability to use Plug and Charge, where and when it works.

IMO, the vast majority of future EV owners are not aware enough / educated enough / or aren't smart enough to figure this all out. Plug and Share technology is the key to successful EV adoption by the masses.

I do not like to think of myself as dumb but I will admit my dealership has not sold many Mach-e's since we are a commercial store. I am not sure if you are aware but Ford sends out trainers in each region with pre-production models. This is where my dealership got 90% of its training/knowledge on EVs and of course Ford is not going to speak ill of it's own product. Since I have not had any issues in the year that I have had my car I never thought to question what they told me. Never had any negative reports from out customers either.

 

[Mach_Enrique]

Very sorry to hear of your experience and glad you can provide feedback directly. When I do long trips I also run it against ABRP (a better route planner) app and see what chargers it will predict to see if I get different charger recommendations. Then check PlugShare for status before I go to one (and also check the app of the vendor such as EVgo or Electrify America if applicable). Unfortunately we are in a rough spot for a few years with the public charging.

Lastly if you really want to learn about charging watch videos from these guys on YouTube.

 

[breeves002]

The problem isn't with EVs, it's with everything.

In a neighborhood of 100 homes. They recently redid the trash collection for the township, moving from Weds to Thursday. Took weeks before people caught on despite the mailing of a postcard to every home in addition to FB posts by the township.

Then, a woman posted on FB not understanding the holiday schedule, with a picture of the postcard. It showed the 1/1 date, in BLUE, and the key on the bottom said "recognized holiday, service delayed by 1 day except weekends." She couldn't comprehend that there was no delay because the holiday was recognized on Sunday.

I always thought that people were simply too lazy to figure stuff out. I realized years ago that George Carlin was right, that aren't smart enough.

Disclaimer - I am not casting dispersions on any member of this forum, their families, or distant relatives...

100% agreement...EVs are just another thing for people to be ignorant about.

The trash thing is funny I thought that was pretty self explanatory on how holiday pickup works.

 

[breeves002]

I do not like to think of myself as dumb but I will admit my dealership has not sold many Mach-e's since we are a commercial store. I am not sure if you are aware but Ford sends out trainers in each region with pre-production models. This is where my dealership got 90% of its training/knowledge on EVs and of course Ford is not going to speak ill of it's own product. Since I have not had any issues in the year that I have had my car I never thought to question what they told me. Never had any negative reports from out customers either.

That really is something Ford should do. Highlight issues that may be brought up to salespeople so you can be ready to answer someones question if they ask about certain known issues. Of course they won't because they don't want any negative tones coming from salespeople.

 

[RickMachE]

I do not like to think of myself as dumb but I will admit my dealership has not sold many Mach-e's since we are a commercial store. I am not sure if you are aware but Ford sends out trainers in each region with pre-production models. This is where my dealership got 90% of its training/knowledge on EVs and of course Ford is not going to speak ill of it's own product. Since I have not had any issues in the year that I have had my car I never thought to question what they told me. Never had any negative reports from out customers either.

Just to be clear, I was using the less than intelligent comments to illustrate why Plug and Charge needs to work properly for the adoption of EVs, not anything you posted. Nothing you did fell into that category.

As to customer feedback, you should go sit at EA chargers and talk to people, you'd find out how many don't have a clue.

If you read through threads here and on FB you will clearly see those that simply can't comprehend the EV world. We have a contest going to guess the number of threads about lost range due to winter...

100% agreement...EVs are just another thing for people to be ignorant about.

The trash thing is funny I thought that was pretty self explanatory on how holiday pickup works.

It gets better. Recycling is every other week. One neighbor, living here for 20 years, and having been told repeatedly of how it works, puts both out every week.

 

[Rfehl62]

This is so true. I've ran into many EV owners who just have no clue how this stuff works - and then feel mislead when they are taught about reality. It's also amazing how many non-EV owners understand literally 0% about EVs. Just complete ignorance. They don't even try to comprehend anything. I had to try to explain to people this week why putting an alternator on the wheel of an EV to regenerate electricity while driving will not increase efficiency lol. I mean thats basic physics but still.

That really is something Ford should do. Highlight issues that may be brought up to salespeople so you can be ready to answer someones question if they ask about certain known issues. Of course they won't because they don't want any negative tones coming from salespeople.

Here is the thing...Ford does exactly what you are saying BUT it is easy to come up with answers when you are making up the question. I know if may seem simple to you guys but I will admit what people are saying in this thread is the exact opposite of how I was trained by Ford. They gave us answers for everything but every answer was found in the Fordpass app or Fords main site.

 

[Rfehl62]

Just to be clear, I was using the less than intelligent comments to illustrate why Plug and Charge needs to work properly for the adoption of EVs, not anything you posted. Nothing you did fell into that category.

As to customer feedback, you should go sit at EA chargers and talk to people, you'd find out how many don't have a clue.

If you read through threads here and on FB you will clearly see those that simply can't comprehend the EV world. We have a contest going to guess the number of threads about lost range due to winter...



It gets better. Recycling is every other week. One neighbor, living here for 20 years, and having been told repeatedly of how it works, puts both out every week.

Yeah you're right. I just read the post that was up earlier today where the people were convinced Ford put a standard range in there battery and made them pay for extended. All becasue the GOM was off...it was a LONG thread.

 

[Rfehl62]

I feel bad piling on to your nightmare, but as a Ford sales person - the number one thing you should know is Ford's system is pretty unreliable. There's a reason Plugshare exists, and that should be everyone's #1 resource. Since you have some pull, you should directly escalate this within whatever official channels you have - since I'm sure the in-vehicle navigation pulls the same data as Fordpass.

Out of curiosity, where exactly was this? Would like to see what Plugshare says about this particular location.

I will try and retrace the trip to see if it gives me the same chargers. The trip was from Houston to Navacostia. I tried going back to the app and finding it since I was only being showed 1 available charger in the town at the time but now it is showing 2. Not sure which one I was at but I am pretty sure Rick had it pegged. The chargers where there but listed in different zip codes.

 

[Jimrpa]

Frankly, I wish EV charging worked the way gas stations worked. Pull up to the charger, tap your credit card, “full” your car, and go. Why do I have to download an app for every single stupid charging network - especially when there’s a card reader right on the charging station?
Sure, plug-and-charge is a nice ADDITION but I pull up to a foreign charger, I want to charge - not spend 10 minutes downloading apps, registering, verifying my email address and whatever else, like I did in Baltimore a couple of months ago!

 

[Jimrpa]

I do not like to think of myself as dumb but I will admit my dealership has not sold many Mach-e's since we are a commercial store. I am not sure if you are aware but Ford sends out trainers in each region with pre-production models. This is where my dealership got 90% of its training/knowledge on EVs and of course Ford is not going to speak ill of it's own product. Since I have not had any issues in the year that I have had my car I never thought to question what they told me. Never had any negative reports from out customers either.

I don’t mean this in a negative way, but have you ever thought of trying to call a couple of customers that you have good relationships with after they’ve had the car for a while and ask them for their candid views on it? I have a great relationship with my dealer and sales person and would definitely tell him the good, bad, and the ugly if he were to ask.

 

[Rfehl62]

100% agreed. It will be awhile before we are there. Maybe never.

 

[BMT1071]

Am I the only one wondering why any charging was necessary for a 160 mile round trip?

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