Preparing for a stop at a ChargePoint

[Mirak]

I’m taking my first drive to Kansas City soon. Because the only DCFC option in KC is in Independence, Missouri (I’ve whined about this frequently), I’ll have to take a slightly longer route through Topeka and stop at a ChargePoint station. I am a little nervous because this is my first trip with a family member in tow so I really don’t want to be stranded. So I have a few questions:

First, PlugShare says these are 125kW CCS chargers. So does ChargePoint. But FordPass only lists them as 50kW. Should I be concerned about this, or is it more of a “LOL just FordPass being FordPass” kind of thing?

Second, do I understand correctly that Plug & Charge doesn’t even work with ChargePoint? That might actually be a good thing so it doesn’t screw things up.

Third, if I want to try to use some of “free charging” from Ford, I should first use the FordPass app to initiate the session and only after that is completed should I actually plug in my car?

Fourth, should I start a ChargePoint account before I leave just in case FordPass doesn’t work? Is ChargePoint like EA where there is a member rate such that I should buy a membership? I don’t see any special rate. I really don’t want to load money into a ChargePoint account if I’m not even sure I’ll need it.

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[prdude]

I’m taking my first drive to Kansas City soon. Because the only DCFC option in KC is in Independence, Missouri (I’ve whined about this frequently), I’ll have to take a slightly longer route through Topeka and stop at a ChargePoint station. I am a little nervous because this is my first trip with a family member in tow so I really don’t want to be stranded. So I have a few questions:

First, PlugShare says these are 125kW CCS chargers. So does ChargePoint. But FordPass only lists them as 50kW. Should I be concerned about this, or is it more of a “LOL just FordPass being FordPass” kind of thing?

Second, do I understand correctly that Plug & Charge doesn’t even work with ChargePoint? That might actually be a good thing so it doesn’t screw things up.

Third, if I want to try to use some of “free charging” from Ford, I should first use the FordPass app to initiate the session and only after that is completed should I actually plug in my car?

Fourth, should I start a ChargePoint account before I leave just in case FordPass doesn’t work? Is ChargePoint like EA where there is a member rate such that I should buy a membership? I don’t see any special rate. I really don’t want to load money into a ChargePoint account if I’m not even sure I’ll need it.

I have successfully charged at a ChargePoint station here in the Detroit area that was listed in FordPass as being in the Ford Charging Network. With my credit card linked to Ford Pass through connected services, I found the particular charging station in the Ford Pass charger map, selected it, and then pressed "activate". I was a bit surprised that Ford Pass actually communicated with the charger and initiated the session. Sometimes technology works!

 

[Mirak]

Im going to be doing some driving around KC so I need to take her back up to 80% as I’m rolling into KC. 50kW seems pretty slow for that.

 

[Garbone]

The only time I have successfully charged away from home was at a free ChargePoint charger. Used their app and it was pretty simple and worked well. Electrify America, not so much..?

 

[generaltso]

if I want to try to use some of “free charging” from Ford, I should first use the FordPass app to initiate the session and only after that is completed should I actually plug in my car?

The free charging can only be used with Electrify America.

 

[SteelMach]

I’m taking my first drive to Kansas City soon. Because the only DCFC option in KC is in Independence, Missouri (I’ve whined about this frequently), I’ll have to take a slightly longer route through Topeka and stop at a ChargePoint station. I am a little nervous because this is my first trip with a family member in tow so I really don’t want to be stranded. So I have a few questions:

First, PlugShare says these are 125kW CCS chargers. So does ChargePoint. But FordPass only lists them as 50kW. Should I be concerned about this, or is it more of a “LOL just FordPass being FordPass” kind of thing?

Second, do I understand correctly that Plug & Charge doesn’t even work with ChargePoint? That might actually be a good thing so it doesn’t screw things up.

Third, if I want to try to use some of “free charging” from Ford, I should first use the FordPass app to initiate the session and only after that is completed should I actually plug in my car?

Fourth, should I start a ChargePoint account before I leave just in case FordPass doesn’t work? Is ChargePoint like EA where there is a member rate such that I should buy a membership? I don’t see any special rate. I really don’t want to load money into a ChargePoint account if I’m not even sure I’ll need it.

Your "Free charging" from Ford is actually a 250 kWh Electrify America bundle, so you can't use it at ChargePoint.

You can sign up for your own ChargePoint account or use FordPass, the pricing should be the same. FordPass just "passes" (lol) through the pricing to you from ChargePoint, no added fees.

 

[dbsb3233]

I'm gonna let others be the guinea pigs until Ford and the charging networks get the bugs worked out. I've turned Plug&Charge back off and I'll just use the EA and Chargepoint apps this year on any road trips (I have a 1600 mile round-trip planned in 3 weeks). I'm in no hurry to burn through my free 250 kWh. It's good for 2 years, and it's only ~4 charges (half a road trip). Plus I want the EA Pass+ discount anyway, which FordPass doesn't integrate.

I did try a 5-minute EA test with P&C a few weeks ago just to make sure DCFC charging worked in general. Worked just as advertised, but it was only a short test. Some reports suggest that bypassing FordPass and using the EA or ChargePoint app directly is more dependable for now.

 

[available_username2]

I'm gonna let others be the guinea pigs until Ford and the charging networks get the bugs worked out. I've turned Plug&Charge back off and I'll just use the EA and Chargepoint apps this year on any road trips (I have a 1600 mile round-trip planned in 3 weeks). I'm in no hurry to burn through my free 250 kWh. It's good for 2 years, and it's only ~4 charges (half a road trip). Plus I want the EA Pass+ discount anyway, which FordPass doesn't integrate.

I did try a 5-minute EA test with P&C a few weeks ago just to make sure DCFC charging worked in general. Worked just as advertised, but it was only a short test. Some reports suggest that bypassing FordPass and using the EA or ChargePoint app directly is more dependable for now.

but you just said it worked as advertised....

 

[hybrid2bev]

I’m taking my first drive to Kansas City soon. Because the only DCFC option in KC is in Independence, Missouri (I’ve whined about this frequently), I’ll have to take a slightly longer route through Topeka and stop at a ChargePoint station. I am a little nervous because this is my first trip with a family member in tow so I really don’t want to be stranded. So I have a few questions:

First, PlugShare says these are 125kW CCS chargers. So does ChargePoint. But FordPass only lists them as 50kW. Should I be concerned about this, or is it more of a “LOL just FordPass being FordPass” kind of thing?

Second, do I understand correctly that Plug & Charge doesn’t even work with ChargePoint? That might actually be a good thing so it doesn’t screw things up.

Third, if I want to try to use some of “free charging” from Ford, I should first use the FordPass app to initiate the session and only after that is completed should I actually plug in my car?

Fourth, should I start a ChargePoint account before I leave just in case FordPass doesn’t work? Is ChargePoint like EA where there is a member rate such that I should buy a membership? I don’t see any special rate. I really don’t want to load money into a ChargePoint account if I’m not even sure I’ll need it.

1. I've used ChargePoint chargers like this. The max I got was around 60 kW but it was 15 degrees outside. But I found these units to be very reliable, charged every time without any faults. I think they are 125 kW shared between two handles so if someone else plugs in too then you're sharing the 125 kW.

2. Correct, P&C does not work with ChargePoint.

3. I don't think you get the free kWh on ChargePoint.

4. Yes. Get a ChargePoint account I thought it was free, when I joined they gave me a $25 credit on my account for signing up. Then load the card into your phones wallet. I use the NFC reader with my phone held up to the charging unit (just like Apple Pay). ChargePoint can also send you a RFID card. I got a small key chain size card and I leave it clipped in the sun visor of the car as a backup.

https://www.chargepoint.com/drivers/activate/

 

[Mirak]

Thanks all for the info. Can anyone point me to the actual Ford info that limits the free charging to EA? I’ve heard that before but couldn’t find it anywhere.

I see that the Plug & Charge only works with EA and Greenlots, but it seems odd that Ford includes other charging networks like ChargePoint in the FordPass app but you can use your free charging there.

 

[hybrid2bev]

Thanks all for the info. Can anyone point me to the actual Ford info that limits the free charging to EA? I’ve heard that before but couldn’t find it anywhere.

I see that the Plug & Charge only works with EA and Greenlots, but it seems odd that Ford includes other charging networks like ChargePoint in the FordPass app but you can use your free charging there.

FordPass App > Vehicle > Manage EV > FordPass Charging Network > Plug & Charge > See only EA and greenlots listed.

 

[Mirak]

FordPass App > Vehicle > Manage EV > FordPass Charging Network > Plug & Charge > See only EA and greenlots listed.

Right.... so I thought there was a difference between Plug & Charge and the free charging. I thought Plug & Charge was the tech that just allows you to, you know, plug in and charge.

But you can initiate a charge session on ChargePoint and many other brands using FordPass. So I assumed you could use the 250kWh for anything initiated through FordPass. ChargePoint is, after all, part of the FordPass network.

So again, I’m just curious, where does Ford explicitly say you can only use the free 250 with EA - or with Plug & Charge?

Not trying to make a federal case out of it, and I’m not disagreeing with you, but I’m curious where Ford actually documented this?

 

[Mirak]

Also, I just set up my ChargePoint account and asked me to specify the make, model, trim, and color of my vehicle. But GRABBER BLUE is not an available option!! That’s discriminatory!!

 

[available_username2]

Right.... so I thought there was a difference between Plug & Charge and the free charging. I thought Plug & Charge was the tech that just allows you to, you know, plug in and charge.

But you can initiate a charge session on ChargePoint and many other brands using FordPass. So I assumed you could use the 250kWh for anything initiated through FordPass. ChargePoint is, after all, part of the FordPass network.

So again, I’m just curious, where does Ford explicitly say you can only use the free 250 with EA - or with Plug & Charge?

Not trying to make a federal case out of it, and I’m not disagreeing with you, but I’m curious where Ford actually documented this?

you should work on how to google

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...15/ford-mustang-mach-e-electrify-america.html

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