Stopping to charge issue

[IMDIDOC]

So I used the Ford Pass to plan a long trip with suggested charging locations. What I found is it doesn't consider what you need to get to another charging station when you leave.

It told me that I would have 31 miles left when I reached my destination but didn't suggest I charge prior to getting there. The problem the charger is 51 miles away. There is a Charge Point level 2 charger, but that will take some time. I would want a little more just in case.

The Charge Point doesn't recognize my Ford Pass credits even though it's in the network.

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[RickMachE]

Use ABRP ( A Better Route Planner). You can specify the state of charge you want to arrive with.

 

[timbop]

So I used the Ford Pass to plan a long trip with suggested charging locations. What I found is it doesn't consider what you need to get to another charging station when you leave.

It told me that I would have 31 miles left when I reached my destination but didn't suggest I charge prior to getting there. The problem the charger is 51 miles away. There is a Charge Point level 2 charger, but that will take some time. I would want a little more just in case.

The Charge Point doesn't recognize my Ford Pass credits even though it's in the network.

You have to change the NAV preferences to use fast charging, but even then it doesn't prioritize faster chargers the way abetterrouteplanner does. As for the fordpass credits: those credits are ONLY good at Electrify America chargers. The Fordpass charging network should allow you to charge at other networks like EVGo and others, but often chargepoint chargers are not networked (ie they are owned and managed by a hotel or grocery store) so you need an app specifically for that company/location. I think FPL in florida has chargepoint chargers but you have to use their app to authorize and pay for charging and not the regular chargepoint app (or fordpass)

 

[AZBill]

Use GMRP, the gray matter route planner. ABRP tends to be inaccurate. I planned Phoenix to Grand Canyon, it was 240 miles, and Ford nav says no problem. But the nearest DFDC to Grand Canyon was 60 miles away. So it is simple to plan, stop 60 miles short and charge to 80%. Plenty of margin to return the 120 mile round trip. FYI ABRP predicted I would make that charger with only 10 % remaining, but I actually had 33% and 105 miles. Ford nav was correct, I could make it easily without charging. But my gray matter knew what to do.

 

[ChasingCoral]

The Charge Point doesn't recognize my Ford Pass credits even though it's in the network.

Plug & Charge only works at Electrify America and perhaps some Green Lots locations. If you can’t P&C, you can’t use the 250 kWh of free charging.

 

[zvez]

Plug & Charge only works at Electrify America and perhaps some Green Lots locations. If you can’t P&C, you can’t use the 250 kWh of free charging.

my nearest EA is 40 miles away so I've never tried it. I've configured my account for EA but just wondering do I need to have fordpass app open on the phone for it to recognize when I go to an EA station to charge?

 

[murphy62]

my nearest EA is 40 miles away so I've never tried it. I've configured my account for EA but just wondering do I need to have fordpass app open on the phone for it to recognize when I go to an EA station to charge?

No, plug the station in to the car and wait while the station and the car communicate. it takes a while before the authorization comes through. I always have the car in accessory mode because I want air conditioning working while I wait.

 

[IMDIDOC]

Use GMRP, the gray matter route planner. ABRP tends to be inaccurate. I planned Phoenix to Grand Canyon, it was 240 miles, and Ford nav says no problem. But the nearest DFDC to Grand Canyon was 60 miles away. So it is simple to plan, stop 60 miles short and charge to 80%. Plenty of margin to return the 120 mile round trip. FYI ABRP predicted I would make that charger with only 10 % remaining, but I actually had 33% and 105 miles. Ford nav was correct, I could make it easily without charging. But my gray matter knew what to do.

It's a learning experience. I'm at Mackinac Island. No vehicles. I could leave the car on the charger for 3 days, but after charging they charge $2/hour idle time. It's $29 to cross back to the car. So I'll wait a couple of hours when I get back to the car. Thanks for your help.

 

[Shayne]

I use plugshare to see where the chargers are and then read the reviews on their site if the charger chosen is any good or not. Once I know where they are and my chances they are a go I can plot my own trip and pick the stops based on my personal needs, comfort level and driving range.

So much depends on your range which will differ from driver to driver, car to car, season to season. I think it is good to have an idea of what your car will do (consumption under different conditions) and your comfort level doing that.

Not sure of the algorithm used by abrp or when you tweak the settings what it actually does. I would say it would be difficult to get it right for every vehicle of one type as there is too many variables including how it was built. Cautious tests to learn my range is what I have been doing and planning by picking chargers on plugshare.

 

[RockwallRick]

I have only done one road trip so far, but plugshare was the most helpful app for my planning. Ford Navigation is stubborn and kept trying to get me to make u turns instead of rerouting based on the direction I was heading! I prefer to use Apple Maps along with CarPlay!

 

[hybrid2bev]

It's a learning experience. I'm at Mackinac Island. No vehicles. I could leave the car on the charger for 3 days, but after charging they charge $2/hour idle time. It's $29 to cross back to the car. So I'll wait a couple of hours when I get back to the car. Thanks for your help.

Use PlugShare in addition to ABRP when planning trips. There’s a DC ChargePoint charger 28 miles away in Indian River. Should only take a few minutes to get enough to reach the EA station in Gaylord.

Expressway EZ Mart
6174 M-68, Indian River, MI 49749, USA

PlugShare.com or better yet get the app.

 

[RickMachE]

Lots of good advice here, especially using your gray matter. It's not black and white, there's a lot of gray.

For example, we're headed out tomorrow on a 2-day trip. Do we stay overnight in a hotel with charging, or pick one without charging? Answer - depends on how much different the rates are.

And, what about if you get to a charger and it's full (because you didn't check), or it's not working (despite not showing that)?

The hotel we're staying at has a brand new 2 week old charger, and it's a Clipper Creek "with a round nozzle" per the front desk clerk. I'm arriving, if all goes as planned, with 30% charge, which is enough to get to the next EA charger IF the charger at the hotel is full (we're arriving late at night) or doesn't work.

Plan, plan, and do more planning.

 

[Tampamike]

Two important pre-planning factors:

1) Just because you have enough juice to make it to your destination doesn’t mean you can make it out.

2) Use PlugShare and desired charger apps to check operability of desired charger location. Chargers break and apparently it takes a long time to fix them (EA Gainesville, FL.)

On a recent weeks long road trip, I never planned on hotel chargers as there seem to be way more hotels than hotels with chargers. It’s easier to find the nearest EA charger to your stop and either hit it before the hotel or in the am on the way out.

 

[RickMachE]

Two important pre-planning factors:

1) Just because you have enough juice to make it to your destination doesn’t mean you can make it out.

2) Use PlugShare and desired charger apps to check operability of desired charger location. Chargers break and apparently it takes a long time to fix them (EA Gainesville, FL.)

On a recent weeks long road trip, I never planned on hotel chargers as there seem to be way more hotels than hotels with chargers. It’s easier to find the nearest EA charger to your stop and either hit it before the hotel or in the am on the way out.

?I actually learned of the Gainesville issues here, so that was very helpful.

Yes, most hotels don't have chargers. While apps like PlugShare MAY have them listed IF you pick the hotel filter, you'll discover the following at least:

- The hotel may have a charger, but they MAY be just providing the space, and the charger is expensive.

- The charging spaces may be occupied, because often they put them next to the premium loyalty program spaces and an ICE vehicle may be occupying them.

- The chargers may be obsolete and never used, and staff at the hotel may have no knowledge of them. Two years ago, we took our PHEV Fusion Energi on its only long road trip, and stayed at a hotel with chargers. Couldn't get them to work. Long story, short - they installed them years prior, and the network they were on was acquired by ChargePoint (? - doesn't matter), and they were not compatible. They were able to get them working by agreeing to pay for the usage, but one didn't work. Note - that hotel has since upgraded to new chargers that do work, and are free. Another hotel for this trip has chargers, but they got a letter about "2G and ....". Person was new, didn't understand that whoever sent him the letter was explaining that the chargers they have are so old they communicate via 2G which is obsolete, so they'll need brand new equipment. He couldn't begin to communicate as to what type of chargers they were.

 

[RockwallRick]

The Gainesville issue forced me to divert to Lake City and then I charged again in Tallahassee. If I had a do over then we could have skipped Tallahassee and charged at Chipley. That way we would have had plenty of charge for all the driving we did around Panama City Beach. Ended up getting enough charge at a Harley dealer to make it back to Chipley on the way home!

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