When does the 2 year free FordPass Charging Network start from?

[RickMachE]

I think it's moot. Why? Because in 2 years, charging for access to Plug and Charge (access, not free charging) will be a losing proposition for Ford. Access, will be free for every charging network. Charging won't be free.

A few years back, Ford said that Ford Connect, i.e. remote start, stop, etc. was free for 3 years. Now it never ends.

Well, it will end when the modem is not longer viable.

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[skwirrel]

I am a little confused. My order just went from production to built to shipped in one day, so there is lots changing on my FordPass account - which is how I came across the information about the complimentary two year 'access' to the Blue Oval Network. I was previously aware of the complimentary 250kW charging and thought Ford must have increased the offer (much like VW and Chev).

What I'm confused about is from reading the thread, 250kW and two year access aren't the same thing. So what does 'access' to the Blue Oval Network mean or include? If I'm not getting free electricity after 250kW, why do I need 'access'? Isn't the money I pay to charge giving me access?

Hopefully some of you out there can 'inform' me.

 

[emichnov]

There are 2 expiration dates, one for the Blue Oval network trial expiration date, and one for the 250 kWh complimentary charging. See screen shot from my account. Access to the Blue Oval Network is just the plug and charge feature.

I think RickMachE is right in that access to Plug and Charge will be free in the future as the feature won't be essential; you can still use the appropriate card or app to start the charging session.

New mystery - both my expriation dates are blank. Anyone know why? Am i just lucky?

 

[RickMachE]

Server issue. And the different dates are explained in post #13.

 

[HuntingPudel]

<SNIP>
What I'm confused about is from reading the thread, 250kW and two year access aren't the same thing. So what does 'access' to the Blue Oval Network mean or include? If I'm not getting free electricity after 250kW, why do I need 'access'? Isn't the money I pay to charge giving me access?

Hopefully some of you out there can 'inform' me.

The Blue Oval Charging Network (now FordPass Charging Network) has nothing to do with the actual chargers you’re plugging into. It is a “membership group” (for lack of a better term) of charging companies. If you are signed into the FordPass (FP) Charging Network, Plug and Charge will be able to negotiate with a member charging company’s charger (Electrify America, Electrify Canada, EVgo, etc.), or you can use the FP app to initiate charging with a member company and billing will be through the FP Charging Network. ??

The “free” 250 or 500 KW is deposited into your FP Charging Network account. The timer on this volume of electricity starts with the activation of your warranty. When the volume has been used up, the FP Charging Network will bill your credit card for the money equivalent of the electricity delivered to your vehicle. ??

 

[skwirrel]

Thanks for your explanation.
Still, I really don't see the benefit. Are the charging rates better because I'm a member and using my "FordPass membership card"? As I understand it, if I choose not to continue my membership after it expires, I'm simply going to drive to the closest station to charge my vehicle. Unless I'm getting better rates through FP, why would I pay for a membership (i.e.: Costco)?

 

[ChuckA]

Thanks for your explanation.
Still, I really don't see the benefit. Are the charging rates better because I'm a member and using my "FordPass membership card"? As I understand it, if I choose not to continue my membership after it expires, I'm simply going to drive to the closest station to charge my vehicle. Unless I'm getting better rates through FP, why would I pay for a membership (i.e.: Costco)?

I don’t think there’s any rate savings. It’s a convenience thing. Individual apps are fine after finding the chargers using ABRP or other app.

 

[RickMachE]

Thanks for your explanation.
Still, I really don't see the benefit. Are the charging rates better because I'm a member and using my "FordPass membership card"? As I understand it, if I choose not to continue my membership after it expires, I'm simply going to drive to the closest station to charge my vehicle. Unless I'm getting better rates through FP, why would I pay for a membership (i.e.: Costco)?

You're not using a card. You're simply PLUGGING IN. That's convenient. Hence the name "Plug and Charge".

The other convenience is that if you want to use a network's chargers, most require an app, and most require you to pre-deposit say $10. And they fill it in $10 increments. So right now I have $9.42 sitting on ChargePoint and $6.52 on Electrify America.

The BlueOval Network rolled out a $50 per year plan discount for Electrify America, giving you a 25% discount (so does EA's $4 per month Pass+ plan), but they withdrew it when the discount didn't work. That may get rolled out again.

As to "driving to the closest station", you'll likely drive to the fastest station that has the best rate. That may not be the closest, but a 150kW charger is much faster than a 50kW charger.

It's also important to note that Ford has never quoted any fee for membership after the 2 years expires.

 

[cdiv]

You're not using a card. You're simply PLUGGING IN. That's convenient. Hence the name "Plug and Charge".

At the stations that support plug-and-charge, which as far as I can tell is EA and... EA. (EVgo does through their account, but I see no way to do that through ford's charging network). There are plenty of in-network stations that don't, including ChargePoint. The advantage there is that you don't need to create an account and download the app for each charge network, just use the fordpass app instead.

Would I pay for that? No. But I could see it being nice for someone who road trips a lot and doesn't want to open an account at a bunch of charging networks.

 

[RickMachE]

Correct - Plug and Charge doesn't seem to work outside EA, despite Ford saying it does. I have not tested that in a year though.

 

[cdiv]

Does Ford say it does? If I look at an EA charger in the FordPass app, it shows both "P&C" and "In-Network" badges. Everything else shows only the "In-Network" badge.

 

[tannerk89]

Interestingly - my access expires on 3/16/2023 but I bought my car on 11/2/2021 and took delivery 12/9/2021 due to windshield stop sale order. That’s definitely not 2 years from my activation which I don’t remember exactly when I did it but was definitely not 9 months before I took delivery of the car… the mystery continues!

 

[generaltso]

took delivery 12/9/2022

You must have gotten the DeLorean package.

 

[tannerk89]

You must have gotten the DeLorean package.

Lmao yes I did, I hit 88 miles an hour on my way home from the dealer back to December 9, 2021!

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