ChargePoint, Electrify America

[bosox8]

Does the first Lightning have to plug in somewhere before these companies add the F150 Lightning as an option to add to your account. I emailed ChargePoint over a month ago - would like to set up my vehicle in the App as I have the charger installed awaiting my Lariat ER - no response - neither of these Apps offer the Lightning as an option of adding your vehicle.

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[Maquis]

I'm not sure having your vehicle loaded in the app does much for you. EA mentions "personalized charging experience" but I have no idea what that even means.
You can certainly charge without having a vehicle loaded.

 

[shutterbug]

I'm not sure having your vehicle loaded in the app does much for you. EA mentions "personalized charging experience" but I have no idea what that even means.
You can certainly charge without having a vehicle loaded.

It doesn't. In the case of ChargePoint L2 (both home and public) it merely gives you a slightly more accurate estimate of how many mile have been added to the GOM. Which is even more useless if you own more than one EV.

 

[Labs4Lightning]

Does the first Lightning have to plug in somewhere before these companies add the F150 Lightning as an option to add to your account. I emailed ChargePoint over a month ago - would like to set up my vehicle in the App as I have the charger installed awaiting my Lariat ER - no response - neither of these Apps offer the Lightning as an option of adding your vehicle.

A lot sites wont add until the official launch date, be it charging, or after market accessories.

 

[Mr. Flibble]

Does the first Lightning have to plug in somewhere before these companies add the F150 Lightning as an option to add to your account. I emailed ChargePoint over a month ago - would like to set up my vehicle in the App as I have the charger installed awaiting my Lariat ER - no response - neither of these Apps offer the Lightning as an option of adding your vehicle.

I have been using various charging apps (including chargepoint) since 2017. Other than the ability to use your phone to quickly turn on the charger and pay, they don't add any value at all. About the only thing that you get from adding your specific vehicle is a pretty picture in the app. Otherwise pretty pointless.


Also, I hate that there are so many apps. Its extremely annoying. I wish there was some standard.

 

[RickLightning]

I have been using various charging apps (including chargepoint) since 2017. Other than the ability to use your phone to quickly turn on the charger and pay, they don't add any value at all. About the only thing that you get from adding your specific vehicle is a pretty picture in the app. Otherwise pretty pointless.


Also, I hate that there are so many apps. Its extremely annoying. I wish there was some standard.

Like the BlueOval Charging Network?

 

[Mr. Flibble]

Like the BlueOval Charging Network?

Heh, exactly.

FWIW, the single most useful charging app I have is PlugShare.

I don't even have an account, but it is by far my most used, and most reliable app:

https://www.plugshare.com/

 

[LightningShow]

"personalized charging experience"? Do the electrons know your name?

 

[805Badger]

"personalized charging experience"? Do the electrons know your name?

I never give them my real name. They are always so negative.

 

[p52Ranch]

I am confused. I thought the OP's question was about being able set up the App for his personal ChargePoint Home Flex charger. Does the charging station need to know what vehicle it is pumping electrons into so it charges at an optimum rate?

 

[Mr. Flibble]

I am confused. I thought the OP's question was about being able set up the App for his personal ChargePoint Home Flex charger. Does the charging station need to know what vehicle it is pumping electrons into so it charges at an optimum rate?

Not really, no.

Chargepoint is trying to be a "cloud service" to get more investment. So, like Tesla, they leverage the data they get from customers for profit. So, they want you to put in all their data so they can use that for their own means. You get a pretty picture, and a charging side guess-o-meter that is supposed to better guess when your car will be charged fully.

Thats about it.

I have a ClipperCreek charger (EVSE), and the only logic it has is the computer that talks to the car being charged and it says "Hey, I have power, you want some?" The car then says "Yes, gimme dat power!" And charging starts.

The truth of the matter is that the charger is actually built into your car. The thing on the wall everyone calls a charger is really an EVSE. All an EVSE can do is talk to your car, and offer power, then provide power. Your car does all the remaining work with the onboard charging hardware that it has.

 

[jefro]

Isn't the F150 supposed to be connection tied to charger instead of rfid or credit card or app? However the charger doesn't care what you plug in. It will charge if it can and you paid.

 

[Mr. Flibble]

One additional tip about PlugShare, and why I use it, is that it shows all the chargers around from various vendors, and here is the key:

Either on the website, or on the phone app, you can filter out what kind of charging port the charger has - and most of the time it will tell you if the charger is in use right now (not 100% accurate, but acceptable).

It does you no good to show up at a charger and find that it is a Tesla-Only charging location, and you don't own a Tesla.

 

[Maquis]

Isn't the F150 supposed to be connection tied to charger instead of rfid or credit card or app? However the charger doesn't care what you plug in. It will charge if it can and you paid.

Yeah, but that has nothing to do with the original question.

 

[MickeyAO]

Not really, no.

Chargepoint is trying to be a "cloud service" to get more investment. So, like Tesla, they leverage the data they get from customers for profit. So, they want you to put in all their data so they can use that for their own means. You get a pretty picture, and a charging side guess-o-meter that is supposed to better guess when your car will be charged fully.

Thats about it.

I have a ClipperCreek charger (EVSE), and the only logic it has is the computer that talks to the car being charged and it says "Hey, I have power, you want some?" The car then says "Yes, gimme dat power!" And charging starts.

The truth of the matter is that the charger is actually built into your car. The thing on the wall everyone calls a charger is really an EVSE. All an EVSE can do is talk to your car, and offer power, then provide power. Your car does all the remaining work with the onboard charging hardware that it has.

Not only does the charger in your vehicle say 'gimme dat power', it tells the EVSE how much it can accept. As it reaches full power, it will tell the EVSE that it is getting full and to slow down on the power level.

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