New Charge Assist App Function / Feature is Out!

[GoodSam]

FORD, are you listening????? Why in the WORLD would you not be able to access simple information about DC Fast Charging on a simple screen, while 'in motion'??

Always include @Ford Motor Company when you want their attention here in the forum. The in-vehicle display screen "feedback" function might score a point as well.

Of course the charging location access cutoff is "For your safety", not our convenience. Just like the BlueCruise gets turned off if one's eyes are not seen, and Co-pilot Assist 2.0 lane-keeping is lost when not hanging onto the steering wheel.

Maybe an option should be given so one can choose to live at a higher risk, by acknowledging that Ford assumes no risk if we de-activate safety features? However, I cannot imagine viewing the charging locations is any riskier than using my fingers to zoom in/out of maps, and Ford does not prevent that.

No worries, AI is coming soon to make sure your life is lived in an optimal way, like the humans are doing in the movie "Wall-e". I think we will be assimilated into the Borg in the next century and our pleasure centers will be constantly satisfied without effort. [altho..."You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure, Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign..."] Or will we legislate ourselves back to the Amish technology days?

Sponsored

 

[carys98]

But is it hard wired via Ethernet??? If I wasn't part of the forum I wouldn't have any idea there's been any updates and I'm guessing that's fine by Ford sadly

I ran an ethernet port to my garage to hook up my Autel EVSE. I’d be happy to unplug it and hook up the truck once in a while if it helped.

 

[carys98]

I didn’t receive any notice that I had received a software upgrade but the Sync screen stayed on the boot screen for an unusually long time when I started it yesterday. I just checked and I do have the charge assist app. I checked the software update on the Sync screen and on FordPass and they do not agree on what my latest SW update is. This Charge Assist app might be useful for some people but I wish @Ford Motor Company would get the basics right before trying to create new apps.

 

[BSull]

Not showing on my 23 XLT ER with Sync 4….but I am not surprised since my truck never gets updates

Other than updates installed by the dealer when they're trying to solve other issues, I'm in the same boat.

 

[Kmgalea]

Yup the lack of updates is terrible on my 23' XLT and when they do kick the can my way it fails 15 time before installing. Haven't had an update since June. It doesn't help that when I went in for my 10k service (inspection) appointment I was told they can't push/install updates on my vehicle and I have to wait and be patient

Same thing. My XLT hasn't updated since June.

 

[marlin1060]

Same thing. My XLT hasn't updated since June.

New truck 6/29 and never gotten an update and haven't seen this either.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Same thing. My XLT hasn't updated since June.

Ford, please this is not a good approach for such a technology laden truck. For long term viability of your EV endeavors we need released updates way sooner then over 3 months.

I understand OTA limitations, so please provide a download and service port option for the truck owner. Please….

 

[lakeguy55]

I've seen references on other sites alluding to the need to drive the truck in order to receive updates. If true, why? Do the OTA updates only happen via cell connection, Wi-Fi, or both? Seems like it would be better and faster to use the Wi-Fi when available.

If true, it would explain why I don't have any updates yet. Two months in with the truck and just barely went over 1K miles this week.

 

[Maquis]

I've seen references on other sites alluding to the need to drive the truck in order to receive updates. If true, why? Do the OTA updates only happen via cell connection, Wi-Fi, or both? Seems like it would be better and faster to use the Wi-Fi when available.

If true, it would explain why I don't have any updates yet. Two months in with the truck and just barely went over 1K miles this week.

Because driving the truck is the easiest way to get the 12V battery to a high enough SoC to allow updates.

Both.

 

[lakeguy55]

Because driving the truck is the easiest way to get the 12V battery to a high enough SoC to allow updates.

Both.

Thanks. So, any idea how much driving is enough? I drove over 100 miles a few days ago. I would have thought that would be enough.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I've seen references on other sites alluding to the need to drive the truck in order to receive updates. If true, why? Do the OTA updates only happen via cell connection, Wi-Fi, or both? Seems like it would be better and faster to use the Wi-Fi when available.

If true, it would explain why I don't have any updates yet. Two months in with the truck and just barely went over 1K miles this week.

I'm often puzzled with the wifi mode of operation to receive updates, I thought wifi was only functional when the truck is turned on, is it actually pinging the home network when your truck is shut off?

As far as driving, that is to increase the SOC of the LVB to 100%, while driving in the vicinity of cell towers I have a better chance a download will happen, assuming that FORD has an update queued for my truck.

 

[Blochead21]

I'm often puzzled with the wifi mode of operation to receive updates, I thought wifi was only functional when the truck is turned on, is it actually pinging the home network when your truck is shut off?

The truck definitely uses the WiFi when it’s off. I can see it going to different sites almost daily. The below is just from yesterday.

 

[hturnerfamily]

so.....

after trying this new 'IN-TRUCK' charging locator and Activation 'app', at Electrify America, here's what I now know:

- Even if you ACTIVATE the charge unit when you arrive, from the truck, and the charge unit's screen shows 'Please NOW plug in', and then you plug in, you still have to go to the unit and TOUCH the unit's 'CONTINUE' button on the screen to start the charging.... it will not 'automatically' start charging after you plug in, even after you've told the truck's screen to ACTIVATE the unit from the truck. Oh well. This may seem benign to some, but if the screen is not working or responding to input, it's just going to be an annoyance.

- If you use the FordPassApp to ACTIVATE the unit as you arrive, though, the unit will AUTOMATICALLY connect and start charging after you plug in. I find this simpler. I never have to touch the charge unit, or deal with a non-responsive screen.

when complete, I press my charge port middle button, unplug, and hang up. Done.

I don't know if this will be the same for Chargepoint or EVgo or others, but I don't understand why it works one way with the phone App, and another way on the truck's App... to have to physically interact with a third-party charger's screen is going to be asking for trouble.

 

[Maquis]

Thanks. So, any idea how much driving is enough? I drove over 100 miles a few days ago. I would have thought that would be enough.

I really don’t know. I had an update this summer that kept failing due to the 12V SoC and it finally loaded the night after I drove 180 miles to the lake. I would think 100 miles would do it, but it might depend on other factors such as how low the SoC was when you started out.

 

[GDN]

My updates almost exclusively come while I'm away from the house. I think that is the download part. Why they don't download over Wifi is anyones guess. So once I'm off Wifi they'll download. IF the 12v battery has sufficient charge most of them will proceed to update. Some seem to be bigger of have a more strict battery condition and it can take them several days (after failures) to update.

The amount of driving doesn't matter, it's about getting a 12v battery charge cycle to kick in at the right time. If your 12 v battery charge kicks in as you leave the house and you drive 100 miles, by the time you get home an hour and a half later the battery may be too low to once again support the update. So it may only take a mile to kick in the charge cycle.

You can also invest in a 12 v battery charger. Ford techs and anyone using FDRS will only do these updates with support for the 12v battery. You don't want those going wrong. Same concept, you just don't want your truck losing power during an update.

Sponsored