First Tesla Supercharging Experience

[F150ROD]

I headed out to a newly opened Tesla SC station this morning. I chose this particular station because it has two charge with space in between which allow you to steal a spot without taking up two chargers, looks like Tesla though about this while designing this station. Although I still would have preferred the horizontal version. Started off rough but ended up being what I expected. The first station was broken and charge would not initiate.

I moved over to the other stall which had an open parking spot next to it and everything went smoothly.

My max rate was only 133 kWand then at around 65% tapered down to about 94 kW

The overall cost was $36 which added 72 kWh at 0.50/kWh. The Tesla Membership price is 0.40/kWh so it makes sense if you will be using it more than once a month or if you are taking a long road trip in which you will charge more than once.

I won't be charging often outside the house anytime soon, but thank you @Ford Motor Company for making this happen. This has made life so much easier.

 

[thequackenbush]

Hey that’s cool- I didn’t capture any of the data, but I did the same last week. I think my max was 172 kWh.
Had to park awkwardly, but there was only a model Y Charging in a spot 10 or so away from me.
Was at a gas station / coffee shop!
Used my new A2Z for the first time bc I don’t get the ford NACS until sept (supposedly)

 

[hturnerfamily]

I used mine today several times - no problem 'charging', but the problem in when trying to 'disconnect':

I don't have or use the Tesla APP...
I want to use Ford's Plug-N-Charge and not deal with any 'activation' or app...

and it's quite capable of doing just that.....although...

I then realized that when I was ready to STOP charging, I found no 'way' or method readily available to STOP, such as an app, the Ford's screen, and certainly nothing on the Supercharger side to 'stop' it...so, my only option was to press the Charge Port's OVAL Charging Button...

yes, this did disable the charging, and the truck stopped, as well as I received an email from Ford on the costs...but, interestingly, the Supercharger sounded like it was still 'going', and would NOT release it's cable end from my Adapter.
No matter the struggle, it would not release.
I had the NACS in my left hand, and the Adapter in my right, pressing on both the Tesla plug end's little 'button' on the handle, AND pressing the bottom of the Adapter....my muscles just wasn't making it happen.
I paused.
I decided to let the Supercharger unit 'calm down' for a minute, and then, voila, it would release.

O.k., so I decided I must not be up-to-date on the correct 'steps' to unplug.
I decided that you would need to unplug the NACS handle FIRST, then remove the Adapter from the truck.

The next Supercharger I pulled up, plugged in, and started charging, no problem.
I went in to get some coffee.
I came back out and was already ready to stop the charge.
I pushed the Charge Port's button.
It went gray. Great.
Then it came on BLUE, again... what? Is it trying to 'charge' again??

So, I pressed the little button on the NACS handle and pulled... nothing. Stuck again. what??

I did this many times, until, yes, I decided to PAUSE for a second.
Then, it hit me...

I was holding my coffee carefully in my RIGHT hand, while trying to 'unplug' the NACS handle with my left.... I forgot that you also have to pRESS the Adapter's NACS 'release' at the SAME TIME... oh well. It did eventually work.

But, I'm still not sure of the 'timing' of the unplug process... it still seemed to want to 'keep' the NACS handle attached to my Adapter. It seems it should be easier and simpler than this...

 

[Ffxdude]

I used mine today several times - no problem 'charging', but the problem in when trying to 'disconnect':

I don't have or use the Tesla APP...
I want to use Ford's Plug-N-Charge and not deal with any 'activation' or app...

and it's quite capable of doing just that.....although...

I then realized that when I was ready to STOP charging, I found no 'way' or method readily available to STOP, such as an app, the Ford's screen, and certainly nothing on the Supercharger side to 'stop' it...so, my only option was to press the Charge Port's OVAL Charging Button...

yes, this did disable the charging, and the truck stopped, as well as I received an email from Ford on the costs...but, interestingly, the Supercharger sounded like it was still 'going', and would NOT release it's cable end from my Adapter.
No matter the struggle, it would not release.
I had the NACS in my left hand, and the Adapter in my right, pressing on both the Tesla plug end's little 'button' on the handle, AND pressing the bottom of the Adapter....my muscles just wasn't making it happen.
I paused.
I decided to let the Supercharger unit 'calm down' for a minute, and then, voila, it would release.

O.k., so I decided I must not be up-to-date on the correct 'steps' to unplug.
I decided that you would need to unplug the NACS handle FIRST, then remove the Adapter from the truck.

The next Supercharger I pulled up, plugged in, and started charging, no problem.
I went in to get some coffee.
I came back out and was already ready to stop the charge.
I pushed the Charge Port's button.
It went gray. Great.
Then it came on BLUE, again... what? Is it trying to 'charge' again??

So, I pressed the little button on the NACS handle and pulled... nothing. Stuck again. what??

I did this many times, until, yes, I decided to PAUSE for a second.
Then, it hit me...

I was holding my coffee carefully in my RIGHT hand, while trying to 'unplug' the NACS handle with my left.... I forgot that you also have to pRESS the Adapter's NACS 'release' at the SAME TIME... oh well. I did eventually work.
But, I'm still not sure of the 'timing' of the unplug process... it still seemed to want to 'keep' the NACS handle in my Adapter.

My stop sequence is:

push button on truck
listen for the supercharger to stop running (1-2 sec)
push button on adapter to release from truck
pull release button on adapter to release from Tesla plug

 

[TaxmanHog]

The Charge Assist / Public Charging app on the Sync screen has a [STOP] button.

 

[hturnerfamily]

good to know..

also, the 'steps' might be different depending on 'which' model ADAPTER you have...
easier on some, harder on others... TOM M points out these differences in his video...
it looks like the 'Ford' version is not Tom's fav...

 

[Zprime29]

good to know..

also, the 'steps' might be different depending on 'which' model ADAPTER you have...
easier on some, harder on others... TOM M points out these differences in his video...
it looks like the 'Ford' version is not Tom's fav...

Yeah the awkwardness of disconnecting was a big con for him. I wonder if disconnecting the NACS handle while the adaptor is still in the truck would make it easier. Once charging has stopped, I don't really see how it could make a difference in regards to the order that you disconnect from the truck/adaptor.

 

[Ffxdude]

Yeah the awkwardness of disconnecting was a big con for him. I wonder if disconnecting the NACS handle while the adaptor is still in the truck would make it easier. Once charging has stopped, I don't really see how it could make a difference in regards to the order that you disconnect from the truck/adaptor.

Maybe this is one of (perhaps only) benefits of being a lefty. I find it easy to use.

 

[Pauliep]

The Charge Assist / Public Charging app on the Sync screen has a [STOP] button.

Where oh where do I find this screen? I have gone through all of the software in my truck and I can not find it anywhere.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Where oh where do I find this screen? I have gone through all of the software in my truck and I can not find it anywhere.

Charge Assist app should be available if your truck is fully updated and received the Tesla Supercharger update as well.

Home screen > Apps tab > Charge Assist

Select the station to navigate to, then once there, select the terminal you will plug into to activate and control with stop button.

 

[Pauliep]

So I took my truck to the dealership and had them update everything. I have the iPhone thing that shows my Lightning as a vehicle and tells me what % of battery I will have left when I arrive at my destination. But I do not have the charge assist app on my screen. Wonder what happened.

 

[TaxmanHog]

But I do not have the charge assist app on my screen. Wonder what happened.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...119-dc-chg4-tesla-supercharger-network.18550/

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