Car & Driver Article: the F150 lightning might not need those superchargers

[hturnerfamily]

We just towed our 3,000lb camper 160 miles north thru Atlanta to Acworth/Kennesaw Georgia for our third son's Engagement get-together with our 'new' in-laws : )

anywho, on the way north, I stopped at my favorite 'south of Atlanta' EVGO chargers... where the KHANAMI(150kw/350kw), and two other chargers(100kw/50kw) are typically available, and while RELIABLE, are not in a necessarily 'noticeable' location seen from any roadway, and are normally vacant when I arrive. This time someone was actually there - a BOLT EUV, yes, using the fast KHANAMI unit.

What's interesting about EVGO, though, is that many of these newer 'fast' chargers are actually DUAL capable: you can use one CCS cable(A), while someone else can use the other CCS cable(B). This then allows the same unit to power TWO vehicles at the same time: and since the BOLT typically cannot accept any speeds over 50kw, the LIGHTNING can then pull closer to what it needs, if not the full amount.
So, I gave it a try, although the Bolt owner was a little confused as I pulled my truck right up to their driver door, perpendicular to the unit, since my camper was behind me. They may not even have realized that I was an 'EV', at first, and probably were a little miffed when they saw me pull off the OTHER cable and plug it into my truck.... hmmmmmm.

Mine only pulled 62.5kw, though... but, I suspect that it may not have been the sharing of the unit, it may have been the close-to 100degree temps, and my battery was already up to 'high temp' traveling the 115miles to get there. The Bolt was still charging at 50kw the whole time.

This EVGO station, while handled now by CHARGEPOINT, is NOT cheap, though. It is $15 per hour, no matter how 'slow' the station provides power, or how slow your vehicle receives power. It cost me $12 for 40kwh. That poor Bolt was still sitting there after I left. That will be expensive.

On the other hand, on the way back home several days later, we stopped at Electrify America, in a walmart parking lot. It gave me a quick and smooth 130kwh speed the WHOLE time of the charge, 41 kwh, and only costs .20cents PER/KWH. That's only $8.15. This was at lower temps and earlier in the day.

EVGO/Chargepoint(they both use 'time' charges)...cost 50% me more to charge at.


This is one of the main reasons I pass most ALL Chargepoint, if at all possible, and ONLY use Electrify America, when possible. EVgo comes in a distant second, although I will give them cudos on their 'speed' and reliability versus others.


I'm not sure Tesla supercharger options would change any of this. They are not any 'faster', or 'cheaper'... although I'd like to see their reliability be something that other third-party charger companies shoot for...

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[Sneakypetie78]

Service providers still don’t get it. There is a new QT station going up near where I work that doesn’t have a single EV charger. In ten years that station is going to be completely obsolete.

Service stations are still only thinking of EV charging as an afterthought. Even Superchargers lack canopies and services. We are still at a time where service stations grudgingly provide EV chargers when they need to be competing for EV customers.

Hardly obsolete. All ice cars will be gone in 10 years? I bet you otherwise.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a44867851/ford-f-150-lightning-charging-tesla/

I’ve used CircleK DCFC in a number of states, usually when EA fails me. They work consistently and reliably for a price that’s reasonable.

The only negative is there’s usually only 2 stalls. Probably would be relying on them if they start to be known.

 

[trev5150]

I would gladly pay a premium to charge at a station like this.

Being “happy to pay a premium” is a green light to get ripped off by corporate pricks who who how to turn the barest incremental improvement over “you’ll take absolute garbage and like it” (aka Electricify America) and drain your pocket for an extra percentage
for nothing more than what you should have gotten in the first place.
Gladly pay what the service is worth at a fair price, give them absolute hell if they charge a penny more, and make sure there’s always options that you use regularly. It’s the only way the market (us) has and maintains any power. You vote in the booth and you vote with your wallet. When you stop voting and creating the market they own your ass.

 

[Ekiehn]

What I think is important about this article is that our options are opening up... that's the key message, as soon as you can stop when you want to where it's convenient for your trip then EVs are on a par with ICE vehicles... range/time becomes a more minor issue. Circle K, 7Eleven, Wawa, Bucees and more come on line along with Tesla men's we just drive like we are used to.. with the benefits of home charging which ICE can't match.

 

[RickLightning]

On the other hand, on the way back home several days later, we stopped at Electrify America, in a walmart parking lot. It gave me a quick and smooth 130kwh speed the WHOLE time of the charge, 41 kwh, and only costs .20cents PER/KWH. That's only $8.15. This was at lower temps and earlier in the day.

The reason EA was cheaper is because Georgia prohibits them from charging by the kWh, they have to charge by the minute. There is no per kWh rate. That makes it less than half the cost of per kWh states, only because of the charging curve of the Lightning and Mach-E.

A Bolt owner would pay substantially more for the same amount of electricity as a result.

 

[trev5150]

What I think is important about this article is that our options are opening up...

I get you, I’m just trying to get people to understand that they need to be careful about about what we as the consumer base in public in front of the companies that want to sell us goods and services. If we’re too easy on them and post things like

and ”I’d gladly pay a premium“ - the subtext being “for what I should already be getting for what I’m already paying for” - then they’ll gladly treat us like sheeple and we’ll deserve it.

 

[speedy123]

Ezra Dyer is, in my opinion, one of the best automotive writers around, usually hilarious, always look forward to his pieces. This article highlighted another welcome charging option. As Circle K is owned by the Quebec chain Couche-Tard, it got me looking at the Canadian locations on the Couche-Tard charging map and there are a lot popping up in Quebec and Ontario, high speed, a great option I didn’t know about. Supercharger access will be great, except only V3 and up, eliminates almost all the superchargers in my travel zone.

 

[Pioneer74]

Somebody said that you work at the Rouge plant. What do you do there? What's happening with shipments (or lack of)?
And thank you for being an insider helping to keep us informed. It's much appreciated.

I'm an Electrician in the Body plant.

As far as I know, they still haven't reached OKTB (OK To Buy) to be able to ship units after the plant upgrades. There have also been part shortages, but I don't know if they cover just the ICE trucks. I'll see if I can find out anything new tomorrow.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I'm an Electrician in the Body plant.

As far as I know, they still haven't reached OKTB (OK To Buy) to be able to ship units after the plant upgrades. There have also been part shortages, but I don't know if they cover just the ICE trucks. I'll see if I can find out anything new tomorrow.

I hope they issued the OKTB, by Sunday 9/10 there will be 9236 Lightning passed through the production line, the holding lot's must be brimming by now, a couple of trucks in the 8/7 & 8/14 build weeks have a recent BUILT date as of 9/1/2023

 

[detansinn]

The peanut gallery always likes to bring up towing range, but you can haul motorcycles and gear in the bed with precious little impact to range.

 

[jdmackes]

We just towed our 3,000lb camper 160 miles north thru Atlanta to Acworth/Kennesaw Georgia for our third son's Engagement get-together with our 'new' in-laws : )

anywho, on the way north, I stopped at my favorite 'south of Atlanta' EVGO chargers... where the KHANAMI(150kw/350kw), and two other chargers(100kw/50kw) are typically available, and while RELIABLE, are not in a necessarily 'noticeable' location seen from any roadway, and are normally vacant when I arrive. This time someone was actually there - a BOLT EUV, yes, using the fast KHANAMI unit.

What's interesting about EVGO, though, is that many of these newer 'fast' chargers are actually DUAL capable: you can use one CCS cable(A), while someone else can use the other CCS cable(B). This then allows the same unit to power TWO vehicles at the same time: and since the BOLT typically cannot accept any speeds over 50kw, the LIGHTNING can then pull closer to what it needs, if not the full amount.
So, I gave it a try, although the Bolt owner was a little confused as I pulled my truck right up to their driver door, perpendicular to the unit, since my camper was behind me. They may not even have realized that I was an 'EV', at first, and probably were a little miffed when they saw me pull off the OTHER cable and plug it into my truck.... hmmmmmm.

Mine only pulled 62.5kw, though... but, I suspect that it may not have been the sharing of the unit, it may have been the close-to 100degree temps, and my battery was already up to 'high temp' traveling the 115miles to get there. The Bolt was still charging at 50kw the whole time.

This EVGO station, while handled now by CHARGEPOINT, is NOT cheap, though. It is $15 per hour, no matter how 'slow' the station provides power, or how slow your vehicle receives power. It cost me $12 for 40kwh. That poor Bolt was still sitting there after I left. That will be expensive.

On the other hand, on the way back home several days later, we stopped at Electrify America, in a walmart parking lot. It gave me a quick and smooth 130kwh speed the WHOLE time of the charge, 41 kwh, and only costs .20cents PER/KWH. That's only $8.15. This was at lower temps and earlier in the day.

EVGO/Chargepoint(they both use 'time' charges)...cost 50% me more to charge at.


This is one of the main reasons I pass most ALL Chargepoint, if at all possible, and ONLY use Electrify America, when possible. EVgo comes in a distant second, although I will give them cudos on their 'speed' and reliability versus others.


I'm not sure Tesla supercharger options would change any of this. They are not any 'faster', or 'cheaper'... although I'd like to see their reliability be something that other third-party charger companies shoot for...

I had good luck with the EA chargers as well, and they were some of the cheapest ones that I used. I did use EVGO ones twice, but they were far and away the most expensive for charging (even though the ones I used were per KW; they had different pricing for different times of the day). I avoided them every time I could

 

[MRButtler]

The one coming to Champaign is an okayish spot. It's right off the highway, but the only restaurant nearby is the attached DQ.
EA recently installed chargers at the local Meijer (and adjacent to Teslas in the same lot!), and has several strip mall shopping and restaurant options nearby.

 

[3rdgenfan]

Service providers still don’t get it. There is a new QT station going up near where I work that doesn’t have a single EV charger. In ten years that station is going to be completely obsolete.

If it isn't a corporate owned location I am sure the person running the business will switch to a different fuel provider by the end of that 10 year mark. Not everyone has money to throw around for DCFC installs.

 

[greenne]

Service providers still don’t get it. There is a new QT station going up near where I work that doesn’t have a single EV charger. In ten years that station is going to be completely obsolete.

Service stations are still only thinking of EV charging as an afterthought. Even Superchargers lack canopies and services. We are still at a time where service stations grudgingly provide EV chargers when they need to be competing for EV customers.

As much as I love my EV and encourage EV adoption, we're going to be with a significant percentage of gas vehicles(and gas stations) for another 20yrs at least.

The average age of the car on the road in America is 12.5yrs old. Even if we went to 20-25% EV adoptions over the next couple years and 50% adoption by 2030 (which is what the most aggressive models are predicting) there will still be tens(or hundreds?) of millions of gas vehicles on USA roads needing gas.

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