Charger apps- which work best?

[whitelightning44]

I’m trying to figure out which charger locator apps are the easiest with this crowd. Just pulled the trigger on a brand new 23 platinum (leftover, and way too good a deal) so trying to get ahead of the game before I go pick it up this weekend . I live in Ottawa, but the truck is in Toronto. I will definitely/obviously need to charge on the way back . What are the best chargers/most reliable network, and is there such thing as an all encompassing app? Thanks!

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[TaxmanHog]

Plug Share,
A Better Route Planner.
Tesla (if you have an adapter or there are magic dock stations)
Ford Navigation
Ford Charging App (in the Sync Apps screen)

Make the Salesman or delivery crew walk you through setting up Fordpass, plug & charge activation and inputting a credit card, Canadian credit cards are tricky at times to get this working.

 

[Brian Black]

I bought my Lightning a month ago, and it’s my first EV, so I’m fairly new to the game. So far I have found PlugShare to be the most comprehensive charger locater app. They show chargers from every company and you can apply filters to narrow your search (DC Fast, CCS1, Food nearby, etc).

However, I would advise that once you use PlugShare to view the chargers in your area and along your route, you should download the apps that apply to each chargers service. I.e., ChargePoint, ElectrifyAmerica/Canada, EVGo, etc. Most of these chargers are activated via these apps, which should have your payment info within.

I’ve been driving without a Level 2 chargers at home, waiting for the subcontractor to install the Ford Charge Station Pro (happening tomorrow, thank god). So I’ve been reliant on public charging over the last month and I’ve had to learn quick. Good luck, you’re going to love this truck!

 

[RickLightning]

The Ford Blue Oval Charge Network gives you the ability to charge at about a dozen networks and pay with one app - FordPass. https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...ork/what-is-the-ford-blueoval-charge-network/

To charge at Tesla SuperChargers, you need an adapter. Two companies make hugh quality, well-tested adapters. Lectron makes one of the adapters Ford is shipping, although the design is different from the one you can buy. They also make an adapter for Tesla Destination chargers, like at hotels. https://bit.ly/4dC9jPj

A2ZEV makes the Typhoon Pro adapter for Tesla SuperChargers. They also sell the Stellar adapter, which is for Tesla Destination chargers (such as hotels, private homes). I have both adapters and have used both many times. They work great. https://a2zevshop.com/products/nacs-ccs1?ref=Typhoon&variant=43186507579592

 

[Calvin H-C]

I'm just north of Toronto and have over seven years of experience finding charge locations for my Focus Electric. Trust me, with its 160 km (100 mi) range, the need to find locations has been more critical than it is with the Lightning.

Plug Share is, IMHO, the best app for finding places and user comments help to know what to expect. Once you locate a site, finding out if the units are in use is better done with the app for the network it is on. Fortunately, a number of networks have begun working together.

That said, the native app is usually more accurate in real time. For instance, Charge point and Flo work together, but status of Charge point locations will be more up to date on their app than on Flo's app, and vice versa. By up to date, I mean there can be a lag in the information anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.

 

[Joe Dablock]

Most importantly, make sure Ford pass is set up with your credit card info before you leave. Then, test it first chance you get so you know it will work when you really need it. Down load Electrify America, ABRP, and Plug share Aps. Try to borrow a Tesla adapter if possible. Dow load Tesla Ap.

Scope out your route before you leave, so you have a pretty good idea where you will be charging.

Use the Lightning nav system as much as possible, (regarding chargers) but don’t be afraid to make your own decisions! Sometimes your logic will be better than Nav logic.

 

[Calvin H-C]

I live in Ottawa, but the truck is in Toronto.

I missed commenting on this. I had to travel to Ottawa back in October on business and did so in my FFE. It cost me about $37 to get there and $28 to get back, and found this in terms of cost:

• Electrify Canada was the most expensive, with the location in Kingston at $0.70 per kWh (plus tax), though the locations in Scarborough and Oshawa only charge $0.60 (not used on the trip, but have used since to know their cost).
• IVY, located at OnRoute locations so they are VERY convenient for this trip, cost $0.62 per kWh (plus tax)
• A MacEwan gas station in Prescott has two ChargePoint DCFCs that only cost $0.45 per kWh (plus tax); They may be limited to 50 or 62.5 kW speed, which was not an issue for my FFE, but would be slower for a Lightning, but the price was great - not being down as much going to Ottawa compared to coming back made up about half the difference in total cost
• PetroCanada still charges by the minute, and I used the one in Kingston on my return trip (it's just off the 401, compared to Electrify Canada that is about 2 km further south). The total cost of charging there divided by the energy received put it right in the middle of IVY and EC, at about $0.65 per kWh. Since the Lightning will likely charge at 110+ kW, the cost per kWh will only be HALF of what I paid for with my FFE only able to pull about 49 kW

The other cost savings on the return trip had to do with free Level 2 charging in Oshawa. The city has a number of on-street chargers that are either ChargePoint or Hypercharge. The city also has a couple of free to use Flo chargers at their works yard on Wentworth St - Flo app needed to start. This won't be helpful on a road trip, unless you have a need to stop for longer than usual, as I did. We were going on Thanksgiving so I parked there while visiting my son's place nearby for dinner, but I was only at about 65-70% SOC. On the return trip, I made it to Oshawa with about 5% and was staying for the night, so using an on-street charger for free was more significant.

Hope all of this helps!

 

[Calvin H-C]

Down load Electrify America, ABRP, and Plug share Aps. Try to borrow a Tesla adapter if possible. Dow load Tesla Ap.

The Electrify Canada app will be needed in Canada. Also, Plug and Charge does not appear to work at EC with the FordPass. If it does, someone please tell me the secret to getting it to work!

Also, since we now have the Tesla adapter (arrived on December 24 in the box saying "Our Gift just for you"), the Tesla app is has an issue I'm trying to figure out. It does not show ANY locations in Canada, just those in the USA. Yes, the account was set up with our location being where we are in Canada, but this is all it shows:

 

[potato]

On my road trips I mostly used
- PlugShare for locating chargers and (hopefully) recent user reports on whether they are working
- ABRP for quick estimates of distance from A to B

For paying for charging, the Ford app (Blue Oval Network) can activate chargers on the following networks in Canada:

• Ford Charge
• Tesla Superchargers
• Shell Recharge™
• ChargePoint®
• EVgo
• EV Connect™
• Blink
• FLO®
• Electric Circuit

although as noted in some other comments, the "native" app for whatever network you're using is usually more up to date and possibly more reliable. You will probably end up with a half a dozen or more individual network apps just for activating chargers. That part is definitely more complicated than it needs to be. I just install/set up the apps as needed, sometimes while sitting at the charger

 

[ytwytw]

Couple things

Ivy only support max charge amp 250A, so about 90kW
Electrify Canada max charge amp 350A, about 120kW
Most of Flo is 50kW

Some petro has real 500Amp charger, meaning 160kW++
All compatible tesla is also 500amp, meaning 160kW++

Choose wisely to save time on charging for your next trip


I would buy tesla subscription to get the same price as tesla driver

Electrify canada is good for occasional charging, it's way too expensive even with subscription

 

[RickLightning]

The Electrify Canada app will be needed in Canada. Also, Plug and Charge does not appear to work at EC with the FordPass. If it does, someone please tell me the secret to getting it to work!

Also, since we now have the Tesla adapter (arrived on December 24 in the box saying "Our Gift just for you"), the Tesla app is has an issue I'm trying to figure out. It does not show ANY locations in Canada, just those in the USA. Yes, the account was set up with our location being where we are in Canada, but this is all it shows:

Make sure in the app you have put in your vehicle as well as that you own an adapter.

 

[Calvin H-C]

Make sure in the app you have put in your vehicle as well as that you own an adapter.

I did that when setting it up:

 

[RickLightning]

Then it should show this:

 

[Calvin H-C]

Then it should show this:

Agreed. But "should" and "is" don't always match in real life.

The other weird thing I find with the Tesla app is that sometimes when I click on "Fina a Charger", it drops the map centred on Africa, with Burkina Faso in the middle. Not always, sometimes centres it where I am, but does this enough to be a problem.

 

[RickLightning]

Agreed. But "should" and "is" don't always match in real life.

The other weird thing I find with the Tesla app is that sometimes when I click on "Fina a Charger", it drops the map centred on Africa, with Burkina Faso in the middle. Not always, sometimes centres it where I am, but does this enough to be a problem.

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