Okay, What Plug Am I Looking For at Charging Stations?

[Smokewagun]

I’m trying to ease my range anxiety before I get prompted to configure my Lightning order. Yes, premature, I know. But, in my travels, I’m using the Ford Pass app to see where stations are that I could use if needed. While I plan to be fully charged before I leave in the morning, I just want to know my options, and how likely it will be NOW to find a charging station.
In my searches, about six different plug configurations come up. The last thing I need is to head to a meeting or go on vacation and coast in on my last micro-watt (like fumes if driving an ICE) and find the plug won’t work. I don’t think the Lightning will come with a case with 14 different adapters. Any insight here? Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[Hamtech]

J1772 is the most common plug. Every non-Tesla charger in the Northeast has this connection.

The CCS is the fast charger and is not as common.

I have a Tesla X and the first few months I had range anxiety. After a while it went away. There are far less Tesla charges than there are J1772 chargers.

 

[adoublee]

I’m trying to ease my range anxiety before I get prompted to configure my Lightning order. Yes, premature, I know. But, in my travels, I’m using the Ford Pass app to see where stations are that I could use if needed. While I plan to be fully charged before I leave in the morning, I just want to know my options, and how likely it will be NOW to find a charging station.
In my searches, about six different plug configurations come up. The last thing I need is to head to a meeting or go on vacation and coast in on my last micro-watt (like fumes if driving an ICE) and find the plug won’t work. I don’t think the Lightning will come with a case with 14 different adapters. Any insight here? Thanks!

Get the Plugshare app to see all public chargers. Filter on CCS which is what you want to use for higher speed charging that you won't have at home, though you could use J1772 anywhere if you have the time, both without adapters. Also, some CCS might be as low as 50kW so you may want to filter minimum power level to 120kW or so if you want you not be slowed much at all the the charger itself, though the 50kW still works.

Hope that helps.

 

[sotek2345]

I’m trying to ease my range anxiety before I get prompted to configure my Lightning order. Yes, premature, I know. But, in my travels, I’m using the Ford Pass app to see where stations are that I could use if needed. While I plan to be fully charged before I leave in the morning, I just want to know my options, and how likely it will be NOW to find a charging station.
In my searches, about six different plug configurations come up. The last thing I need is to head to a meeting or go on vacation and coast in on my last micro-watt (like fumes if driving an ICE) and find the plug won’t work. I don’t think the Lightning will come with a case with 14 different adapters. Any insight here? Thanks!

In addition to what else has been said, check out abetterrouteplanner (website or app). Tell it your vehicle (Lightning is there) and where you want to go and it will figure out the best route including all charging needed.

 

[EaglesPDX]

CCS1 is the plug you are looking for.

Look up Electrify America maps and go to the closest EA charging station and look at the plug.

All DC fast charging in US will be using this plug.

 

[3putter]

This is an extremely helpful thread. Thanks for the excellent info!

 

[Smokewagun]

Thanks, Guys! This helps a lot. I looked at the map links, and now I just need to get comfortable with adding time on my longer trips if I use the truck for vacation travel. One run to south Missouri adds almost 3 hours of charging. That almost makes it a two-day trip. Not sure I’m ready for that.

 

[TRP]

Thanks, Guys! This helps a lot. I looked at the map links, and now I just need to get comfortable with adding time on my longer trips if I use the truck for vacation travel. One run to south Missouri adds almost 3 hours of charging. That almost makes it a two-day trip. Not sure I’m ready for that.

My experience with those route planners is that they are pretty conservative with your charge times. For example they might suggest a stop at 30% and only charge to 60% to minimize your stopped time. I always charge to 80% and as a result I'm able to skip a stop occasionally. Until you actually make the trip and get comfortable with an EV you won't know exactly what your total trip time is.

I travel to the Baltimore area from east TN and it only adds 1 1/2hrs to a 600 mile trip in my Mach E

 

[sotek2345]

My experience with those route planners is that they are pretty conservative with your charge times. For example they might suggest a stop at 30% and only charge to 60% to minimize your stopped time. I always charge to 80% and as a result I'm able to skip a stop occasionally. Until you actually make the trip and get comfortable with an EV you won't know exactly what your total trip time is.

I travel to the Baltimore area from east TN and it only adds 1 1/2hrs to a 600 mile trip in my Mach E

And the charging time isn't truly added time anyways. Very few vehicles can go 600 miles without refueling (so that takes a little time) and very few people can go 600 miles (~8 to 10 hours) without eating or using the bathroom (which can take even more time).

For us, we have 400 mile trip (Albany NY area to Toronto ON area) that we take pretty regularly (one or twice a year). As long as we plan to eat near a fast charger, the EV adds no time to the trip. Actually it my be faster because we usually stop to fill up on gas before we go into Canada.

 

[Kiggulak]

As stated above the Lightning uses J1772 for Level 1 or Level 2 AC charging and opens up a flap to convert the socket to a CCS combo type 1 for level 3 DC fast charging.

Here is an article about level 1, level 2, and level 3 connector types.
https://www.lifewire.com/every-ev-charging-standard-and-connector-type-explained-5201160

The mobile charger that comes with the Lightning is a level 1/2 32A J1772, the 48A wall charger is a level 2 J1772 charger, and the 80A charger is a level 2 CCS type 1 charger that only sends power to the Lightning through the upper half of the CCS connector or the J1772 pins, and uses the 2 lower DC pins for the home backup feature.

 

[astricklin]

Thanks, Guys! This helps a lot. I looked at the map links, and now I just need to get comfortable with adding time on my longer trips if I use the truck for vacation travel. One run to south Missouri adds almost 3 hours of charging. That almost makes it a two-day trip. Not sure I’m ready for that.

Remember you still have to stop for restroom breaks and meals. More than likely you can coordinate those with charging stops and not add that much additional time.

 

[Roy2001]

The problem with J1772 is charging speed.

Sponsored