This will be my last attempt at a Lightning Road Trip

[RyZac]

A little details on your route would be GREAT info to supply.
I was considering taking the Lightning on a guys trip from Mpls to Deadwood in a few weeks but the route, for me, is too iffy. Would need to rely on mostly EA as the SC on the route are largely V2s.
If it was just me I'd probably do it but one of my friends would be going crazy on me if there was too much of a hiccup in the drive. Thankfully I still have my Model Y.

Sponsored

 

[GDN]

I am in one hotel, and my lightning is languishing at another hotel, hooked up to a slow-ass Blink L1 charger because it was all I could find. I had to take an Uber back to my hotel, and will have to take an uber back to the other one tomorrow morning, and hope that it picked up enough miles to get me to a real charger.
Until Ford decides to get serious and actually build a freaking network I will confine my Lightning driving to local only. The Ford Pass "network" is just a list. It doesn't work. What i have now are two nav systems (Google and Ford). Google is flawed and unreliable when it comes to charging, but at least I can get somewhere with it. Ford can't find many locations, has all the functionality of Garmin 2004, and looks awful. The FordPass app can find chargers and sometimes feed them to Google Maps, but it's as likely to take me to the wrong place or to a charger that is not available or compatible. After two long days of driving 2 hours to charge for an hour (when I can actually find a charger close to the route), collecting charging apps so I can sit in an isolated spot with no rest rooms and no amenities, I have had it. My wife is ready to leave the Lightning at an airport and rent an ICE so we can finish driving to our vacation destination.
Ford, if you're listening, quit making us beta test your tech. Get it together.

You've nailed what was the first big farce Ford ever tried to sell. I've been saying it since day 1. They thought they could freeload and cobble together a network from other vendors. It was crap from day 1.

The only half way relenting thing is when Farley showed defeat and went to Elon (or which ever way it happened) and got us access to the Tesla chargers. It still has miles to go to be fully integrated and they need to update quicker, etc., however Ford is still showing you their hand that they aren't in on EV's in that you don't see any Ford branded chargers. They tried short cutting this whole mess and really didn't care about you after you bought the truck.

My guess is that the Lightning won't see the '26 Model year and you won't have a T3 either.

 

[Firn]

You've nailed what was the first big farce Ford ever tried to sell. I've been saying it since day 1. They thought they could freeload and cobble together a network from other vendors. It was crap from day 1.

The only half way relenting thing is when Farley showed defeat and went to Elon (or which ever way it happened) and got us access to the Tesla chargers. It still has miles to go to be fully integrated and they need to update quicker, etc., however Ford is still showing you their hand that they aren't in on EV's in that you don't see any Ford branded chargers. They won't they tried short cutting this whole mess and really didn't care about you after you bought the truck.

My guess is that the Lightning won't see the '26 Model year and you won't have a T3 either.

Why on earth would Ford need to create its own charging network? Because Tesla did? Tesla built its network out of necessity—there were virtually no chargers at the time. That was over a decade ago. In 2025, with nearly 70,000 chargers in existance, the idea that Ford needs its own branded network is crazy. The navigation system already finds any available charger, not just ones with a Ford logo.

Would you expect to fuel a Ram truck exclusively at Ram-branded gas stations?

Bottom line: Ford is already investing billions in manufacturing. Expecting them to sink billions more into a charging network—when dozens of networks already exist—just to support a mere 70,000 EV sales per year? That would be financial suicide.

 

[CavRider]

You've nailed what was the first big farce Ford ever tried to sell. I've been saying it since day 1. They thought they could freeload and cobble together a network from other vendors. It was crap from day 1.

The only half way relenting thing is when Farley showed defeat and went to Elon (or which ever way it happened) and got us access to the Tesla chargers. It still has miles to go to be fully integrated and they need to update quicker, etc., however Ford is still showing you their hand that they aren't in on EV's in that you don't see any Ford branded chargers. They tried short cutting this whole mess and really didn't care about you after you bought the truck.

My guess is that the Lightning won't see the '26 Model year and you won't have a T3 either.

Huh. I have just as much interest in <Insert Auto Brand here> branded chargers as I do <Insert Auto Brand Here> branded gas pumps, which is precisely zero. But, that's just me I guess.

 

[GDN]

Why on earth would Ford need to create its own charging network? Because Tesla did? Tesla built its network out of necessity—there were virtually no chargers at the time. That was over a decade ago. In 2025, with nearly 70,000 chargers in existance, the idea that Ford needs its own branded network is crazy. The navigation system already finds any available charger, not just ones with a Ford logo.

Would you expect to fuel a Ram truck exclusively at Ram-branded gas stations?

Bottom line: Ford is already investing billions in manufacturing. Expecting them to sink billions more into a charging network—when dozens of networks already exist—just to support a mere 70,000 EV sales per year? That would be financial suicide.

I guess you joined the Ford party late didn't you. They don't need a full Ford branded network and I didn't say that. They do need to contibute. Likely the very biggest selling point at Ford for their EV's was their biggest network of charging ever. It was and still is a disaster today. You might want to go to your truck and confim it can find and route you to Tesla chargers as part of a normal route.

Why does everyone suggest 3 to 5 alternatives to help you plan a route in a Ford vehicle? Because the original plan and concept still doesn't work. You'll never need that in a Tesla.

 

[GDN]

Huh. I have just as much interest in <Insert Auto Brand here> branded chargers as I do <Insert Auto Brand Here> branded gas pumps, which is precisely zero. But, that's just me I guess.

I'm just saying they never contributed to it and they don't care what experience you have. Rivian is out there, Benz is out there, GM is out there. Ford is laughing well - guess we'll give up on EV's because we can't help get our owners to good consistent chargers.

 

[CavRider]

I'm just saying they never contributed to it and they don't care what experience you have. Rivian is out there, Benz is out there, GM is out there. Ford is laughing well - guess we'll give up on EV's because we can't help get our owners to good consistent chargers.

You're speaking I suppose about IONNA and Fomoco conspicuous absence? If so that is a fair point and I would be curious to know the why's and wherefore's.

 

[Firn]

I guess you joined the Ford party late didn't you. They don't need a full Ford branded network and I didn't say that. They do need to contibute. Likely the very biggest selling point at Ford for their EV's was their biggest network of charging ever. It was and still is a disaster today. You might want to go to your truck and confim it can find and route you to Tesla chargers as part of a normal route.

Why does everyone suggest 3 to 5 alternatives to help you plan a route in a Ford vehicle? Because the original plan and concept still doesn't work. You'll never need that in a Tesla.

Do you think that they built the "Blue Oval Network" but did NOT contribute? That they just told EA "hey, we are calling your chargers the Ford network, ok thanks". If they entered into a partnership then they DID contribute. And why are you saying they don't need Ford branded chargers, but then in every post claim that that is what contributing IS? By joining with EA they DID contribute, it just doesn't have their name on the charger.

The ability for the navigation SOFTWARE to find a charger has absolutely zero to do with the success or failure of a "Ford Network". The software being unable to route to a Tesla charger in no way supports your argument. They can have the best network in the world and still have crap software.

As to your last point, yes three to four alternatives are suggested because the SOFTWARE sucks, which has nothing to do with the network. You even said it, as of today they literally have the largest charging network anywhere since Tesla is included, and the software still fails. That is a software issue, not a network one.

 

[GDN]

Do you think that they built the "Blue Oval Network" but did NOT contribute? That they just told EA "hey, we are calling your chargers the Ford network, ok thanks". If they entered into a partnership then they DID contribute. And why are you saying they don't need Ford branded chargers, but then in every post claim that that is what contributing IS? By joining with EA they DID contribute, it just doesn't have their name on the charger.

The ability for the navigation SOFTWARE to find a charger has absolutely zero to do with the success or failure of a "Ford Network". The software being unable to route to a Tesla charger in no way supports your argument. They can have the best network in the world and still have crap software.

As to your last point, yes three to four alternatives are suggested because the SOFTWARE sucks, which has nothing to do with the network. You even said it, as of today they literally have the largest charging network anywhere since Tesla is included, and the software still fails. That is a software issue, not a network one.

You come at it blind - if the software can't find it - then what kind of network is it. It isn't one at all. Go get in your truck with no other aids and make a 1500 mile trip. You can't. Period. End of Story.

 

[Firn]

You come at it blind - if the software can't find it - then what kind of network is it. It isn't one at all. Go get in your truck with no other aids and make a 1500 mile trip. You can't. Period. End of Story.

Yes, we know aboutt he software, but there ARE alternatives. You still can use their trip planning tools, you still can use their plug and charge, you can start a charge without another app or subscription.

To claim the software IS the network is false, they are two RELATED but distinctly separate things.

 

[GDN]

Yes, we know aboutt he software, but there ARE alternatives. You still can use their trip planning tools, you still can use their plug and charge, you can start a charge without another app or subscription.

To claim the software IS the network is false, they are two RELATED but distinctly separate things.

Ever seen how it's done right? Almost everyone has a friend these days with a Tesla. Ask for a demo.

 

[Firn]

Ever seen how it's done right? Almost everyone has a friend these days with a Tesla. Ask for a demo.

That's not an answer and I really hope you know it.

Yes, Tesla can make software, AND a charging network. The fact that we can use their NETWORK but without their SOFTWARE proves those two things are separate from each other.

This is just inane at this point

 

[iam-s-Hon]

Ever seen how it's done right? Almost everyone has a friend these days with a Tesla. Ask for a demo.

Thanks for the PR opinion, Adrian Dittman.

 

[Brons2]

Huh. I have just as much interest in <Insert Auto Brand here> branded chargers as I do <Insert Auto Brand Here> branded gas pumps, which is precisely zero. But, that's just me I guess.

Exactly. Nobody expects a seller of ICE vehicles to put together refueling infrastructure for them. Why the disconnect?

 

[lightspeed]

I have a hard time understanding what the problem is.

The FordPass -> Public Charging section lists all compatible fast chargers available across 12+ charging networks, everywhere in the US and how many are available, and usually the price. You can filter out Tesla stations that require the adapter if you don't have one. (It also list a bunch of L2 chargers.)

Tesla and Electrify America support plug-n-charge. The rest require activating the stall from the FordPass app.

What could be simpler? The integration is actually very nice. Does any other manufacturer have such a nice integration with 12+ charge networks?

Are there places in the US where there are data issues/errors? I'm scanning through random states now and see chargers all over the place. I'm curious what conditions make it so hard.

Sponsored