"Charging Compatibility" EV RV Road Trip Pt. 3
My first failed attempt to use a Supercharger (which went viral on Instagram) was due to operator error. I knew I needed a compatible station, but instead of following Ford’s instructions, I used Apple Maps to take me to a nearby Supercharger.
This attempt failed, as the charger was not compatible with my vehicle. Once I started using the car's navigation system instead, it only listed compatible stations, and charging worked perfectly when we got there. Despite Apple Maps advertising features for EVs, it does not account for vehicle-specific compatibility. This experience quickly answered the question of whether to use a third-party map (like Apple Maps) or the Ford's navigation system.
Explore how utilizing the Ford F-150 Lightning’s smart route planning to find compatible fast chargers shaped driving choices and habits during a towing trip.
This article is the third and final part of the EV RV Road Trip mini-series. In this series, we share our experiences of towing an Airstream with a Ford F-150 Lightning, covering everything from the towing adventure in part 1 and the charging process in part 2.
Navigation Platforms: Apple Maps vs. Ford Official
The Ford navigation system stood out for several reasons. It drew a range ring around the truck, showing its driving range and the chargers within that range. Though the system was about 20 miles overoptimistic in its range estimates compared to my calculations, I could easily resolve this by selecting chargers slightly inside the range ring.
The Ford system’s real-time data was invaluable. It provided information on how busy stations were, the charging speed they offered, and the number of available plugs. This helped us choose between potential stops based on our immediate needs.
Apple Maps
Ford Official Navigation System
Real-Time Adjustments and Unexpected Situations
Real-time data from the Ford navigation system allowed us to make informed choices about our charging stops. For instance, we could see the number of available plugs and the charging speed at each station, helping us avoid busy or slower stations.
One unexpected situation occurred when a car dealer falsely advertised having a fast charger. We arrived to find no such charger, forcing us to use a nearby free L2 charger while taking a luxuriously long lunch. This underscored the importance of verifying charging station details through reliable sources.
Cost Management and Driving Habits
For detailed cost management insights, I recommend checking out Article 2: “The Charging Process”. However, one key strategy was prioritizing L2 charging at campsites whenever possible, as these slower chargers often came at no additional cost.
Driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph for about 100 miles cost us 17 minutes but improved our efficiency by about 10%, reflected in a commensurately longer range and improved cost per mile. Adjusting our speed based on remaining range and upcoming charging stops was useful for managing efficiency and costs.
Handling and Maneuverability
I felt confident with the Ford's handling and maneuverability, though with my relative inexperience, it required a lot of focus. The tech features, like the screen, multiple cameras, and predictive lines, were incredibly helpful for navigating tight spaces and backing up with the trailer.
Personal Insights and Reflections
Overall, I would undertake this type of journey again, with more boondocking in between anchor stops.
The combination of smart route planning and access to Tesla Superchargers significantly impacted our trip’s success. The Ford navigation system, with its graphical range display and accurate mapping of compatible chargers, allowed us to optimize our charging stops and manage our range efficiently. This experience demonstrated the capability of using an EV for RV road trips, and the reliability of Tesla Superchargers was a major factor that inspires me to do it again.
Senior Plant Manager - EV Enthusiast & Podcaster
6 个月Wait how did you get this to work ?? “Automatically routes to compatible chargers, including updated Superchargers.” It absolutely does not show the Tesla chargers on the Native navigation nor does it on Apple Maps or Google Maps. I had to use the Tesla App to see where charge locations where along my route and the search for them in the trucks charge assist app, then save those as favorites for the Native Navigation. You can’t do that while driving though and you can’t use voice commands to find them. You have to do it ahead of time and even then it won’t precondition on the way to them. Did you have some beta or test software? This would be the first I’ve heard of a much needed update ??