The Ford Power Promise Brings Peace of Mind to EV Shopping

With the arrival of impressive electric options like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford Mustang Mach-E, we have seen a surge of interest from shoppers. However, we have also seen many shoppers who are hesitant to purchase an EV because charging your car is very different from visiting the gas station. The good news is that once you get past all the new terminology, charging a car is no more difficult than charging your phone or any other battery-powered device. The even better news is that Ford has recently announced its new Ford Power Promise, which is designed to make owning an EV even simpler when you visit a Ford dealer like us.

Unlike the leadership from other brands, Ford CEO Jim Farley has been deeply involved in the development of Ford’s electric vehicles, including taking long road trips across the United States and Europe behind the wheel of a Ford EV. These experiences convinced him that electric vehicles are ready for prime time but that more could be done to smooth the transition to EV ownership for first-time buyers. The result is his Ford Power Promise. This promise includes a complimentary home charger and installation with every EV purchase, convenient Plug and Charge transactions at public charging stations across the country, and an extended eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty for added peace of mind.

Complimentary Home Charger and Installation

One of the greatest advantages of owning an electric vehicle is the ability to charge at home. Home charging means that unless you are traveling 100 miles or more from home, you never need to deal with the inconvenience of stopping to recharge. Getting the vast majority of your charging done while you relax at home is a huge time-saver, even compared to gasoline vehicles that can refuel in just a few minutes––not to mention the convenience of starting every day with a full battery so you don’t need to leave early to swing by a gas station. However, many first-time EV buyers are not sure exactly what they need to charge at home and are worried that the cost of installing a home charging station will be too high.

If that sounds like you, don’t worry! As we said, charging an EV is quite simple, and you don’t need anything more than a standard wall outlet to get started. There are actually two different types of home charging, referred to as Level 1 and Level 2, and all Ford EVs are capable of both using the portable Ford Mobile Power Cord. Despite the fancy name, Level 1 charging just means plugging your EV into a standard 120V three-prong wall outlet. It can take a while to fully recharge an EV using Level 1 charging, but if you have a short commute of less than 20 miles a day, it may be all you need.

The second option, Level 2 charging, requires either a 240V outlet and the Ford Mobile Power Cord or a hard-wired Ford Charge Station Pro home charging station. While Level 1 charging will restore a mile or two of range per hour of charging time, Level 2 charging is an order of magnitude faster. With the 32 amp Ford Mobile Power Cord, you can replenish over 20 miles of range per hour. Upgrading to the 80 amp Ford Charge Station Pro can provide 30 miles of range per hour. That’s enough to fully recharge an EV from empty overnight or provide enough power for the average commute in a couple of hours.

Thanks to the new Ford Power Promise, you will now get a free Ford Charge Station Pro if you purchase or lease a new Ford F-150 Lightning or Ford Mustang Mach-E. Even better, Ford has partnered with Qmerit, a popular charging station installation company, to provide free installation of your charger. This means that you will be able to take full advantage of the convenience of home charging without worrying about purchasing a home charging station or figuring out what you need to do to install it by yourself.

Plug and Charge Convenience on the Road

The second part of the Ford Power Promise is to simplify charging at public charging stations. Over 80% of EV charging is done at home, but if you’re on a road trip, then you will likely need to stop at public charging stations to top off the battery along the way. Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network makes this simple by allowing you to handle charging transactions through the FordPass app on your smartphone. Ford’s Connected Navigation software in its electric vehicles will also help you locate nearby public charging stations and plot the best route to your destination that takes charging into account.

Just like home charging, there are two levels of public charging stations. Level 2 is roughly as fast as using a Ford Charge Station Pro, which means it is best used if you are stopped at a hotel for the night or just want to add a bit of range if you are at a restaurant or mall. Level 3 DC fast charging, on the other hand, can add around 60 miles of range in just 10 minutes of charging, making it perfect for a quick stop before you get back on the road. More Level 3 charging stations are being added all the time, and the BlueOval Charge Network makes it easy to use public charging stations from networks like Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVgo, Blink, and more.

Unlike gas stations, which have an attendant who can assist you and handle any form of payment, EV charging stations are usually located in the parking lots of unaffiliated businesses, and many are designed to be operated through the app for that network. Having to download a half-dozen apps for different charging networks can be a hassle, especially since you likely won’t be using them often, but Ford allows you to skip the proprietary apps and handle transactions for any affiliated charging network through the FordPass app that you already have on your phone.

Ford was also the first manufacturer to partner with Tesla, giving Ford EV owners access to the Tesla Supercharger network––the largest and most reliable public fast-charging network in the nation. While Superchargers use the NACS plug and Ford’s current EV models use the CCS plug, Ford offers an adaptor that lets you plug into a Supercharger to recharge. Tesla is also installing new “Magic Dock” Superchargers that can recharge cars with the CCS plug without an adaptor. Perhaps the best part of charging at a Tesla Supercharger or an Electrify America charging station is that you can use Plug and Charge, where you simply plug your car in, and it automatically pays for the transaction using your FordPass account!

Switching to an Electric Vehicle May Be Easier Than You Thought!

There is a lot to learn if you are buying your first electric vehicle, but once you learn the new terminology and build new habits, you might be surprised by just how easy it is to live with an EV. From the convenience of charging at home to the ease of finding public charging stations, many aspects of EV ownership are an upgrade over driving a gasoline-powered vehicle. The Ford Power Promise goes even further, providing upgrades like complimentary home charger installation and the BlueOval Charge Network. Plus, you can rest assured that every Ford EV is built Ford Tough and enjoys an eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty that proves Ford stands behind its electric vehicles. If you’re thinking about a Ford EV, talk to our team, and let us show you all of the other advantages of these impressive vehicles.