Best Charging Network Membership for my Ford EV

The BlueOval Charging Network built into the FordPass app is going to be the most convenient membership option for Ford EV owners. This membership give you access to 19,500 charging stations across multiple charging companies. In Spring 2024 12,000 Tesla Superchargers will be added. The FordPass app will allow you to find a charger, view the cost, start charging, and bill your charge for any charging station that is part of the BlueOval network.

Be aware the rates charged through FordPass will be standard pay-as-you-go rates. Using a paid membership direct from an individual charge network such as Electrify America or EVgo and using their dedicated app will offer more discounted rates than FordPass. Electrify America offers a membership for $4 a month which provides about a 25% discount on the charge rate and EVgo offers 3 levels of membership designed for how often you charge with them. The EVgo basic is $1/month designed for 1-2 charges a month, The EVgo Plus is $7/month designed for 3-5 charges a month and the EVgo PlusMax is $13/month designed for 6+ charges a month.

What is Blue Oval Charge Network?

Ford has created a charging network called the BlueOval Charge Network. This incorporates charging stations from the following companies into Ford’s FordPass app to allow you to conveniently charge and pay from one app.

Shell Recharge
Electrify America
EV Connect
ChargePoint
SemaConnect
FLO
EVgo

The BlueOval membership comes free with new Ford EV purchases. Providing up to 3 years of membership and up to 250kWh of free charging at Electrify America’s charging network. At one time the BlueOval membership offered the same discounted Electrify America pricing as the Electrify America Pass+ and cost $50 a year. The discount seems to be no longer available and the cost seems to be unclear at the moment. They may continue charging $50/year or it may cost more or less once Ford decides to start charging for it.

You can use the FordPass app or the in dash navigation screen to find charging stations, view their cost and save favorites. There is also a trip planner feature called Power My Trip. In the FordPass app you can start the charging and pay all from the same app without needing individual apps for each charge company.

Electrify America Membership

Electrify America offers a membership called Pass+ for $4 a month. This offers 25% discount on charging over the standard rate. While some states are cheaper, most Electrify America locations cost $0.48/kWh and the Pass+ rate is $0.36/kWh.

Electrify America offers Carplay and Android auto integration through their mobile app. So if the in dash features of the Ford BlueOval network appealed to you then you can use the Electrify America app through Carplay or Android Auto to find and route to locations. You can even start charging through the app in the dash.

EVgo Membership

EVgo offers 3 levels of membership. EVgo Basic, EVgo Plus and EVgo Plus Max. Without paying for a membership you get their highest rate plus you are charged a $3 reservation fee and a $0.99 session fee. With the first level of membership EVgo Basic you also pay a $3 reservation fee but no session fee. The other 2 higher memberships charge no reservation or session fees.

EVgo’s rates vary significantly by state, they also charge time of use pricing so time of day will also matter when it comes to your rate. But for the Los Angeles Area the pay as you go rate and EVgo Basic are the same at $0.34, then the EVgo Plus rate is $0.27 and the EVgo Plus Max rate is $0.23

The Membership Fees are EVgo Basic $0.99/month, EVgo Plus $6.99/month and EVgo Plus Max $12.99/month

Shell Recharge (Greenlots)

The fee for Shell Recharge is determined at the charger. There is no membership for Shell Recharge.

Blink Charging

Blink offers a free membership with the following perks.

Easier to charge and pay
track charging history
See how much CO2 you are saving
Get a discount of 20% or more on charging.

What happens if I run out of Charge?

Ford offers Roadside Assistance included with the purchase of your EV. They will drive you back home if you are within 35 miles of home or if not they will take you to any public charging station or Ford dealer. Roadside assistance is included for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Ford and Tesla Partnership

Ford and Tesla have partnered to bring 12,000 Tesla Supercharger stations to Ford EVs. Starting in 2024 the F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit customers will get access to the Superchargers. Starting in 2025 the will start switching all Ford EVs to the Tesla NACS connector instead of the CCS connector currently in use.