I opened in early June 2021 and they charged mid August 2022. Last year (2023) I haven't received any notification though I think they didn't take. So the free might just be only the first year, I'm not sure. But I really think last year they didn't take
It will never take 2.5 hours and I'm pretty sure there is no direct. The best is to get to Rayong city bus station Terminal 1 (not terminal 2) and then get one of those small 2 benches open cheap buses (xong-tail) which takes you to ban-phe pier in max 30 minutes.