What is the point of BlueCruise?

[Desert Dan]

We like to use Kettleman City and Santa Clarita, going from SJ to Santa Ana, but those don’t look ideal for you.

It also depends on the configuration of your Mach-E, size of battery and if AWD or not. And if you have a NACS adapter.

The best route seems to be up I5 to 46 and then over to 101.

ABRP picks different chargers depending on the battery size, and note there are a lot more choices if a NACS adapter is in the mix. Note since you would probably start out from home with 100% SOC but not on the return trip make sure you plan both directions and don’t be surprised if you use different ones on the return trip. Depending on your Mach-E’s configuration you might be able to make it to Lost Hills which is right at 46. I have charged at the Tesla chargers there with no problem. This the older one with 20 chargers by Denny’s. There is another real new one a short distance off to the right with tons of chargers but it seems like it still is open. There looks to be a EAIn the same area of older Tesla chargers, but I have never used it.

There is no shortage of chargers on I5 and where you are going on 101, it really just comes down to which will be at the best spots for your trip.

Thanks, gives me something to check out. I have a 2025 Premium AWD ER. Probably around 300 mile range if I control the accelerator. Not an easy job for an old retired cop.

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[IgorKl]

i love BC for my long highway rides. also it's good in commute traffic so I can open my water bottles and etc. I can only regret that renewal is so expensive, I think $200 for year would be acceptable price for me.

 

[IgorKl]

The interesting thing about stress is it is related to a person’s belief.

Some people can be stress free with a Tesla driving around in FSD “mad max mode” exceeding the speed limit and weaving in and out of traffic and like it to be in a “sports car”. Others like my wife find using adaptive cruise control too stressful to use.

I personally fall into the category of lightly holding on to the wheel with one hand and only using BlueCruise on long trips and major highways like I5.

One note, I just took a trip to the LA area and used the automatic passing feature. It works pretty good, but I had to catch in some tricky situations. The more I think about it I wish there was a button or assistant command that could turn it off and on. It was nice when passing slow trucks, but I would have like being able to temporarily turn it off in some situations and digging through the menus while driving isn’t an option.

but you can temporary disable BC itself with just one finger. I use this option on curvy roads of Pacheco pass

 

[IgorKl]

Thanks, gives me something to check out. I have a 2025 Premium AWD ER. Probably around 300 mile range if I control the accelerator. Not an easy job for an old retired cop.

Dan,

I drive '22 CaliRoute 1 AWD (312 miles range) on I-5 if I keep myself at 80 mph I see 200-230 miles range (with heater can be slightly less). Blue Cruise is super helper to keep with speed. if you decide to go on 101 just remember that Kings County is famous for CHIP units for years.
Also, you can run ABRP in background of your favorite navigation and paired with OBD dongle it could show you charging options.

 

[RickMachE]

Thanks, gives me something to check out. I have a 2025 Premium AWD ER. Probably around 300 mile range if I control the accelerator. Not an easy job for an old retired cop.

I don't know the route, but 300 mile range isn't happening unless you average 55mph.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I don't feel comfortable keeping my hands off for long stretches of time. There are times when BC turns off all of a sudden and I would want to make sure my hands are already on the steering wheel. Plus you literally just have to keep a finger on the steering wheel to keep ACC/LKA active

Um, so don't use BC?

I've been using it reliably for years. But as they say YMMV. The forum can't make this decision for you. If you don't trust BC you probably never will. No big deal. It's a feature not a requirement.

 

[raijinmach]

Um, so don't use BC?

I've been using it reliably for years. But as they say YMMV. The forum can't make this decision for you. If you don't trust BC you probably never will. No big deal. It's a feature not a requirement.

I don't. I'm just curious why others do. No need to get defensive

 

[Ford Motor Company]

You can't sing "we will, we will rock you" and clap along with the music if you don't have Blue Cruise.

Exactly.

 

[Krabbit]

I love it for highway drives. I had no idea how many little corrections/calculations I was making every minute of every drive. Spent four 12 hour days driving this summer back and forth to MI and it was a game changer. Arrived much fresher and ready to go, where if I had had to do all the driving, Ide have been wiped out physically.

 

[gregsfortytwo]

I don't know the route, but 300 mile range isn't happening unless you average 55mph.

I get my rated 310 miles on all my long-distance trips at 65mph. You don’t need to dog along *that* slowly.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I don't. I'm just curious why others do. No need to get defensive

That's not me being defensive. I didn't feel your post was an attack. I don't in any way need validation from others on how I drive and use my car .

I suppose the answer to the title of your post is: The point of BC is to allow the driver to remain passive during travel under certain circumstances in an effort to minimize tension or fatigue behind the wheel. The driver is still required to monitor the road ahead at all times.

 

[RickMachE]

I don't. I'm just curious why others do. No need to get defensive

This thread borders on the ridiculous. You asked a question. It was answered right away. Handsfree driving allows a less stressful trip. That's it. Fact.

Then, the horse gets beaten to death. You state that hands on just requires a finger on the wheel. That is incorrect, it requires feedback. On and on it goes.

You have your answer. Don't use it. Some of us have thousands, or tens of thousands of handsfree miles.

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us...e-mapped-our-2024-hands-free-highway-data-jam

 

[Space_Pony]

I get my rated 310 miles on all my long-distance trips at 65mph. You don’t need to dog along *that* slowly.

It's not happening around here with temps in the 30's.

 

[raijinmach]

This thread borders on the ridiculous. You asked a question. It was answered right away. Handsfree driving allows a less stressful trip. That's it. Fact.

Then, the horse gets beaten to death. You state that hands on just requires a finger on the wheel. That is incorrect, it requires feedback. On and on it goes.

You have your answer. Don't use it. Some of us have thousands, or tens of thousands of handsfree miles.

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us...e-mapped-our-2024-hands-free-highway-data-jam

I asked a question and I was told to not use it if I don't like it. Umm obviously? Why would I need you or anyone to tell me that. I'm curious why others are using it. It's that simple. Don't need snide comments.

 

[RickMachE]

I asked a question and I was told to not use it if I don't like it. Umm obviously? Why would I need you or anyone to tell me that. I'm curious why others are using it. It's that simple. Don't need snide comments.

In post #2 your question was answered.

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