Premium ER AWD vs RWD - Am I making a mistake?

[Neil4Real]

I’ve wanted an EV for a long time and always loved the Model S, but I’ve been in quite a number of them and hated the wind noise.

When I test drove the Mach e, holy smokes - wind and road noise are amazing even going 80 on the highway. I’ve been searching for a while and finally found a dealer with no markup and am scheduled to pick it up today.

My dilemma - it’s an AWD not RWD. Being my first EV I understandably have range anxiety. My commute is about 35 miles highway and I do drive for work, most I’ve done in a day is about 150 miles (very rare). I live in Southern California and in my current ICE I keep the AC on 2 or 3 all the time and drive about 75/80 on the freeway. My commute is also the 73 toll road, which is hilly.

I do plan on getting a level 2, 40amp breaker/32 amp charger installed so I’m pretty sure I can charge to full every night.

Am I going to miss those 30 miles between AWD and RWD? I see most people saying you’re only supposed to charge to 80% (i though MME already only had access to 80% of the battery so can’t I just charge to 100% everyday with no adverse effects?) which would cut my range from 270 to 216. With my speed, AC use and terrain on the drive, I feel I’ll only really get 140/150 out of a full 80%, but I don’t know for sure.

I just see so many posts of awesome range but you have to drive 65/70 and very minimal AC use with flatter terrain.

Also, I feel AWD is nice for resale value, but I’m wondering if people would prefer seeing a 300 mile range milestone rather than AWD at 270. This one’s hard to predict but something on my mind. Does it make a difference for equivalent Teslas?

What are your thoughts? Am I overthinking this? I have had second thoughts all night and this morning and the anxiety is killing me. I’ve just never owned an EV and it’s hard to really calculate how it’ll be in real world. I’d definitely love the power of AWD, as that’s what I test drove too, but know I don’t really NEED AWD for my location. Though showing off the power to friends in rides will be nice, but obviously not important.

Thanks so much!

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[RickMachE]

I think buying AWD is a necessity (and just did). Once you have a hybrid / PHEV / EV, you learn ways to improve range. Some are crazy things for most people, others are commonsense, like slow gradual stops or coasting to a light from a distance back, etc.

I'll be doing more learning, but I think that conceptually charging to 100% on a slow overnight charger is not really an issue - it's charging over 80 - 85% with a fast, DC charger.

 

[JohnnyForensic]

I’ve wanted an EV for a long time and always loved the Model S, but I’ve been in quite a number of them and hated the wind noise.

When I test drove the Mach e, holy smokes - wind and road noise are amazing even going 80 on the highway. I’ve been searching for a while and finally found a dealer with no markup and am scheduled to pick it up today.

My dilemma - it’s an AWD not RWD. Being my first EV I understandably have range anxiety. My commute is about 35 miles highway and I do drive for work, most I’ve done in a day is about 150 miles (very rare). I live in Southern California and in my current ICE I keep the AC on 2 or 3 all the time and drive about 75/80 on the freeway. My commute is also the 73 toll road, which is hilly.

I do plan on getting a level 2, 40amp breaker/32 amp charger installed so I’m pretty sure I can charge to full every night.

Am I going to miss those 30 miles between AWD and RWD? I see most people saying you’re only supposed to charge to 80% (i though MME already only had access to 80% of the battery so can’t I just charge to 100% everyday with no adverse effects?) which would cut my range from 270 to 216. With my speed, AC use and terrain on the drive, I feel I’ll only really get 140/150 out of a full 80%, but I don’t know for sure.

I just see so many posts of awesome range but you have to drive 65/70 and very minimal AC use with flatter terrain.

Also, I feel AWD is nice for resale value, but I’m wondering if people would prefer seeing a 300 mile range milestone rather than AWD at 270. This one’s hard to predict but something on my mind. Does it make a difference for equivalent Teslas?

What are your thoughts? Am I overthinking this? I have had second thoughts all night and this morning and the anxiety is killing me. I’ve just never owned an EV and it’s hard to really calculate how it’ll be in real world. I’d definitely love the power of AWD, as that’s what I test drove too, but know I don’t really NEED AWD for my location. Though showing off the power to friends in rides will be nice, but obviously not important.

Thanks so much!

Personally, I would go for the AWD even if I didn't live where we get a lot of snow on occasion, which we do. The AWD has better performance, will feel tighter on the road, and at what you stated your use would be, I don't think you'll have any issue with range at all. Many people here in nicer climates say that they're consistently getting 300 miles plus with the 270 mile rated models, so I'd say go for it!

 

[Scarpia]

Based on what you said, you will be golden with the AWD. You'll have no issues with range for 150 miles/day. You can safely charge to 90% daily, possibly more now, as Ford has changed the wording in the manual. I don't think A/C affects range that much.

 

[FordMachEGo]

IMHO, you are not making a mistake. I have an AWD in Southern California and love the extra power it generates. The lower range is really negligible and you can certainly make it up by driving more concervatively, if necessary, and/or charge it to a slightly higher percentage, especially with the extended range battery. You will not regret it. Also, I believe it's fine to charge to 90% every night, and that's still being conservative and protecting the battery. You will have plenty of range with the AWD for your stated use. Good luck.

 

[WFU03]

You're overthinking it. With the driving you described, you'll never be close to running out of juice.

After driving for about a week, you'll get used to what, for example, 52% battery means in real world range and you won't worry about it anymore.

In terms of the extra 30 miles of range, the biggest difference would be on a long road trip. You'll spend roughly 5 minutes longer at each stop in an AWD.

 

[Jimrpa]

AWD. No-brainer. Particularly since you live in an area where the temps never get below 50. If you lived in the northeast where the temps drop into the 20’s, I’d advise you to double-check for a charge station someplace where you’re doing those 150 mile drives but that’s only because I’m paranoid.

 

[smp]

I have a FE MME, so that means the ER battery and AWD. I charge at home, and this week, I did a charge to 90%, and the guess-o-meter told me that I would get 266 miles on that 90% charge.

My advice to you is not to worry, and go for it!

smp

 

[Jeffvisor]

Even the AWD has been hitting over 300 miles and many tests. i went AWD I think they handle rain and snow better. In Calif I know you wont have snow but will have rain.

 

[Mirak]

It’s pretty simple: a 30mi difference in range is almost completely irrelevant, including your particular situation.

The AWD is quicker, more stable, and probably offers better resale value. You just have to decide whether that is worth an extra $2,700 to you.

For me, it definitely was. Ironically, going with the extended range battery encouraged me to go AWD because the acceleration just would have been too sluggish without it. People who have test driven RWD versus AWD extended range MMEs can tell the difference in acceleration.

 

[TRP]

AWD

 

[ARK]

I agree, you are fine with AWD. Even on those very rare occasions where you will drive 150 miles in a day, I don’t think you would need a 100% charge, even in the SoCal winter.

 

[Jimct]

I have a front wheel drive Kona EV, plenty of acceleration but pushing it just makes the drive wheels spin. I test drove the AWD M3 and AWD Mach e - huge difference, you don't want anything less. I've ordered the AWD LR Mach e (only the gods know when delivery will happen).

 

[jimbobiii]

Yeah you want the AWD for the extra power for sure. I get closer to 300 miles on mine in SoCal as well.

also given your circumstance (a predictable commute and predictable departure time) you should have no problem scheduling the car to hit 90,or even 95 or 100% charge at the moment you are leaving every day. I probably would stick to 90 to be safe, but effectively if you are getting the battery to 100% and basically immediately unplugging and burning 10% off for your commute, I would think that wouldn’t have any long term ramifications.

Anyways, you’re fine, and the AWD power (which you’ll use multiple time’s a day) more than makes up for the 30 miles of range (which you’ll only use on road trips).

just get a L2 charger installed at home ASAP

 

[ReidB]

You can always add more electrons, but you can't add AWD...

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