Charging on the left - what was Ford thinking?

ARK

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Perhaps this will all be moot in a few years if wireless charging for EVs takes off.
 

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I’ve seen some comments saying that the location of the charge port makes it inconvenient to charge at public stations (the long hood pushes it too far back so may be a problem for short or stiff cables). Anyone experienced this?
 


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I’ve seen some comments saying that the location of the charge port makes it inconvenient to charge at public stations (the long hood pushes it too far back so may be a problem for short or stiff cables). Anyone experienced this?
Yes I did, last week for example. This is the public charging station ( two slots ). If you are parking in front of the station then it´ll be difficult, depends on how the other car is parking.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Charging on the left - what was Ford thinking? 537357
 

67 Stang Convertible

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Yes I did, last week for example. This is the public charging station ( two slots ). If you are parking in front of the station then it´ll be difficult, depends on how the other car is parking.
537357.jpg
In the southeast US I've just never seen a curbside charger. We have some (Volta) chargers that are in the parking lot of the local grocery store. How is the MME doing in Germany? Is it catching on? With Germany being such a Meca of luxury car industry; how is Ford received? Is there a difference in reception of Ford EV v. Ford ICE?
 

nvabill

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The charger puts you and an open charger door and the cord in harm's way when parked at the curb on the street.

Eventually, plenty of owners will be parking at the curb while plugged in. Why put the charger on the left side of the car?
The charger is on the left side so you will not forget it is plugged in and drive away creating a hazard. Hard to miss it when it is staring at you as you sit in the driver's seat.
 
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Carsinmyblood

Carsinmyblood

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The charger is on the left side so you will not forget it is plugged in and drive away creating a hazard. Hard to miss it when it is staring at you as you sit in the driver's seat.
You can't put it in Drive until the cord is disconnected.
 

txaggies07

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I like it on the driver side so when I get out at home and need to plug in it is just right there. I would actually have an issue with my garage config if it were on the right. Since I have to have enough room for me to get out on the left, then there is by default enough room to plug it in.
 

JamieGeek

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Ford actually put considerable thought into it before putting it where it is on the .... Focus Electric.

It has been in that position on Ford plugins ever since 2012.

It is also in that position on the Chevy Bolt(s).

Looks like Audi eTrons also have it on the driver's side (yup UK versions have it on the right).
 

ClaudeMach-E

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In Quebec street charging is developping rapidly because if they want people to adopt EV's not all people have a garage or a driveway. Of course depending of the side of the street the L2 charger (generally) can be on the left or the right of the car. The simpliest thing then would be to have a charge port on both sides of the car.

https://chargehub.com/en/countries/canada/quebec/montreal.html :)

Ford Mustang Mach-E Charging on the left - what was Ford thinking? Montreal Street Charger
 

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Charging in September I saw one on the front, don't remember the make. Dead center.

I wish they were dual-sided also, would help on some stations. Also, for the Lightning, they've put a false one on the right side "to match". They should have dual ones so you can hook up two chargers at once for the Lightning.

My issue is the size of the charging door, and the way it opens way out there, begging to be bent into the fender. Fusion Energi's was smaller, round, and rotated up and out of the way. Much better, but plastic, not metal as I recall.
 

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Ford actually put considerable thought into it before putting it where it is on the .... Focus Electric.

It has been in that position on Ford plugins ever since 2012.

It is also in that position on the Chevy Bolt(s).

Looks like Audi eTrons also have it on the driver's side (yup UK versions have it on the right).
Rivian has it on the driver side front, Tesla has it on driver side rear and Hummer EV will have it on driver side rear. Lightning will be driver side front.

Here is something that bugs me though. The automatic parking feature on the Mustang backs into a perpendicular parking spot. So in most cases I could not use that feature for public charging. I think they need to improve the auto parking feature to know where the charger and port are and automatically park it the right way. And between the lines to not block the adjacent spot.
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