They should post cold weather mileage and hot weather mileage

[AKgrampy]

The big thing, I believe, is people need to understand that the operating costs per mile are significantly higher in winter months and figure the costs into their decision. At some point in the future that factor will not matter as BEVs may be the only option. Kind of like LED lighting - at first the purchase cost did not justify the savings so my experience was LED manufacturers did not push their product for all cases - only cases where they were cost effective. Then as LEDs became cheaper they became cost effective for everyone. This approach kept LEDs from getting a bad rep. Although I do not ever see EVs coming down in price, nor electric prices dropping for that matter, I would not like to see acceptance of EVs to be impacted by potential bad PR from owners who do not realize how the operating cost will vary with temperature. I live in Alaska so temp will be an issue for me for around half the year. For now I will operate my ICE on the coldest days and I do recognize and accept that my Mach will use perhaps double the energy per mile in the winter than in the summer.

Sponsored

 

[FLmac]

At this point I don’t think I would buy a BEV if I lived up North! We have warmed up again and the range is responding nicely!! The cold definitely kills your range and I can tell a difference even up around 50 degrees F!!!

Will you stop jinxing us by saying it warmed up? Now it’s back in the 50s again and I’m freezing! ??

 

[Mach1E]

I think that anyone considering a major purchase of anything (car, home, watercraft, etc.) should do their research based on their own use case before buying.

Or we can just give people relevant and accurate information up front?

I actually think the OP’s idea is a good one.

Your comment assumes everyone is tech savvy and smart enough to understand what it they’re researching.

You shouldn’t need an advanced degree to buy a car.

Many people (and I’m thinking of my parents and all their friends) read a range estimate for a BEV and would logically and incorrectly assume that’s how far you can drive it. Especially coming from an ICE they’d also assume that it’s highway range.

More accurate and detailed info on the window sticker and in advertising would go a long way to educate ICE drivers on how a BEV works.

Ironically, the most common question I get about my car: “What’s the range?”

My answer is 260, but then a ton of disclaimers.

 

[RockwallRick]

Will you stop jinxing us by saying it warmed up? Now it’s back in the 50s again and I’m freezing! ??

Sorry about that! Our weather has been like a rollercoaster ride lately! The MME and me like it to be in the 80’s!! Lol

 

[RickMachE]

It's not a bad idea.

Yes, people should research the cars they buy, but there is NOTHING wrong with manufacturers being open and up front about this in an easily quantifiable way.

Unless if is required of all manufacturers, any manufacturer doing this on their own would lose sales.

 

[dml105]

Without looking it up, what’s the eMPG of the Mach-e?

(and do you care?)

It seems to me that the government is too concerned with comparing EVs to gas powered cars than requiring the manufacturers to give summary information particular to EVs.

Unless if is required of all manufacturers, any manufacturer doing this on their own would lose sales.

I’m not so sure. Does the government require manufacturers to list range? Or is that just something that everyone asks so they have to tell it?

 

[RickMachE]

Without looking it up, what’s the eMPG of the Mach-e?

(and do you care?)

It seems to me that the government is too concerned with comparing EVs to gas powered cars than requiring the manufacturers to give summary information particular to EVs.

I’m not so sure. Does the government require manufacturers to list range? Or is that just something that everyone asks so they have to tell it?

Requirement. EPA.

 

[Mach1E]

Without looking it up, what’s the eMPG of the Mach-e?

(and do you care?)

It seems to me that the government is too concerned with comparing EVs to gas powered cars than requiring the manufacturers to give summary information particular to EVs.

I’m not so sure. Does the government require manufacturers to list range? Or is that just something that everyone asks so they have to tell it?

eMPG doesn’t really help explain range.

That’s more of a cost of ownership comparison for people coming from an ICE.

 

[Maquis]

Or we can just give people relevant and accurate information up front?

I actually think the OP’s idea is a good one.

Your comment assumes everyone is tech savvy and smart enough to understand what it they’re researching.

You shouldn’t need an advanced degree to buy a car.

Many people (and I’m thinking of my parents and all their friends) read a range estimate for a BEV and would logically and incorrectly assume that’s how far you can drive it. Especially coming from an ICE they’d also assume that it’s highway range.

More accurate and detailed info on the window sticker and in advertising would go a long way to educate ICE drivers on how a BEV works.

Ironically, the most common question I get about my car: “What’s the range?”

My answer is 260, but then a ton of disclaimers.

That’s all well and good, the more pertinent information that’s readily available, the better. I’m all for it.

But my point is that when that information is lacking or hard to get, it still behooves the buyer to do their diligence rather than blindly purchase, then follow up by going online and whining about getting screwed.

 

[Mach1E]

That’s all well and good, the more pertinent information that’s readily available, the better. I’m all for it.

But my point is that when that information is lacking or hard to get, it still behooves the buyer to do their diligence rather than blindly purchase, then follow up by going online and whining about getting screwed.

Maybe, but to be fair, many people here bought the car BEFORE winter time.

So even if they researched it last summer, all the “what happened to my range” threads didn’t show up until after they bought the car.

And for many people, myself included, this is our first BEV. And the information about things like this is….. scattered and inconsistent at best.


I’m not sure why you seem to be defending the manufacturers for not being upfront and honest about their products. And if the consumer gets suckered, it’s their fault for not researching?

Just seems like an odd stance to take.

I imagine you feel the same about Ford concealing the 5 second power limit? It’s our fault for not figuring it out?

 

[JRT]

I agree, some ideas of these worst cases would be huge improvement to customer expectations. Range took a shocking hit to me. I tell people it's a great alternative to gas prices but understand how you plan to use it. I can take short range 90% of the time, but when my Dad had a heart problem emergency in Atlanta I have to get on the road and get there as fast as possible and the cold temperatures and extra charging time had me take our Challenger GT instead. If there were more fast charges in the small towns we travel through I could have done the MME, but since there is really only 1 on the way I did not want to risk it. These are decisions I've never made before in driving someplace. That is the issue

 

[Maquis]

Maybe, but to be fair, many people here bought the car BEFORE winter time.

So even if they researched it last summer, all the “what happened to my range” threads didn’t show up until after they bought the car.

And for many people, myself included, this is our first BEV. And the information about things like this is….. scattered and inconsistent at best.


I’m not sure why you seem to be defending the manufacturers for not being upfront and honest about their products. And if the consumer gets suckered, it’s their fault for not researching?

Just seems like an odd stance to take.

I imagine you feel the same about Ford concealing the 5 second power limit? It’s our fault for not figuring it out?

I’m not defending anybody. Winter range degradation is not some unheard of phenomenon, hidden by a conspiracy of auto manufacturers.
The 5 second power limit is exactly the opposite. It’s not a universal scientific fact like Li-Ion battery performance is. It’s specifically engineered into the GT and I think Ford has a lot to answer for on this one.

 

[Mach1E]

I’m not defending anybody. Winter range degradation is not some unheard of phenomenon, hidden by a conspiracy of auto manufacturers.
The 5 second power limit is exactly the opposite. It’s not a universal scientific fact like Li-Ion battery performance is. It’s specifically engineered into the GT and I think Ford has a lot to answer for on this one.

Winter range degradation actually IS an unheard of phenomenon…….. until this winter in the Mach E world.

If you came from a Tesla, it’s old news. If you came from an ICE (like most Mach E buyers), it’s brand new info.

Even if you “did your research,” this is something that could have been missed very easily.

How I research cars:

level 1:
Go to dealers, look at them, talk to salespeople, test drive, read the window sticker. Info on cold weather range? Nonexistent.

Level 2:
Go online, read reviews from magazines, watch YouTube reviewers. Info on cold weather range? Still nonexistent.

Level 3:
Go online, join a forum. Read threads and post questions. Last summer when my car was being built, info on cold weather range? Nonexistent.


Now, during winter, for anyone one this forum, it’s hard to miss a cold weather range info. But you have to do a pretty deep dive to find the info. Personally, it should be noted in both my “level 1 and 2” research examples above.

And if you don’t know it’s a problem, it’s not like you’re going to do a “Mach E cold weather range” google search.

 

[dml105]

Also, "do your own research" is still a recipe for disaster. (See, e.g., the pandemic.) There's a lot of garbage information on the internet. Even a bit on this site. Expertise can be hard to spot, and is often refuted by dumbasses.

The people with the most knowledge (Ford) should make it easy for the people (us) to get the best knowledge they have. Having to go to macheforum.com to get information is already a failure.

 

[mkhuffman]

Winter range degradation actually IS an unheard of phenomenon…….. until this winter in the Mach E world.

If you came from a Tesla, it’s old news. If you came from an ICE (like most Mach E buyers), it’s brand new info.

Even if you “did your research,” this is something that could have been missed very easily.

How I research cars:

level 1:
Go to dealers, look at them, talk to salespeople, test drive, read the window sticker. Info on cold weather range? Nonexistent.

Level 2:
Go online, read reviews from magazines, watch YouTube reviewers. Info on cold weather range? Still nonexistent.

Level 3:
Go online, join a forum. Read threads and post questions. Last summer when my car was being built, info on cold weather range? Nonexistent.


Now, during winter, for anyone one this forum, it’s hard to miss a cold weather range info. But you have to do a pretty deep dive to find the info. Personally, it should be noted in both my “level 1 and 2” research examples above.

And if you don’t know it’s a problem, it’s not like you’re going to do a “Mach E cold weather range” google search.

I agree with this but I also think it will happen naturally. As more people own BEVs, more people will learn about the limitations and it will become common knowledge, just like ICE limitations are common knowledge.

For example, when my non BEV owning friends ask me about range I tell them it is worse in winter and worse on the highway. ICE owners are becoming aware and the more we talk, the more general awareness grows.

Is it the car manufacturers' responsibility to tell everyone about what is bad about their products? Maybe, but I don't think it is reasonable to expect it to be part of their marketing that is designed to sell the car.

Sponsored