Long distance travel in our Mach E from an Old man’s perspective (long read)

[RickMachE]

That was great info. On my way back to PNW May 12th ...Going to NY from Seattle in a Kia Niro was only a problem after Wyoming. Plug share was worthless and so was all other apps. ... So went to Ft Collins Co. and then rerouted. Now with a ford mach e , I would like to get from Chicago by May 16 to Lacey WA w/o stressing about Wyoming, Baker city area and access to chargers.. The Mach e fails to give chargers along the way now since 3 weeks ago... so i have to just drive 175 miles and google each city

The issue isn't apps. The issue is the dearth of chargers in some of the states you pass through.
Wyoming currently has one EA location, with 4 more in the future. You can charge just fine if you take a more southernly, and longer route through Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. There's a whole bunch of coming soon in 2023 in Montana.

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[AstralLiving]

Great writeup, thank you for sharing

 

[EVTRAVEL]

That was great info. On my way back to PNW May 12th ...Going to NY from Seattle in a Kia Niro was only a problem after Wyoming. Plug share was worthless and so was all other apps. ... So went to Ft Collins Co. and then rerouted. Now with a ford mach e , I would like to get from Chicago by May 16 to Lacey WA w/o stressing about Wyoming, Baker city area and access to chargers.. The Mach e fails to give chargers along the way now since 3 weeks ago... so i have to just drive 175 miles and google each city

USE A BETTER ROUTE PLANNER to plan your trip. Below is result using my Mach E to create:
If you don't have, setup EA and Chargepoint accounts and I would charge to 80% at each stop. WY is one of the least EV friendly states.

View directions from N LaSalle St to 468-420 College St SE via Electrify America Charging Station, Electrify America Charging Station, and 7 other stops in Google Maps.

VIEW IN GOOGLE MAPS

You requested this link using "send to device" in Google Maps

 

[tgcrun]

Thanks for the write up. In a few weeks, I'm driving from Pasadena, CA to Portland, OR for my daughter's wedding. It'll be my first long trip in an EV, so it's good to hear that the trip is very doable. Needless to say, I don't want to find myself at the side of the road instead of walking down the aisle. Did you take I-5 most of the way?

 

[Spooky]

Nice report, thanks for sharing!!

I keep reading in these forums people think the ride is rough in the MME....apparently, I spent too many years driving a jeep and a truck. I feel spoiled in the MME, so part of it is what you get used to I suppose.

I actually just ordered some dry wash today but was wondering....how do you keep your microfiber towels clean (to avoid scratches)? A big ziplock or something? After use do you take them home and launder them or are they single use?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I keep reading in these forums people think the ride is rough in the MME....apparently, I spent too many years driving a jeep and a truck. I feel spoiled in the MME, so part of it is what you get used to I suppose.

I'm constantly surprised by this too. I feel like this is the most luxurious vehicle I've ever owned. My pickup is harsh but fine. My older vehicles were sometimes ridiculously harsh. Driving the Mustang feels like floating on air without it being a big old boat. It's really much better than I'm used to.

 

[EVTRAVEL]

Nice report, thanks for sharing!!

I keep reading in these forums people think the ride is rough in the MME....apparently, I spent too many years driving a jeep and a truck. I feel spoiled in the MME, so part of it is what you get used to I suppose.

I actually just ordered some dry wash today but was wondering....how do you keep your microfiber towels clean (to avoid scratches)? A big ziplock or something? After use do you take them home and launder them or are they single use?

I launder the micro-fiber clothes. Also, use just old cotton rag to apply and micro-fiber to polish. This trip I used an old dish towel, dipping in hot water to remove bugs then mf cloth to polish. Same when I got home. AS to the ride, It was not bad around town but on this long trip there were some rough roads.Also, I am tall and the years have reduced the padding in my backside

 

[kindofblue]

Any hotel I've ever stayed in during my m/c riding career was quite willing to provide "clean rags" I could use to clean the bugs off my windscreen. Just ask when checking in.

Wet one rag and wipe to dissolve the bugs and another to dry off. This way you're not having to carry around a rag filled with remnants of old bugs you've cleaned off. Just sayin'.

 

[EVTRAVEL]

Thanks for the write up. In a few weeks, I'm driving from Pasadena, CA to Portland, OR for my daughter's wedding. It'll be my first long trip in an EV, so it's good to hear that the trip is very doable. Needless to say, I don't want to find myself at the side of the road instead of walking down the aisle. Did you take I-5 most of the way?

 

[EVTRAVEL]

We took I 5 all the way. We made the point both ways to spend the night at Harris Ranch. There EA chargers there and we really like their breakfast and dinner. Just to be safe, charge at 2601 Balls Ferry rd, anderson, ca. We charged in Willows, CA and charged again at Yreka, CA arriving at 8%. Little tense thru mountains but Navigation system said we would make it.

 

[moparguy]

Thank you for the detailed write-up, the very long charging times are very disappointing, this is where Tesla supercharging network comes way ahead! 10 hours of charging is a lot! you are averaging 160 miles per charge, having to waste an average of 30 minutes every 160-170 miles you drive is truly inefficient in my opinion.

I go to Phoenix frequently, last time, I stopped once for 10 minutes to put gas and use the restroom, I was able to knock down the whole 340 miles trip in under 5 hours, which seems to be an impossible time to achieve with my upcoming Mach E, I feel like investing in hybrids would've made more sense for overall population.

 

[EVTRAVEL]

Thank you for the detailed write-up, the very long charging times are very disappointing, this is where Tesla supercharging network comes way ahead! 10 hours of charging is a lot! you are averaging 160 miles per charge, having to waste an average of 30 minutes every 160-170 miles you drive is truly inefficient in my opinion.

I go to Phoenix frequently, last time, I stopped once for 10 minutes to put gas and use the restroom, I was able to knock down the whole 340 miles trip in under 5 hours, which seems to be an impossible time to achieve with my upcoming Mach E, I feel like investing in hybrids would've made more sense for overall population.

You are correct hybrid may be more effecient. i had a Lexus Hybrid but we went 366 miles with 1 charge while we ate lunch and arrived in a little over 6 hours in Mach E. Not sure I would have done much better in Lexus

 

[EVTRAVEL]

Any hotel I've ever stayed in during my m/c riding career was quite willing to provide "clean rags" I could use to clean the bugs off my windscreen. Just ask when checking in.

Wet one rag and wipe to dissolve the bugs and another to dry off. This way you're not having to carry around a rag filled with remnants of old bugs you've cleaned off. Just sayin'.

Thanks will ask next time

 

[duneii]

You are correct hybrid may be more effecient. i had a Lexus Hybrid but we went 366 miles with 1 charge while we ate lunch and arrived in a little over 6 hours in Mach E. Not sure I would have done much better in Lexus

+1 to this. We have a plug in minvan with 32mile ev range+gas and a Mach-E with 270mile ev range going by rated ranges. We find any trip within 400 miles is an easy one stop to the destination which we would do anyway.
With two kids under 8, we find they fall asleep easier in the mache and so prefer it.

 

[EVTRAVEL]

+1 to this. We have a plug in minvan with 32mile ev range+gas and a Mach-E with 270mile ev range going by rated ranges. We find any trip within 400 miles is an easy one stop to the destination which we would do anyway.
With two kids under 8, we find they fall asleep easier in the mache and so prefer it.

The Mach E is a fun car to drive. I have driven this route many times and surprised at how the Mach E took the mountains and curves with such ease .

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