Mach-E Premium AWD SR vs AWD ER -- worth spending the $6,000 to get an extended range battery?

[Nemy]

+1 on a faster 0-60 time.

But I went from a SR to ER and I kept it RWD to get the most range possible. For me, range is king in the EV world and likely true on resale (esp on high mileage vehicles with range loss). Beyond that, range anxiety is a real thing and I've driven an EV for over 4 years. The difference of SR to ER is the difference of range anxiety and convenience.

I'm a boy scout so I like to have a leftover range of 30-40. Just this week, I ran it down to 70 miles before I got back to my office's free charger. If I had an AWD/SR, I would have already been outside of my comfort range. With that in mind, a SR AWD only gives you 180 before range anxiety starts to creep in and that's in perfect driving conditions. In the winter, you really only have 100 miles before range anxiety creeps in.

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[Bender]

I bought premium AWD, range was a big concern for me. I haven’t had it in real cold yet as I received it in April. My commute is 70% highway, I drive 120km/hr to the city then a quick drive off freeway to the office. I also have a heavy foot accelerating and this is my average range per charge in 20-27 C temps outside using the a/c. I’m happy with it. If doing mostly city driving not driving aggressively I’m confident I would get very close to 500 km’s on a 100% charge (rarely do, stop at 85% most days). Waiting to see what Canadian winters do to the range.

Every person that asks me about car, first question is “what is the range”? For resale, I’m sure price will affected by battery size. I’m guessing it will easier to dump a car with longer range battery, especially in Canada with the cold winters. My dealer said they ordered NO standard range cars.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I probably would have been okay with the SR for my typical driving, work, groceries, etc (and would have saved north of $7k). However given the anemic state of true public DCFC in New England, I'm glad I had the ER for the few road trips I took this summer.

 

[dml105]

Let's do some Math!

In my situation, the ER battery will eliminate ~5 to 10 charging stops away from home a year over the SR battery. I expect to keep the car ~3 years.

Sooo... the ER battery would save me 15 to 30 charging stops... at the cost of $6K... hmm $200-$400 savings per stop excluding resale difference... SR for me is the way to go.

IRL the SR battery has not stopped me from going anywhere that an extra 60 miles of range would have enabled.

On a different topic, why would anyone listen to a car salesman about anything...

Just don't forget that after 3 years, you'll be able to sell the ER for more than you could sell the SR for! So, that $200-400 range is probably not correct. You don't deplete the ability to go farther after 3 years. The person buying your car gets that ability also, and will pay more for it.

 

[Blue highway]

I probably would have been okay with the SR for my typical driving, work, groceries, etc (and would have saved north of $7k). However given the anemic state of true public DCFC in New England, I'm glad I had the ER for the few road trips I took this summer.

SR is ok on the Interstates in the PNW, and I'm happy with the choice, but there are "gotchas"

Something the thread hasn't touched on much is if you need to be away from interstates in the West what can you do? (e.g. south eastern Oregon is a charging desert many electric cars can not get across easily), ER will be the way to go if you need to venture away from cities and the interstates for the next few years...

Still hoping DCFC ramps up in a big way which it eventually will... but when?

 

[SnBGC]

Thermal issues are a larger issue in the South. Thermal as in too much heat needing to be dissipated during charging, regents, driving. I have just received a production date for my Mach-E GT. So newish here. I have been hanging out on the Lightning forum for over a year, mine allegedly arrives next week. Anyway, the Lightning ER with Max Tow has twice the cooling capacity. Multiple coolant loops. Back to back charges in hot weather should not be an issue with the Lightning ER Max Tow. Might need some real world Mach-E drivers in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and SoCal to give their feedback on thermal issues from this summer.

I thought the extra cooling in the tow package is for the MECS? Doesn't really affect the HVB or cabin all that much from what I remember...... ?
(I don't have an L-150 so can't check for myself....)

 

[ExpensiveWino]

I had a Tesla SR+ for over 2 years and regretted not getting the longer-range model. Many positives to the bigger battery. But at the end of the day just get what you can afford.

 

[ARK]

I just think for the price range of these vehicles, I don't quite get the SR. I would just get a Bolt or something for $15k less if I just wanted to commute, AND you would get more range than an SR MME! That may be more how the Bolt is a crazy good value though in the EV realm. I wish Ford would have saved the SR packs for an EcoSport like vehicle that they also sold for $30k.

The SR vehicles are a great way to save some cash if you don’t need the extra range. The Premium SR RWD probably provides the greatest bang for your buck of all the Mach-E variants in terms of having a Mach-E and having all possible options if you don’t need the range and peppy performance is adequate.

Look at the F150 Lightning, lots of people dislike how going into the higher trims force you into the larger, costlier battery for everyone but the fleet customers.

Lots of cars have traditionally been like this to the detriment of the buyer - you want the nicer seats but have to get the more powerful engine you don’t want/need to go along with it, etc.

 

[Vulnox]

The SR vehicles are a great way to save some cash if you don’t need the extra range. The Premium SR RWD probably provides the greatest bang for your buck of all the Mach-E variants in terms of having a Mach-E and having all possible options if you don’t need the range and peppy performance is adequate.

Look at the F150 Lightning, lots of people dislike how going into the higher trims force you into the larger, costlier battery for everyone but the fleet customers.

Lots of cars have traditionally been like this to the detriment of the buyer - you want the nicer seats but have to get the more powerful engine you don’t want/need to go along with it, etc.

I think that a Chevy Bolt EUV for almost half the price is the better bang for your buck if you just need something around town. I am only looking at it for my uses though of course. My wife has been driving a Focus Electric as I noted with only about 130 miles of range, so about 100 less than an SR MME, but it's fine because we will never use it for long distance trips.

But the thing is, that FE cost $12k and can otherwise do most of what an MME can do. Our biggest reason for getting the MME is to use it for more trips (generally under 5 hours, anything longer and we would take the F-150), and because my wife and I are both tall and our kids are tall, and the FE isn't ideal for that combo.

The F-150 Lightning isn't a good comparison because there is a ton of utility to an SR F-150 that makes more sense for those that need a truck and won't take super long trips. There isn't a Bolt or Focus Electric equivalent in the truck segment that costs half what an F-150 SR does. That's an entirely different conversation. I love the Mach-E and work at Ford and would rather someone buy a Ford than a Chevy, no doubt. But I am also a consumer and it would be hard to talk me into an SR MME. For everyone that finds that use case though, I am glad and just because our use case doesn't see the need doesn't mean there isn't one and clearly SR owners are happy, and I am happy they are happy. I was just offering another view point for OP to consider.

 

[ktn]

Extended Range battery is now $8600!

 

[Celtic4]

Extended Range battery is now $8600!

I believe the word there is "ouch" That is a big increase from $6,000.

 

[generaltso]

I believe the word there is "ouch" That is a big increase from $6,000.

And for the 2021, it was $5000.

 

[Celtic4]

And for the 2021, it was $5000.

Well no more back and forth for me on whether to get the ER. This level of price increase both on the cost of the car and then the ER now being another big increase as well means I will likely go with the Premium AWD and an SR rather then then ER and at least save myself $8,600 there.

 

[Vulnox]

Yeah, $8600 is pretty tough to account for and overcome, especially with the loss of some, maybe all, of the $7500 tax credit for 2023. If you want an ER and don't have an order yet, I would start calling around for someone that didn't accept their order. We just wouldn't be getting an MME if we had to pay the new prices. With tax credit, our build would be about $12k more. Without tax credit it's $19,500 more. Just wild. That puts a lot of gas in the F-150.

 

[ARK]

I think that a Chevy Bolt EUV for almost half the price is the better bang for your buck if you just need something around town. I am only looking at it for my uses though of course. My wife has been driving a Focus Electric as I noted with only about 130 miles of range, so about 100 less than an SR MME, but it's fine because we will never use it for long distance trips.

But the thing is, that FE cost $12k and can otherwise do most of what an MME can do. Our biggest reason for getting the MME is to use it for more trips (generally under 5 hours, anything longer and we would take the F-150), and because my wife and I are both tall and our kids are tall, and the FE isn't ideal for that combo.

The F-150 Lightning isn't a good comparison because there is a ton of utility to an SR F-150 that makes more sense for those that need a truck and won't take super long trips. There isn't a Bolt or Focus Electric equivalent in the truck segment that costs half what an F-150 SR does. That's an entirely different conversation. I love the Mach-E and work at Ford and would rather someone buy a Ford than a Chevy, no doubt. But I am also a consumer and it would be hard to talk me into an SR MME. For everyone that finds that use case though, I am glad and just because our use case doesn't see the need doesn't mean there isn't one and clearly SR owners are happy, and I am happy they are happy. I was just offering another view point for OP to consider.

I didn't mean to come off as critical, I enjoy the discussion and appreciate the contribution.

Definitely agree that for us as consumers, it's been good that Ford has offered so many choices to choose from.

This forum has showed me how different people use their vehicles in different ways. It seems especially for people east of the Mississippi, five hours of driving gets you to lots of destinations to choose from.

From Los Angeles where I am, up to five hours gets you to Las Vegas or San Diego - even San Francisco and Phoenix are six hours away - all assuming with minimal traffic.

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