Charging FAIL & GREAT Surprise When We Compare The Model Y & Mach-E On The World’s Toughest EV Test!

cab

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The combination of modest range in the standard range car with slow charging really is a bummer. As an owner of an almost 8 year old Model S (P85+) - which I've had for about half that time - I think the charge speed is the more concerning item. Frankly, it gets OLD charging at lower speeds (my own speeds are lower than when the car was new). At first supercharging is a novelty, but that wears off. This is exacerbated by the fact the chargers aren't always where YOU need or want them to be (and don't get me started on destination charging).

The whole EA experience here is, in fact the biggest bummer. The EA buildout finally made it possible for me to CONSIDER another EV for out of town use - this isn't a good showing here with the combination of non-working chargers (the worst case scenario) and slow. While I don't think Ford needs to create a network of its own, the legacy automakers are going to have to suck it up and drop some coin to prop up networks like EA's for a while. Spending $50K for an "in town only" car is a bit of an "ugh" situation, and saying "well, I have a gas car for that"...just admits "EVs aren't ready for prime time", which isn't a message you want to hand to dealers (who will likely already be inclined to push competing gas models on their lots).

I look forward to more full charging tests in more modest weather as I'm rooting for the Mach E (which I consider to be the first real competitor to Tesla).
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BlueMach

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Actually, there's a high probability that you don't understand, completely or otherwise. Unless you're a senior member of the Mustang Mach-e team at Ford, there's a virtual 100% chance that none of us understand completely.
With all due respect, I wouldn't be so quick to assume peoples' credentials you haven't met.
 

jhalkias

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With all due respect, I wouldn't be so quick to assume peoples' credentials you haven't met.
Well . . . do tell.
We would appreciate enlightenment.
He did say unless you were on the Ford Mach E team.
 

BlueMach

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The combination of modest range in the standard range car with slow charging really is a bummer. As an owner of an almost 8 year old Model S (P85+) - which I've had for about half that time - I think the charge speed is the more concerning item. Frankly, it gets OLD charging at lower speeds (my own speeds are lower than when the car was new). At first supercharging is a novelty, but that wears off. This is exacerbated by the fact the chargers aren't always where YOU need or want them to be (and don't get me started on destination charging).

The whole EA experience here is, in fact the biggest bummer. The EA buildout finally made it possible for me to CONSIDER another EV for out of town use - this isn't a good showing here with the combination of non-working chargers (the worst case scenario) and slow. While I don't think Ford needs to create a network of its own, the legacy automakers are going to have to suck it up and drop some coin to prop up networks like EA's for a while. Spending $50K for an "in town only" car is a bit of an "ugh" situation, and saying "well, I have a gas car for that"...just admits "EVs aren't ready for prime time", which isn't a message you want to hand to dealers (who will likely already be inclined to push competing gas models on their lots).

I look forward to more full charging tests in more modest weather as I'm rooting for the Mach E (which I consider to be the first real competitor to Tesla).
I agree, I think Ford needs to "suck it up and drop some coin" on charging, couldn't say it better myself.

BEVs need to be a single car, do anything solution. We can't assume people need a $50k city car, or that people have second cars in their households.

Some of us just own one car, and that one car needs to do everything we need it to do, without excuses *and* without using fossil fuels.
 

BlueMach

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Well . . . do tell.
We would appreciate enlightenment.
He did say unless you were on the Ford Mach E team.
We're all entitled to express our opinions with reasonable anonymity on here, thank you.

The last thing I want is to be doxxed by someone over a forum opinion.
 
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s7davis

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Their are a lot of good points on this thread. However, I think Ford will release the capability for faster charging as more data comes in. I remember one of the Ford Engineers stated the car is capable of 350Kw charging speed. As it already has the wiring for it built in. Why would we have it in already if we were not planning on using it. That wiring is not cheap to add in. So I think as more people get the cars and more charging infrastructure in built the charging speeds will be unlocked for its full potential.

I am not saying this will happen in the next 2 or 3 years but I think once Ford gets to the point of using SSB solid state batteries they will unlock charging speeds.

their is always a sacrifice for the early adapters that they might not get the same benefits but at least you will get tax credits. Think this way you want tax credit or charging speed and range. If you want money back then buy now if you want range and charging speeds buy later on
 

dbsb3233

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One thing I do want to explore when I get my Mach-E -- the accessibility of these stations. I like that a lot of the EA stations are at Wal-Marts, but they are usually way out in the parking lot. My wife uses a prosthetic to walk. Most of the time that would be no issue, but some days that will be a painful walk across a large parking lot.
That's unfortunate, but overall it's far more important NOT to put them close to the entrance IMO, so they don't get blocked. Plus many times Walmart won't be the place people go into to kill time anyway. The Chili's or Arby's on the other side of the parking lot will probably be the destination just as often as the Walmart or Target itself.

Most of the ones I've seen so far are closer to the middle of the parking lot, not really next to the entrance of Walmart or the surrounding restaurants/stores. I checked out many of the ones we'll use for our Denver-Vegas drives (just got back from a trip last week). Glenwood Springs (Target), Grand Junction (Sams Club), Richfield (Walmart), and St George (Walmart) are all sort of middle of the lot, with food choices in/nearby the lots. Green River UT is on the side of this tiny little coffee house. Not much there.

Oh, forgot to add... Richfield UT also has a pair of free 125 kW (shared) Chargepoints just off Main St a few blocks up from the Walmart (where EA is). Behind a little drive-in restaurant.
 
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Mach-E VLOG

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That's unfortunate, but overall it's far more important NOT to put them close to the entrance IMO, so they don't get blocked. Plus many times Walmart won't be the place people go into to kill time anyway. The Chili's or Arby's on the other side of the parking lot will probably be the destination just as often as the Walmart or Target itself.

Most of the ones I've seen so far are closer to the middle of the parking lot, not really next to the entrance of Walmart or the surrounding restaurants/stores. I checked out many of the ones we'll use for our Denver-Vegas drives (just got back from a trip last week). Glenwood Springs (Target), Grand Junction (Sams Club), Richfield (Walmart), and St George (Walmart) are all sort of middle of the lot, with food choices in/nearby the lots. Green River UT is on the side of this tiny little coffee house. Not much there.
That sounds pretty good. And 95% of the time, she needs/wants to stretch her legs so it is no big deal. The US is early in the transition to EV so it's not that big of a deal. But at some point, it will need to be a consideration. I've done a little research and some charging stations don't even have wheelchair ramps so someone could reach the charger.

As for the placement of charging stations close to the entrances is increase/implement fines like they do for handicap parking. Of course, we constantly run into people that abuse them because they are "just running in" but after one expensive ticket they may change their mind about that excuse.
 

generaltso

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I remember one of the Ford Engineers stated the car is capable of 350Kw charging speed. As it already has the wiring for it built in. Why would we have it in already if we were not planning on using it. That wiring is not cheap to add in. So I think as more people get the cars and more charging infrastructure in built the charging speeds will be unlocked for its full potential.
Not exactly. When asked if the charging speed can be updated in the future, the engineer asked why would they put that much copper in a car if they weren’t going to use it. At the time, people interpreted that to mean that the copper in the car can handle higher than 150kW charging speeds. But now nobody’s sure if he didn’t actually mean it the other way. In other words, he could have meant “Why would we have put bigger copper in the car since we‘re not using it?” Either way, nothing has been confirmed by Ford.
 

jhalkias

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We're all entitled to express our opinions with reasonable anonymity on here, thank you.

The last thing I want is to be doxxed by someone over a forum opinion.
You are entitled to anonymity to the point where you begin expressing expertise. Start talking like an expert, and I would expect you to "pony up" with a bare minimum to reflect your knowledge or background. If not, then my estimation is that you really don't know what you are talking about.

I really don't want to get attacked either . . . but anyone can probably look up my twitter, etc. and figure out who I am with the same handle. I am actually dumb enough to use my name. It's a lot easier to be some anonymous guy on the internet telling everyone you know better.
 

GoGoGadgetMachE

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what did you just say? do I need to get my ticket book out?

you kids today!
 

GoGoGadgetMachE

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The service plaza's on the Ohio Turnpike are some of the nicest ones I've ever been to ! LOL
just a minor nitpick - the updated service plazas - I don't know if over 2020 they finally completed renovating all of them or not, but the old versions were basically awful. This was unfortunate, because the first one coming in from... the East I think? I forget which end... was one of the old style ones and it definitely felt like it - bathrooms, water fountains, vending machines, and a small tourist info station that was closed a lot - and that was it.

the new style ones that are most of the stops now though? yeah, those are pretty great.
 

jhalkias

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No. What kind?

Edited: Found it in Plugshare. Chargepoint chargers at a Kum & Go gas station. Interesting that they're branded with the Kum & Go logo, and a Colorago logo (suggesting they probably got a CO state grant). No mention of power level yet.

https://www.plugshare.com/location/291121

While I shouldn't need them (EA has sufficient coverage along that stretch of I-70), it's nice to know there's backups going in in case there's a problem with the EAs.

660698.jpg
There is a gas station with THAT name??? Who was smoking the legal stuff in Colorado stuff when they thought that one up?
 
 




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