Mach-e for Road Trips just sucks. Not even close. More expensive than gas

[RickMachE]

OK, I guess I will have to clarify a bit to move this along: Why is EA charging .56 near me here in California, and the same .56 in Texas, where electricity is less than half the cost?

I would assume to maximize profits? Given that we don't know what they are paying for electricity, rent, maintenance, etc.

In Nevada they charge 64 cents at some locations.

In California, where electricity costs are high, they charge 64 cents, 56 cents, and even 48 cents.

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[RickMachE]

Here in the Bellingham, Washington area, I fill up my ‘93 F150 for $3.49 at Costco (as of last week); I charge the Mach E at home for 8 cents a kWh.
What’s this free kWh allowance at EA? I purchased a 2024 Premium last month and haven’t seen it the two times I charged at EA.
Also planning a 3,000+ mile road trip in October. I do have the Tesla adapter.
Any advice and planning tips would be appreciated. What are the best apps?

Thanks.

The free 250kWh of charging ended 6/1/24.

Use ABRP to plan, and PlugShare to check EACH location.

SIgn up for EA and/or Tesla's memberships the morning of the trip, and immediately downgrade, takes effect 30 days later.

 

[p8blr]

I agree that the cost of DCFC needs to come down. We were blown away when we saw that the EA chargers in central Kansas were $0.65/kwh. Hopefully things get easier and cheaper in the future, but it honestly is a tossup sometimes between our Mach E or efficient ICE. The Mach E is nicer to drive in every way, but requires more thought and planning for long road trips just because it is very easy to overspend on charging vs gasoline.

 

[azerik]

Ok fellas, y'all right - my math sucks - here is the fixed numbers.

506 miles, 2.4 efficiency, $89 (70 kWh at my home @14 cents)
F150 would have cost $88 at 15mpg.

I drove most of the trip at 75, some at 70 and some at 80.

And yes, i got 500 kWr free from Ford, so I didn't pay anything for EA, but I am figuring it for when that's run out. Although I don't think it will, since damn, that's expensive. And yes, i guess i could subscribe to EA, but since i got 30k without them, well...

I ordered my Tesla convertor months ago - still waiting.

Wait. You flew off the handle not paying for EA charging? (just poking )
Long distance trips with DC charing is going to be nearly the same cost with twice to 3 times the length of stops. Distance trips should be planned with hotel charing if at all possible. Heck I don't even take my MME 200 miles to my cabin if I need to turn around and come back the same day. It'd add 30 min at the EA charger 20 minutes from my cabin, so almost 1.5 hours out of my way and I get to pay ~55 cents a kW. The Tesla adapter isn't going to save you much $ wise if any. It's only a convenience.

Now the flip side of taking the ICE over the MME? I lose handsfree BC, which I rather enjoy it driving rather than me.

 

[Sikkun]

I have traveled TN->FL, TN->Ohio, TN->CT and all of my trips have been slightly cheaper to charge the Mach E than a comparable vehicle. While the Mach E has also been cheaper the rest of the year also.

Summer driving, charging has not added much time as I generally go 250 miles between charges. Especially a 1 charge trip where I am going to stop and eat anyway.

3 charge trip is when the time added started to become noticeable, but after ~14 hours on the road it’s a miserable day at that point ICE or EV.

Now I can admit the extra ~$12k give or take on an EV vs comparable ICE would have bought a lot of gas. But over the life of the vehicle I will save money.

 

[DesignMatters]

Here in the Bellingham, Washington area, I fill up my ‘93 F150 for $3.49 at Costco (as of last week); I charge the Mach E at home for 8 cents a kWh.
What’s this free kWh allowance at EA? I purchased a 2024 Premium last month and haven’t seen it the two times I charged at EA.
Also planning a 3,000+ mile road trip in October. I do have the Tesla adapter.
Any advice and planning tips would be appreciated. What are the best apps?

Thanks.

Best advice for a road trip of 3,000+ miles is to rent an ICE sedan that gets 35MPG +
and save a lot of headaches, traveling delays, put all that wear and tear and depreciation hit on a rental ICE. Thank me later. ?

 

[Mach1E]

People attacking EVs for road trips say “it takes more planning, can cost more and takes more time.”

People defending EVs for road trips say “it takes more planning, can cost more and takes more time.”

This will likely go on for many more pages.

 

[Thunderbuck]

The whole thing about public charging is how many different networks are available in a given area. The more competition, the more price pressure there's going to be.

I just got home from a 3,000 mile trip that essentially took me the length of British Columbia and back. Charged mostly at BC Hydro chargers, which are $CDN0.37/kWh and that's a fantastic deal (especially since they're the only choice in remote areas like the Alaska Highway), but Tesla and Electrify Canada are both >$CDN0.70. Even at that higher price, though, my Mach-E is still considerably cheaper to run than on $CDN1.80/litre unleaded.

 

[Phil Martin]

I can't see myself waiting hours to get a charge, so I only buy plug in hybrids. Road trips are much nicer, no worries.

 

[ryannix123]

After 30k, I finally did my first road trip in my Mach-e (Houston to Dallas and back, leave Friday, back Saturday)

253 miles. Cost was $0.14 at my house, and $0.56 at each of 3 EA stops I had to make. Total cost $48. 133 kWh used. Efficiency was 1.9 - wow.
Stopped twice in Ennis, TX Walmart - 3 of 4 chargers out of service - had to wait for the 1 working one. Total time 75 minutes.
On the way home, had to wait again for the 1 working charger, total wait time 90 minutes.
Third stop was a little better (Huntsville), 3 of 4 working, but 1 was 30kWhr only ... I got the high speed, wait 20 minutes.

If I drive my F150, range is 550 miles, so NO stops, and gas at US$2.60 a gallon, cost is $43 - $5 LESS than the EV.

Just wow - I get it why people don't want to buy EVs. I am lucky, it's my 2nd car, and I love my Mach-e for getting around town, but these Public Chargers are a joke.

Peace

I couldn't agree with you more. I've done two road trips in my Mach-E, which I love, and it's been a pretty terrible experience so far. The first trip was in the dead of winter, from Chicago to Madison, about 125 miles away. I left the garage with 270 miles ETA and rolled into Madison with 50 miles left. I spent 90 minutes charging at the Walmart in Madison to ensure a full charge for the return trip, and it was roughly $40 to charge.

My second trip was in June to downstate Illinois. I left the garage with 312 miles for a 180-mile trip and rolled into town with 77 miles left. Fortunately, the one Ford dealer in town had a level 3 charger, which I planned to use, so it only took an hour and $50 to fully charge back up.

It's hard to convince people EVs are the solution. Sure, road trips like these are rare, but EVs are only suitable for localized trips. That's the hard reality, but that's the physics of lithium-ion batteries today: reality isn't easily mocked.

 

[WallyS56]

Best advice for a road trip of 3,000+ miles is to rent an ICE sedan that gets 35MPG +
and save a lot of headaches, traveling delays, put all that wear and tear and depreciation hit on a rental ICE. Thank me later. ?

I’ve got four vehicles, so no need to rent. I’m looking forward to the challenges. It will be a learning experience, but I just retired and have time for an EV education.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Friend just reported some range anxiety. In wilderness area of California. I have experienced the same. Both involved a lapse in planning. Oh yes, it may be relevant to note that both were ICEs.

What's funny about that, is technically, with the right Jackery battery and solar panel set up, you could, eventually power up a BEV again. I read an article about someone who did that very thing. Drove her Bolt out in the middle of nowhere, set out some panels and garnered enough of a charge to reach "land". ? Yes it took a hella long time, but if you are already stranded, what else are you so busy doing that you can't wait for the battery to gain some juice.

And yes, provided you have cell service, calling someone to drive out with a can of gasoline would be easier but I still think the solar panel thing was pretty cool.

 

[radios]

I agree that EV chargers are not so dependable. However, as I tell everyone, EV's are not for everyone and you have to do some homework to make a trip cost effective. I use my Mache and my Lightning more for trips under 200 miles one way. If you are going 200+ miles and back in one day, you will probably have to pay. However, if you stay overnight there are many hotels and places that have free EV chargers. Many colleges and universities have free chargers and so do many cities. I don't know about other states but Ofallon MO city park has free level 2 chargers as well as the Missouri Technical school in Linn, MO. You may have to scout around but you can find them. I will never go back to an IC vehicle because I hate the hesitation and inconvenience or fuel vehicles. In my old Ram I come to a hill and push the foot pedal a little and nothing. So I push a little more and nothing. So I push a little more and then a big surge of power. Give me the smooth power of an EV.

 

[Sikkun]

Unless you live in a charging desert people really need to learn what a charge curve is if they are spending 1-2 hours per charge because they think going to 100% is the way to do it.

 

[MacherAWD]

It's hard to convince people EVs are the solution. Sure, road trips like these are rare, but EVs are only suitable for localized trips. That's the hard reality, but that's the physics of lithium-ion batteries today: reality isn't easily mocked.

I start with "every house should seriously consider replacing one car with an EV" then you learn the ropes, try it all, and either stay 1 ICE 1 EV or you go dual EV. I think it would help adoption so much more if we just come from that angle. I hate when people ask me for EV advise and say, I am single, live in an apartment, have 1 car, and want to go spend $50k on an EV.....I am honest and say, I wouldnt, and thats from a household that is dual EV, no ICE.

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