3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :(

theo1000

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We thought the spacing out of EA chargers was good at first but with a 115 mile average between chargers that means you are stopping every 115 miles to charge. With an 80% QC you are lucky to get 210 miles of range and with the speed limit being 75-80MPH there is no way you can do up to 230 miles to skip a charger. If EA had chargers every 50 to 75 miles we could better use the extended range of the Mach-E and limit our charging times. It would also help out with the times we had issues with the EA chargers.
Agreed. 40-50 Miles would be the ideal distance between chargers. EA has said they will double their locations so hopefully that and the FED bill (if they ever get it passed) will help the charger counts.

If I find a good charger I will charge to 80% whether I need it or not.

Another thing I have learnt with EV is to slow down. I did a ~ 2,000 mile round trip in spring. About 800 miles from home. I took 38 days to do it!! Though not because of charging but it was just so much easier. So if I need to travel long distances I will slow it down.
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Trick.Mach-E

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"Glendale, AZ - 4 EA chargers with 2 not working at all. EA App not activating. CC not working. 1 charger being used by a Bolt charging very slowly."

I was visiting in-laws in Scottsdale (Verde River) over Labor Day and had to drive 40 miles to get to that station as it was the closest DCFC. Also had a Bolt charging very slow, maybe the same dude. It took me 3 tries (all remaining slots) to find one that would work - was finally able to get the one on the same pump as the Chadmo to charge at ~100.
The lady with the Bolt at this location was actually very nice and offered me the charger to use. I knew of the next set of chargers in Buckeye would probably work better so I thanked her for the offer and moved on to those. Fortunately that plan worked out and the chargers worked just fine considering the 111° heat!
 
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Did you use much adaptive or intelligent cruise on the trip? How did it perform on the long distances? How about stop and go traffic if you hit any?
Yes and I must say I do like it. As a certified car guy who loves to drive and swore that I would never let a car drive for me I found Lane Keep Assist to work very well. I won't say I was totally distracted while Lane Keep was active but I did take time to look at the scenery and maybe my phone once or twice when I my wife wasn't paying attention :)

I did have the cruise control set at 96MPH with Lane Keep on and it was fine... you can see that with a picture I took in my original post.

One impressive moment with Lane Keep Assist was while we were in Phoenix, AZ on the I-10 heading west. The speed limit is 65MPH but I was set at 71MPH and some will know this turn...

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


I took my hands off the wheel for that sweeping left and the Mach-E was perfect on this sharp left. I held my hands slightly off the steering wheel to take control immediately if the Mach-E struggled with the turn but it did so brilliantly. I was very impressed.

No real stop and go on this trip but I used stop and go extensively while in LA traffic last month and that truly is amazing. Below 10MPH you don't even have to hold the wheel. Which was perfect because I was now able to flick off drivers on both sides of the car!!!!

I really wish BlueCruise was available for our trip to TX that's for sure... I would have used it!
 
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Thanks I fixed it. Still good efficiency for that segment (3.29 M/KWH).
You can pretty much tell where I really increased the speed. At a steady 85MPH I rarely saw anything more than 2.1 mi/kWh on the "This trip" screen and often in was 1.5 to 1.9!

At 75MPH I could keep it in the 2.5 mi/kWh range and found that my GOM was pretty accurate with the distance I had to go. If I had 80 miles to the next charger and the GOM was showing 101 I would arrive with 21 miles left in range. So I really tried to keep it in the 2.5 mi/kWh range for accuracy.

Oh and we have not reset Trip 2 yet since we bought the car. Before the trip to TX we had a 3.1 mi/kWh (which is good considering this is my wife's car and for the first 3k she drove it like a Mustang without a care in the world about range) and after the trip it is at 3.0 mi/kWh.
 
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yeah I don't know but I think the actual bugs bother me more than the charging bugs. Seriously though, this sucks.. I think I'd rather rent an ice car than go through what you had to. How in the world is Electric ever going to go mainstream with stuff like this. We have a long way to go for parity with ice cars it seems. It's just kind of depressing really. Would this trip have been a totally different charging success with a tesla super charging network for instance? makes you think..
I wondered about the Tesla network as well. Following the same route the chargers are spaced out a little further. I don't think anyone can argue that the Tesla network is not the best and while I can't say how accurate the charging times truly are but if accurate, I do believe a Tesla would have done better.

From what I hear a "fast" charge to 80% is less than 20 minutes so less time there. Plus I don't know if Tesla owners have charging issues like we do with companies like Electrify America.

While I do watch the traffic and look at other cars on both sides of the highway I did not notice any EV's on the highway El Paso, TX. In the cities yet but not out in the middle of nowhere.
 


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yeah I don't know but I think the actual bugs bother me more than the charging bugs. Seriously though, this sucks.. I think I'd rather rent an ice car than go through what you had to. How in the world is Electric ever going to go mainstream with stuff like this. We have a long way to go for parity with ice cars it seems. It's just kind of depressing really. Would this trip have been a totally different charging success with a tesla super charging network for instance? makes you think..
I would ask how many people make trips like this one and how often? Agree that an ICE car would be a much choice, given how much time was spent charging (at WalMarts). You can't make good time stopping every 90 minutes. If I didn't own an ICE car I would rent one for this type of travel.
 

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I would ask how many people make trips like this one and how often? Agree that an ICE car would be a much choice, given how much time was spent charging (at WalMarts). You can't make good time stopping every 90 minutes. If I didn't own an ICE car I would rent one for this type of travel.
With the extended battery going 70mph wouldn’t 3 hours be doable and still leave a small cushion?
 

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yeah I don't know but I think the actual bugs bother me more than the charging bugs. Seriously though, this sucks.. I think I'd rather rent an ice car than go through what you had to. How in the world is Electric ever going to go mainstream with stuff like this. We have a long way to go for parity with ice cars it seems. It's just kind of depressing really. Would this trip have been a totally different charging success with a tesla super charging network for instance? makes you think..
Solid state battery will significantly increase energy density while reducing charg time to less than 15 minutes. Cost for the battery is unknown. Ford and BMW testing such in 2022.
 

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I drove from College Station TX to San Diego ov
My wife and I took our Mach-E from Santa Maria, CA to San Antonio, TX and back last week and for the most part the drive was OK (boring) but OK. The Mach-E performed great without any issues even in 121° heat. Our only real issues was with Electrify America charge stations and that was a real disappointment. Up until our trip we really had no charging issues. The app and charging stations always worked for us. Not on this trip...

We left our home with a full charge and the Mach-E odometer showing 6200 miles. I did a quick 80% charge in Los Angeles while we had breakfast at Philippe's (great start for the trip!!!). After a stop in Palm Springs we did another quick 80% charge in Indio, CA and took off for what will be our end point for the day... Deming, NM...

Here's what did on Day One with Electrify America...

LA, CA - 6362 (162 miles) - 36kWh QC (quick charge) from 44% to 83% - CCS 150 - 36 min
Indio, CA - 6489 (127 miles) 17kWh QC from 41% to 61% - CCS 350 - 9 min
Quartzsite, AZ 6606 (117 miles) 48kWH QC from 7% to 59% - CCS 150 - 39 min
Buckeye, AZ 6704 (98 miles) 4kWh from 41% on a charger that would not go above 39.11kWh - CCS 350 then 30kWh to 56% - CCS 150. We gave up on the QC. - 26 min
Chandler, AZ 6750 (46 miles) 40kWh QC from 37% to 80% - CCS 150 - 34 min
Benson, AZ 6890 (140 miles) 54kWh QC from 21% to 80% - CCS 350 - 33 min

We attempted to a very QC in Lordsburg, NM (109 miles from Benson, AZ) but none of the chargers would activate by app or CC. We had 57 miles to Deming, NM and the GOM was showing 80 miles so we gave up and headed for our hotel. It was late and dark so I slowed down to 70MPH and we arrived with 10% battery remaining.

Day 1 - 690 Miles
115 mile average between charging stations
37.50kWh average per charge
$74.84 total cost with a $.33 average

I wish I could stay Day Two started off great but it didn't. The 4 Electrify America chargers in Deming, NM would not respond to the app or by using a credit card and/or they would charge very slowly... my first attempt to do a QC was at 5:36 AM and I finally got a 80% charge by 6:46 AM.

Deming, NM - 7064 (174 miles) 16kWh, 14kWh, 9kWh, 22kWh SLOW charge from 10% to finally get 80% - CCS 150/350 - 70 min
El Paso, TX - 7174 (110 miles) 44kWh QC from 36% to 83% - CCS 150 - 39 min
Van Horn, TX - 7284 (110 miles) 32kWh QC from 35% to 70% - CCS 150 - 17 min
Fort Stockton, TX - 7399 (115 miles) 12kWh QC from 10% to 24% then just it just stopped - CCS 150 54kWh QC to 82% on a CCS 350 - 58 min (we also ate lunch)

It was also this location where Billy-Ray-Jo-Jo-Bob ICE'd 2 chargers with his rusted out Chevy :rolleyes:

Ozona, TX - 7505 (106 miles) 48kWh QC from 30% to 82% - CCS 350 - 36 min
Junction, TX - 7596 (91 miles) 21kWh QC - EA app would not work I used my credit card.
San Antonio, TX 7707 (111 miles) 59kWh QC from 15% to 80% - CCS 150 - 38 min

Day 2 - 643 miles
117 mile average between charging stations
48.71kWh average per charge
$65.04 total cost with a $.19 average

Going east out of El Paso, TX on Interstate 10 was very fast. I was doing 85MPH+ pretty much the whole way in to San Antonio... The Mach-E was limited to 113MPH...

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn
Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


The temperature was in the 105° range most of the day and we had very quick thunderstorm near Junction, TX.

With Day 3 and 4 we were in the San Antonio area. On Day 3 I did go to a ChargePoint slow charger while we had breakfast and added 7.54kWH. We did drive a little over 200 miles in the San Antonio area from my sister's house in Selma, TX to Lackland Air Force Base where our son graduated from BMT.

On Friday I left the Mach-E at EA for a 100% charge at the *ONLY* EA charger in the San Antonio area for our trip back home on Saturday... 7917 miles - 14% to 100% - 80kWh - 2 hours 40 min

With a early start on Day 5 we took off from a cool and cloudy San Antonio with 92% with Deming, NM being our stop for the day.

Junction, TX - 8051 for 34kWh QC from 44% to 81% - CCS 350 - 25 min
Ozona, TX - 8142 (91 miles) 43kWh QC to 80% - CCS 150 - 28 min
Fort Stockton, TX 8250 (108 miles) charging issues again... 13kWh from 26% to 42% - CCS 50/150 - 22 min
Van Horn, TX 8365 (115 miles) 46kWH from 30% to 80% - CCS 350 - 31 min

El Paso, TX 8475 (110 miles) - NIGHTMARE! Some fat lady in a Select Mach-E was parked across 3 chargers because she didn't waddle very far from her car apparently. All she had to do was back in but that was too hard and of course she was nasty about stopping the charge to move her Mach-E. I could only park at a CCS 350 that would not respond to the app or CC. The fat lady finally drove off after doing a slow 67% charge and I was able to use my CC to finally do 46kWH QC from 48% to 80% - 45 min

Deming, NM - 8584 (109 miles) 63kWh QC from 25% to 93% on the very same CCS 150 that would not work 3 days before... 90 min

Day 5 - 667 miles
111 mile average between charging stations
33.33kWh average per charge
$46.73 total cost with a $.28 average

Because of the charging issues going home we pretty much decided to go to 80% no matter what so we have some reserve if EA chargers are not working. EA was the only choice for fast charging or any charging so it was better to spend more time charging for that extra range.

The bugs really like the Mach-E!

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


We took off at 6AM on Day Six from Deming, NM hoping for a good day wihout charging issues. It's gonna be a very *HOT* day that is for sure!

Benson, AZ - 8757 (173 miles) 57kWh QC from 20% to 83% - CC 150 while we had breakfast - 52 min

Tempe, AZ - AZ Mills Mall Nightmare! I was at 34% looking at broken EA chargers. EA app not activating. CC not working.
Glendale, AZ - 4 EA chargers with 2 not working at all. EA App not activating. CC not working. 1 charger being used by a Bolt charging very slowly.

It was 109° and I have no idea if the heat is playing a role here with the charging.

Buckeye, AZ - 8951 (194 miles) 52kWh QC from 25% to 81% - CCS 350 - power on with the A/C running full blast - 111° - 34 min

Right after the charge in the same shopping center we get a cold drink. It's now 114° and the Mach-E is giving a warning about the extreme heat and that I should plug in the car ASAP. We drop from 81% to 80% with the power on and A/C on full blast over a 7 minute period.

Quartzsite, AZ - 9050 (99 miles) 39kWh QC from 39% to 81% - CC 150 - EA app still acting up but did finally activate a charger and there was no charge! - 36 min

Most of the drive in to CA was at 111° to 115°!

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


Indio, CA - 4 EA chargers. 2 are not working. 1 will not respond to the app or CC. 1 is slow charging another Bolt!
Palm Desert, CA - 9173 (123 miles) 60kWh QC to 87% - CCS 150 - EA app would not activate a charger I used my CC - 79 minutes (went over a little doing some work on the laptop)

Heat could have been an issue... it was 117° in Indio. Shot up to 121° heading over towards Palm Desert and while I did the charge with the power and A/C it was a steady 118°!

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


Camarillo, CA - 9348 (175 miles) 53kWh to 80% - CC 150 - EA app would not activate the charger I used my CC - 32 min

Day 4 - 764 miles
153 mile average between charging stations
52.20kWh average per charge
$85.66 total cost with a $.31 average

We had hoped to be home around 9:30PM on 09/12/21 but with the charging issues and a late unplanned dinner to ease the charging frustration we didn't get home until 1:15AM!!!!

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


3265 miles with a 2.7 mi/kWh average overall.

Going to San Antonio it went up in elevation and we did fight some strong headwinds. Going home from San Antonio we dropped in elevation and had tailwinds so we did see an increase in range.

We thought the spacing out of EA chargers was good at first but with a 115 mile average between chargers that means you are stopping every 115 miles to charge. With an 80% QC you are lucky to get 210 miles of range and with the speed limit being 75-80MPH there is no way you can do up to 230 miles to skip a charger. If EA had chargers every 50 to 75 miles we could better use the extended range of the Mach-E and limit our charging times. It would also help out with the times we had issues with the EA chargers.

My wife and I are on the fence with future long distance travel in the Mach-E. Going to LA or the Bay Area and even Las Vegas would be no problem. But on long trips like we did where we spent 4 days driving out of 6 days we will probably take a different car.

Stopping every 115 miles for up to 40 minutes was hard on us. We can easily do 400 miles without stopping. Plus we lost the ability to be spontaneous and go off the planned route for sightseeing...

As for the Mach-E.... it performed great. The seats were comfortable over the long trip and the A/C kept the car cool in extreme temps. The A/C also cooled the car very quickly. I do believe the charging issues were on the EA side, not the Mach-E so we don't fault it for the charging issues. Sorry for not taking more pictures... it's not like we didn't have time while charging. Then again this is all we saw while charging...

Ford Mustang Mach-E 3200 Mile Road Trip from CA to TX - Lots of Electrify America charging issues :( Turn


One final rant about our trip. I HATE Wal*Mart. Most of the EA charging stations were at Wal*Mart's and I was at more Wal*Mart's over 4 days than I have been to over the past 2 years!!! Pretty much each time we stopped to charge at Wal*Mart we went inside for this or that. That was worse than the charging issues!!!
Great writeup. I drove from College Station TX to San Diego over the Labor Weekend when EA charging was free. Lots of stops on I-10 and I-8. I recognized the Van Horn charging picture. There is nothing in walking distance when it is 90+ degrees out there.

The EA chargers in Junction, Ozona and Van Horn are at hotels with nothing around. Most of the others are at least a Walmart where you can walk around.

I noticed at the Fort Stockton EA chargers that it was Walmart employees that were parking around the chargers. None of them blocked the chargers but I saw a few employees get in cars and drive away from the spots right next to the chargers. These chargers are in the far spot in the parking lot. The new layout for the chargers were better than some of the old pull in style with the chargers lined up in a row at the front.

I would give the recommendation of anyone making the trip from Texas to California to spend the night in El Paso. There is a Marriot Courtyard and a Hilton Home2Suites with Tesla chargers where you can use a Teslatap on and charge overnight. I have made this between San Diego and College Station 6 times this year (5 in ICE vehicles and 1 time in my MME) and the MME took an extra 3-4 hours each day due to the non-optimal stopping every 100 miles.
 

1fastPonE

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Nice write-up.

Did you call the EA 1-800 number and report the issues? They will get those fixed and even give you a free charging session on occasion.
Yes, I would agree while the EA chargers are average, I found their Customer Service to be excellent. I took a recent 1500 mile trip and ran into some of these issues you described. It was easy and quick to call EA Customer Service to reset the charging station and get started. I do agree that the issue is on the Charger side not the Mach E.
After running into a few issues I decided to always charge to atleat 80% when I stop, as I found after moving chargers etc and finding one that is giving me a speed >70 kwh it is efficient to just charge to 80% and try to skip a charging stop down the road.
I have an Ext Range AWD model and found that 230 is more of a realistic range on Highway driving above 65 mph.
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