Is the Mach E a viable long range daily commuter?

[Dad]

I have my Mach E on order (and now understand that it will be delayed...no big deal to me) and planned on using it as my daily word driver. I drive about 100-150 miles/day, so I ordered the Select with the Standard Range battery. Should be good to cover my daily route, right? RigHT?!? Well, I talk to a guy that I work with in Dearborn that has had access to work with the car and he says that he hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather (has been been a mild winter so far with a few cold days here in Detroit area this year). That conversation led me to the internet, and google led me to this forum.

After some scouring, I've learned a lot. But, I still don't know much. But, afaik, if I get the Standard Range, I have to max charge to 90%, so I'm down to roughly 210 mile day to day range. In the freezing cold, I can expect about 60% or that, right? Or, is it 60% or the 230 mile range? Either way we are looking at either roughly 126 or 138 mile range?

How long will a battery last if it is used daily to the max (i.e. driven every day from 90% down to probably 10%)? I drive about 20,000 miles per year on my work vehicles.

Originally, I thought that an electric would save me a ton on gas, but if I a) can't finish my daily commute or b) kill a battery too rapidly, I'm not sure this would make much sense.

Any input or knowledge dropped would be appreciated ?

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[JamieGeek]

I have my Mach E on order (and now understand that it will be delayed...no big deal to me) and planned on using it as my daily word driver. I drive about 100-150 miles/day, so I ordered the Select with the Standard Range battery. Should be good to cover my daily route, right? RigHT?!? Well, I talk to a guy that I work with in Dearborn that has had access to work with the car and he says that he hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather (has been been a mild winter so far with a few cold days here in Detroit area this year). That conversation led me to the internet, and google led me to this forum.

After some scouring, I've learned a lot. But, I still don't know much. But, afaik, if I get the Standard Range, I have to max charge to 90%, so I'm down to roughly 210 mile day to day range. In the freezing cold, I can expect about 60% or that, right? Or, is it 60% or the 230 mile range? Either way we are looking at either roughly 126 or 138 mile range?

How long will a battery last if it is used daily to the max (i.e. driven every day from 90% down to probably 10%)? I drive about 20,000 miles per year on my work vehicles.

Originally, I thought that an electric would save me a ton on gas, but if I a) can't finish my daily commute or b) kill a battery too rapidly, I'm not sure this would make much sense.

Any input or knowledge dropped would be appreciated ?

Well I had a Focus Electric which would get charged to 100% daily for 3 years.

When I turned in the lease there was little to no noticable battery degredation.

The 60% value would be whatever you charged it to. Thus 60% of the 210.

I'm also in Southeastern Michigan and I usually get 160-180 miles out of my Bolt in the winter (er did before GM neutered it because of FIRE). Worst case that is 160/238 or 67%.

 

[CHeil402]

Assuming you got the RWD variant your max would be 230 miles. You shouldn't need to charge to only 90% as the battery already has a buffer built in, so when the range-o-meter shows 100%, you're not actually at 100% total battery capacity.

In cold weather you'll lose range for sure, but I've seen reason to believe Ford is using a pessimistic range more so that other EVs, so it might not quite be 60% loss.

Assuming it's a daily round trip there should be a net zero elevation change so you should be good there.

Worst case you turn the heat down, but I would think you're good. Also on the rare occasion you do run out of juice, Ford provides towing to get a charge included with the car.

 

[CHeil402]

Although make sure you have a sufficient amount of time to recharge back to full every day with a fast enough charger.

 

[BlueMach]

I have my Mach E on order (and now understand that it will be delayed...no big deal to me) and planned on using it as my daily word driver. I drive about 100-150 miles/day, so I ordered the Select with the Standard Range battery. Should be good to cover my daily route, right? RigHT?!? Well, I talk to a guy that I work with in Dearborn that has had access to work with the car and he says that he hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather (has been been a mild winter so far with a few cold days here in Detroit area this year). That conversation led me to the internet, and google led me to this forum.

After some scouring, I've learned a lot. But, I still don't know much. But, afaik, if I get the Standard Range, I have to max charge to 90%, so I'm down to roughly 210 mile day to day range. In the freezing cold, I can expect about 60% or that, right? Or, is it 60% or the 230 mile range? Either way we are looking at either roughly 126 or 138 mile range?

How long will a battery last if it is used daily to the max (i.e. driven every day from 90% down to probably 10%)? I drive about 20,000 miles per year on my work vehicles.

Originally, I thought that an electric would save me a ton on gas, but if I a) can't finish my daily commute or b) kill a battery too rapidly, I'm not sure this would make much sense.

Any input or knowledge dropped would be appreciated ?

"hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather"

Do you know what he meant by that? It's looking more and more like the Mach-E does not have battery preconditioning in advance of fast charging in cold weather, as TFL's video showed. That might be a not "good" charge given that it will charge slower than advertised. Level 2 shouldn't be a problem, though.

Your use case seems perfect for a BEV.

 

[ChasingCoral]

"hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather"

Do you know what he meant by that? It's looking more and more like the Mach-E does not have battery preconditioning in advance of fast charging in cold weather, as TFL's video showed. That might be a not "good" charge given that it will charge slower than advertised. Level 2 shouldn't be a problem, though.

Your use case seems perfect for a BEV.

What's the worst case scenario? In three seasons you can do your commute no problem and on especially cold days in winter you might have to do a zap-and-dash to get you home.

How many chargers on your commute route? Any option to top up at work?

 

[Louv]

Maybe when OP's friend said, "hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather" he meant that at a DC Fast Charger, with a cold-soaked car, the charge RATE is much lower than it would be in warm weather.

My Taycan could (under ideal battery conditions, Soc <10%, Bat Temp at >77°F) have a peak observed charge rate of 265 kW. But, on a cold Maine day, with the battery temp at 39°F, the max charge rate I saw was 39kW.

Maybe.

 

[dbsb3233]

Maybe when OP's friend said, "hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather" he meant that at a DC Fast Charger, with a cold-soaked car, the charge RATE is much lower than it would be in warm weather.

My Taycan could (under ideal battery conditions, Soc <10%, Bat Temp at >77°F) have a peak observed charge rate of 265 kW. But, on a cold Maine day, with the battery temp at 39°F, the max charge rate I saw was 39kW.

Maybe.

That's what I would guess too. Home charging (240V) shouldn't be much problem. Even if in the cold, a full night should be plenty of time.

 

[EVS]

Maybe when OP's friend said, "hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather" he meant that at a DC Fast Charger, with a cold-soaked car, the charge RATE is much lower than it would be in warm weather.

My Taycan could (under ideal battery conditions, Soc <10%, Bat Temp at >77°F) have a peak observed charge rate of 265 kW. But, on a cold Maine day, with the battery temp at 39°F, the max charge rate I saw was 39kW.

Maybe.

Hey @Louv , are you the same guy who drove the first cross continentTaycan tour on EA network? Glad to see you here!
Just curious what brings you to the Mache forum.

 

[Louv]

Hey @Louv , are you the same guy who drove the first cross continentTaycan tour on EA network? Glad to see you here!
Just curious what brings you to the Mache forum.

Yup. I’m that guy. I’m here like everyone else: I’ve ordered a Mach-E. And my ETA just went from 1/17 to 3/27. <sad trombone>

 

[EVS]

I have my Mach E on order (and now understand that it will be delayed...no big deal to me) and planned on using it as my daily word driver. I drive about 100-150 miles/day, so I ordered the Select with the Standard Range battery. Should be good to cover my daily route, right? RigHT?!? Well, I talk to a guy that I work with in Dearborn that has had access to work with the car and he says that he hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather (has been been a mild winter so far with a few cold days here in Detroit area this year). That conversation led me to the internet, and google led me to this forum.

After some scouring, I've learned a lot. But, I still don't know much. But, afaik, if I get the Standard Range, I have to max charge to 90%, so I'm down to roughly 210 mile day to day range. In the freezing cold, I can expect about 60% or that, right? Or, is it 60% or the 230 mile range? Either way we are looking at either roughly 126 or 138 mile range?

How long will a battery last if it is used daily to the max (i.e. driven every day from 90% down to probably 10%)? I drive about 20,000 miles per year on my work vehicles.

Originally, I thought that an electric would save me a ton on gas, but if I a) can't finish my daily commute or b) kill a battery too rapidly, I'm not sure this would make much sense.

Any input or knowledge dropped would be appreciated ?

Besides what's been said so far.
For cost comparisons, you should consider your average miles/KWh during the whole year and not focus just on what you get on the worst winter days.

I'd also guess that you will drive much less on short and cold winter days than long summer days.
While a 100-150 mile daily commute sounds a lot, you also say that your annual mileage is 20000 miles. Which for a 5-day commute is only 80 miles per day on average. This isn't bad for battery life.

 

[dbsb3233]

I have my Mach E on order (and now understand that it will be delayed...no big deal to me) and planned on using it as my daily word driver. I drive about 100-150 miles/day, so I ordered the Select with the Standard Range battery. Should be good to cover my daily route, right? RigHT?!? Well, I talk to a guy that I work with in Dearborn that has had access to work with the car and he says that he hasn't been getting good charges in the colder weather (has been been a mild winter so far with a few cold days here in Detroit area this year). That conversation led me to the internet, and google led me to this forum.

After some scouring, I've learned a lot. But, I still don't know much. But, afaik, if I get the Standard Range, I have to max charge to 90%, so I'm down to roughly 210 mile day to day range. In the freezing cold, I can expect about 60% or that, right? Or, is it 60% or the 230 mile range? Either way we are looking at either roughly 126 or 138 mile range?

How long will a battery last if it is used daily to the max (i.e. driven every day from 90% down to probably 10%)? I drive about 20,000 miles per year on my work vehicles.

Originally, I thought that an electric would save me a ton on gas, but if I a) can't finish my daily commute or b) kill a battery too rapidly, I'm not sure this would make much sense.

Any input or knowledge dropped would be appreciated ?

The ER battery sure would have been better for that many daily miles, but you may be ok. What kind of miles are they - mostly highway, or mostly city? High speed is probably ~10% worse. But if you're driving mostly city streets, you should be good.

In the winter, charging to 100% at home should be ok too. Then back off to 90% in the warmer months.

 

[EVS]

Yup. I’m that guy. I’m here like everyone else: I’ve ordered a Mach-E. And my ETA just went from 1/17 to 3/27. <sad trombone>

All right, great! So are you planning to take your Mach-e on the cross-continent tour also?

 

[Louv]

All right, great! So are you planning to take your Mach-e on the cross-continent tour also?

I’ve considered it. But two things would need to happen: 1) I’d need the vaccine (and I’m pretty low on the list) and 2) Canada would have to open their border to us dirty Americans.

I guess 3 things. I need a car.

 

[jhalkias]

I’m in Ohio, but I got the ER AWD. My daily commute is 90-100 miles. I drive about 32,000 a year. Make sure you have the car warming up in the morning for your drive when plugged in. Leave home with a warm car.

others have given you plenty of other suggestions. I am going to be curious on mine too as I can’t plug in at work. But I think I will have plenty.

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