Looking to buy my first Ev

[ElectricGuy]

Hello everyone, I hope I am posting this in the right place, as I just made this account. For about a year now I’ve been wanting to get rid of my 2015 Volkswagen Passat sedan and make the switch to all electric or a good phev. No matter where I research, my mind keeps coming back to the Mach E. There is just something about it that attracts me. For a little background I’m 23 years old and this is the first car I’d be buying on my own. I am an electrician and I need something larger then my sedan to bring my personal tools and a small ladder around. I don’t want to go with a pickup truck or work van. I am trying to have multi use of home and work life. I love everything I have read about the Mach e and I’m almost done saving up a good down payment for a car. I haven’t test driven one yet, only sat inside and I’m not sure which model is best for me. I really like/ want quick acceleration like the GT has to offer, plus I’ve heard great things about magneride and the GT seats. But on the other hand, the premium has ventilated seats which sound awesome for coming home from work. If you want more details or have questions and input, I’d love to dive deeper into this.

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[OWG]

John, Welcome.

EV's are great, but not for everyone - yet.

First. Do you have 60A 220V service where you will park overnight? Since you are an electrician, I am dispensing with the EVSE installation question, that is in your skill set. People who don't have the ability to charge overnight successfully make it work, but I would find that DCFC's every night would get old.

Second what is your usual driving cycle? Long road trips are absolutely doable the site is full of enjoyable, successful road trips. But a 1300-mile road trip is a different experience than an ICE vehicle. Not worse, different. And if you are heading deep into the rural Midwest it gets even more different. My experience is that in an ICE Vehicle I don't think about filling up - it requires little to no planning - an EV even today with Tesla Superchargers open to us, I find myself doing more detailed trip planning than if I was burning dino-juice.

Re: trim levels - the Premium is not slow, but the magnaride does make a difference in ride quality.

 

[NY_Cade69]

Since you were mentioning Ventilated seats, those were only on the 25+ years for the Premium, also the ride on the 25+ Premium was greatly improved over the earlier years.

There are great deals to be had on Certified PreOwned 25s...

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm not saying anything negative about a Mach-E GTPE. I drove mine for 2 years and it was absolutely the best "car" I have ever owned. And it never lost its "honeymoon" phase with me. I still looked forward to driving it every day that I didn't need a truck. (I have an F150 Powerboost for all the things I need a truck for)

But if I were a tradesman with tools, I would absolutely consider a used Lightning for my EV conversion.

They are solid trucks AND they have 240V ProPower onboard, which is incredibly handy for all sorts of utility.

By the way, why aren't you test driving yet? Go wear out every dealership that wants to sell you a vehicle. Test drive a Mach-E GT/GTPE. Test drive a Lightning. I'd even test drive GM's Silverado/Sierra EV trucks too.

Again, not trying to talk you out of a Mach-E. It's a fantastic vehicle.

 

[ResoluteGreen]

FWIW even the non-GT AWD versions have way more power than any reasonable person needs on the road.

How much driving do you do, and what would your charging situation look like at home?

How small is the small ladder?

 

[Lackadocious]

Research is going to be your best friend. Go test drive one. Get a better feel for the vehicle itself. Take your tools with you to the test drive. See what fits. This will help you make your decision.

 

[HuntingPudel]

FWIW even the non-GT AWD versions have way more power than any reasonable person needs on the road..
<SNIP>

Reasonable canines do require more, however.

 

[ElectricGuy]

John, Welcome.

EV's are great, but not for everyone - yet.

First. Do you have 60A 220V service where you will park overnight? Since you are an electrician, I am dispensing with the EVSE installation question, that is in your skill set. People who don't have the ability to charge overnight successfully make it work, but I would find that DCFC's every night would get old.

Second what is your usual driving cycle? Long road trips are absolutely doable the site is full of enjoyable, successful road trips. But a 1300-mile road trip is a different experience than an ICE vehicle. Not worse, different. And if you are heading deep into the rural Midwest it gets even more different. My experience is that in an ICE Vehicle I don't think about filling up - it requires little to no planning - an EV even today with Tesla Superchargers open to us, I find myself doing more detailed trip planning than if I was burning dino-juice.

Re: trim levels - the Premium is not slow, but the magnaride does make a difference in ride quality.

You bring up some good points. Well ford is offering the $2000 credit or install for the Ev charger and one way or another I will end up with a level 2 charger at my home.(that’s the plan at least) I live in Illinois so climates are pretty variable so I’m happy there is now a heat pump. My current job, I travel about 20-50 miles each way for the jobs so like 40-100 miles max a day. That is what is finally making me want to make the switch. Even with a vehicle with 30mpg, I’m filling up every 5 work days. I don’t really do road trips, but I still live at home with my parents for the moment, so they have gas cars if we needed long range. Also what is an ICE vehicle?

Since you were mentioning Ventilated seats, those were only on the 25+ years for the Premium, also the ride on the 25+ Premium was greatly improved over the earlier years.

There are great deals to be had on Certified PreOwned 25s...

Well the dealerships near me I can get a 25 premium or 25 GT new for like $13k off msrp. I guess I don’t know enough about evs, but I’m skeptical to buy a used one.

 

[ElectricGuy]

I'm not saying anything negative about a Mach-E GTPE. I drove mine for 2 years and it was absolutely the best "car" I have ever owned. And it never lost its "honeymoon" phase with me. I still looked forward to driving it every day that I didn't need a truck. (I have an F150 Powerboost for all the things I need a truck for)

But if I were a tradesman with tools, I would absolutely consider a used Lightning for my EV conversion.

They are solid trucks AND they have 240V ProPower onboard, which is incredibly handy for all sorts of utility.

By the way, why aren't you test driving yet? Go wear out every dealership that wants to sell you a vehicle. Test drive a Mach-E GT/GTPE. Test drive a Lightning. I'd even test drive GM's Silverado/Sierra EV trucks too.

Again, not trying to talk you out of a Mach-E. It's a fantastic vehicle.

I’m gonna start test driving like next week, I’ve just finally decided that I need/want to make the switch so I’m in the research phase. Also the Mach e would already be pricey for my age and income, so a lighting, or other brand Ev pickup would probably not be doable unless I found a good used one, and I’m skeptical about that.

 

[DugthePug Dad]

Ice = internal combustion engine

 

[ElectricGuy]

FWIW even the non-GT AWD versions have way more power than any reasonable person needs on the road.

How much driving do you do, and what would your charging situation look like at home?

How small is the small ladder?

I’ve been enjoying driving more recently, I had some major life changes and it’s been helping be relax, except for the bad drivers. I normally put on 40-100 miles a day for work. And I have room in my panel for at least 1 Ev charger 60amp. Running the conduit would be the hard part for my houses layout. And typically I carry a 5-6 foot ladder which can fit in my sedan with the seats down so I presume it would it the Mach e but I haven’t look at the trunk dimensions tbh.

 

[ElectricGuy]

Research is going to be your best friend. Go test drive one. Get a better feel for the vehicle itself. Take your tools with you to the test drive. See what fits. This will help you make your decision.

I didn’t think about bringing my tools for the test drive, that’s a good idea.

 

[DugthePug Dad]

Work car…

 

[OWG]

Also what is an ICE vehicle?

Well the dealerships near me I can get a 25 premium or 25 GT new for like $13k off msrp. I guess I don’t know enough about evs, but I’m skeptical to buy a used one.

Apologies for the acronym - Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). An EV charger space occupied by a non-EV is 'ICED.'

Re: Used - that concern is killing the used value - but as NY_Cade69 pointed out there are some great values for vehicles coming off short term leases - That allows someone else to eat the initial depreciation - which at this point in time is brutal.

As you consider your options keep in mind the 8 year /100K mile EV Powertrain Warranty:

• High‑Voltage Battery – coverage if defective due to factory‑supplied materials or workmanship Ford+1.
• Bussed Electrical Center (BEC) – manages electrical power distribution Ford Pro™.
• Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) – regulates energy flow to/from the battery Ford Pro™.

 

[ElectricGuy]

Work car…

Yeah that’s clean as hell, I hate white cars but some just look fire in white and the Mach is is one of them. But only with good accents like those stripes, or I would wanna add a bunch of carbon fiber parts. But I’d think I’m gonna a go with red or blue. But beautiful car.

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