Update on Mach-E launch progress from engineering friends in Mexico

[Shayne]

What about backwards dolly towing in a RWD model? Seems like that should be possible.

What I am more interested in is automatic car wash where you have to put the vehicle in N.

You need a good leather belt to tie the steering wheel; then good to go . Think a flatbed, if you can, is the way to go.

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[FPLiptak]

Due to the weight you should also drain the gas tank!

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

Due to the weight you should also drain the gas tank!

What about the frunk, do you think we need to drain that as well?

 

[JamieGeek]

What about backwards dolly towing in a RWD model? Seems like that should be possible.

What I am more interested in is automatic car wash where you have to put the vehicle in N.

You need a good leather belt to tie the steering wheel; then good to go . Think a flatbed, if you can, is the way to go.

You would also need a dolly with a pan that turns.

Some dollies (sadly, like the one we own) are fixed: You have to unlock the steering so that the car can follow along.

Also note that on dolly's with a turnable pan pulling cars with unlocked steering (e.g. just about every push button start car these days) people typically use the seatbelt to tie up the steering wheel to keep it from turning.

So all of the above is one strike why we couldn't tow a Mach-E behind our RV, the other strike is its simply too heavy. We can only tow 5k lbs and thus a Mach-E on a trailer (even if aluminum) would be out of that range....

Thus we'll be bringing an Escape FWD along with us camping once the Mach-E arrives (and the Bolt goes back to GM).

 

[JellyBelly]

Correct. Otherwise it must be flatbed trailered.

Hmm - I am confused about what this means. So if the Mach E is disabled road side and need to call AAA or tow truck we have to tell them that a flat bed truck is required for towing? I have seen some tow trucks that lift the front end and tow the disabled vehicle on rear wheels - that will not work? Just making sure what needs to be asked of the towing company

 

[janitorjim]

What about backwards dolly towing in a RWD model? Seems like that should be possible.

What I am more interested in is automatic car wash where you have to put the vehicle in N.

I think you are good on car washes cause you are going no faster than walking speed

 

[DaveQ]

Another dead thread... -
Update on Mach-E launch progress from engineering friends in Mexico

 

[JochemvRaak]

Another dead thread... -
Update on Mach-E launch progress from engineering friends in Mexico

Yes, this was one of the most interesting threads and now only junk

 

[zhackwyatt]

Hmm - I am confused about what this means. So if the Mach E is disabled road side and need to call AAA or tow truck we have to tell them that a flat bed truck is required for towing? I have seen some tow trucks that lift the front end and tow the disabled vehicle on rear wheels - that will not work? Just making sure what needs to be asked of the towing company

That's exactly what it means. The regular mustang is like that as well.

 

[EV Lab]

some where in the attic of the forum it was mention that you could only pull tow the mach e at something no faster than 20 mph and for a distance of 30 miles (making these numbers up but relatively close).

If you are freewheeling it, it will passively generate electricity and increase the bus voltage on the car. If you want it to not generate, you basically have to command the car to zero torque or zero current and that's actually actively performing PWM-switching and motor position sensing in order to minimize the amount of current generated. (consuming energy to do so)

So, technically, you could charge the car via regen, but it would have to be turned on (contactors closed so energy can go into the battery), and therefore someone would probably have to be sitting in the car. Not sure this is legal...

 

[ChasingCoral]

While you are talking about RV's. I might have missed it but if the MachE was towed behind could you get it to use he regeneration to charge the batteries while being towed?

No, you can't do this, but if you could any energy you regenerate is the result of resistance the regenerative braking system is applying to the tow vehicle. Thus you are using the gas motor of the tow vehicle to charge the battery of the Mach E.

However, if you have a really big hand, you can roll the car backwards several times to recharge the car, making it go forward when you set it down and let go. ?

 

[janitorjim]

If you are freewheeling it, it will passively generate electricity and increase the bus voltage on the car. If you want it to not generate, you basically have to command the car to zero torque or zero current and that's actually actively performing PWM-switching and motor position sensing in order to minimize the amount of current generated. (consuming energy to do so)

So, technically, you could charge the car via regen, but it would have to be turned on (contactors closed so energy can go into the battery), and therefore someone would probably have to be sitting in the car. Not sure this is legal...

I have no clue just know it what was posted so it is probably a warranty thing that if you exceed those parameters your warranty my be invaild

 

[jhalkias]

I think you are good on car washes cause you are going no faster than walking speed

CAR WASHES? Ain't NO ONE running my ME through a car wash!

 

[Shayne]

If you are freewheeling it, it will passively generate electricity and increase the bus voltage on the car. If you want it to not generate, you basically have to command the car to zero torque or zero current and that's actually actively performing PWM-switching and motor position sensing in order to minimize the amount of current generated. (consuming energy to do so)

So, technically, you could charge the car via regen, but it would have to be turned on (contactors closed so energy can go into the battery), and therefore someone would probably have to be sitting in the car. Not sure this is legal...

Tow to regen. Just need a long rope; no charger required. Wonder if adaptive cruise works when in tow? That would have helped. Not sure; may no longer be legal in some locations .

 

[trutolife27]

Just to clarify: are you saying some will go by rail but some will be delivered directly by truck during the early deliveries?

Amidst all our discussions of build dates we forgot to celebrate: This week starts MP2 -- full up manufacturing! Woohoo!

Next up: OKTB 23 November.

yes, that is correct. every day with covid things are changing. I have a feeling this winter there will be a shortage of supplies again and finding truck drivers.

On a side note. If you know you're getting the mache and you think you need to upgrade to that level 2 charger of your choice. I wouldn't wait too long. I wouldn't be surprised if they all start showing up out of stock.

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