Using Mach-E for long trips

Why do you use (planning to use) Mach-E for long trips?


  • Total voters
    64

alexgorod

Well-Known Member
First Name
Alex
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
1,071
Reaction score
1,134
Location
Michigan
Vehicles
21 Job 2 MME Premium SR AWD (21 CR-V - wife's)
Occupation
DBA
Country flag
By long trips I mean the ones that require one or multiple charging stops on the road.

When I ordered my Mach-E three months ago I decided that it requires too much planning and too much lost time to use an electric car for any trip that requires recharging stops on the way, so I only planned to use it for local driving, and didn't even order an extended battery option. I still think that it will work just fine for me, especially after we replaced my wife's 15-year old minivan with a new CR-V (we used it already for a trip and I really liked adaptive cruise control and lane centering features in it that I don't have in my 2-year old X3). I'm sure that driving in Mach-E is much more pleasant, but still don't like losing time on the road and gambling with charging stations availability. At the same time it's clear that many people use their Mach-Es for long trips. Why?
Sponsored

 

TruWrecks

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doug
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Threads
22
Messages
860
Reaction score
917
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
Mach-E Star White Premium AWD Ext (Ghost Stallion)
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
Why not. Why are people in such a hurry to drive 7 hours straight. That is why most people get driving fatigue and start making mistakes. Our bodies are not made to go that long without a break. It is not healthy or safe. Ask a doctor sometime what the health risks are for sitting in a chair for 7 or 8 hours without moving.
 

JGuske23

Well-Known Member
First Name
Justin
Joined
Jul 13, 2021
Threads
1
Messages
114
Reaction score
261
Location
Kalamazoo
Vehicles
Mach E Premium AWD extended range
Occupation
Market manager
Country flag
I'm in sales, driving all over Michigan and Ohio, have put about 3,500 miles on my Mace E PER MONTH. My work car is my Mach E. It took me a whole week to get adjusted from never thinking twice about gas stations vs planning my routes looking for chargers. In fact I don't even think twice about looking for Chargers anymore as there always seems to be a charger somewhere for me to use at whatever city I visit if need be. The time I spend at chargers just gets put into answering emails or figuring out my next moves, really hasn't slowed me down in any sort of fashion nor prolonged my day. I do miss bathroom breaks at gas stations, I will say that, and my speedy rewards points, but that's about it ha.

People get too hung up on hard numbers for Charging, you only need enough charge to get home or your next charging point in the leg of your journey. And you very rarely enter a charging station at below 10% needing to get all the way to 80 for that full 40 min.

Obviously everyone is different, and time is money, but I feel like I'm a case study on switching to electric. If I can adapt easily I'm sure 95% of us all can without changing their day to day routines. the amount of money I save on gas vs electric has been a no brainer, and getting in my car everyday charged up is amazing
 

hybrid2bev

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Threads
75
Messages
4,071
Reaction score
11,093
Location
USA
Vehicles
2021 Job 1 Premium4X - EAP Member
Country flag
The longest trip I made was 500 miles round trip in one day. It was 3 charging stops at 2 EA locations. I read the reviews on PlugShare, seemed all good (and it was). The longest I waited to charge was about 10 minutes, didn't mind stopping because we were ready to use the restroom and grab a snack anyways. The other times the car was ready to go before we were (plug in, walk into the store, restroom, walk back out, unplug and go), don't need to charge to 80% at each stop, only needed 55% to 60% to reach the next charger/home.
 

TruWrecks

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doug
Joined
Jun 3, 2021
Threads
22
Messages
860
Reaction score
917
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
Mach-E Star White Premium AWD Ext (Ghost Stallion)
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
We can point a laugh when the gas pumps are out of fuel between deliveries. They claim we are stuck if the power goes out. Gas pumps need power too.

My house is getting solar very soon so power/fuel for my car will be even cheaper.
 


timbop

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Jan 3, 2020
Threads
63
Messages
6,729
Reaction score
13,758
Location
New Jersey
Vehicles
Solar powered 2021 MME ER RWD & 2022 Corsair PHEV
Occupation
Software Engineer
Country flag
You need to make it multiple choice: I love my mach e and hate my wife's durango, and I don't mind the stops because I like the break from driving.
 

HuntingPudel

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Mar 23, 2021
Threads
65
Messages
8,064
Reaction score
9,625
Location
Bay Area, CA
Vehicles
2021 MME GT-PE, 1979 Fire-Am, 1972 K/5 Blazer
Occupation
Engineering
Country flag
I don’t have a Mach-E yet. My Fusion’s battery is so freaking tiny that I can’t make the round trip to and from work (10.4 miles each way). So, work is a long trip for me since I have to charge upon leaving work in order to make it home. Yeah, I could burn gas, but I prefer to use the battery juice.

FWIW, since I do not own an MME yet I did not vote.
 
OP
OP
alexgorod

alexgorod

Well-Known Member
First Name
Alex
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
1,071
Reaction score
1,134
Location
Michigan
Vehicles
21 Job 2 MME Premium SR AWD (21 CR-V - wife's)
Occupation
DBA
Country flag
You need to make it multiple choice: I love my mach e and hate my wife's durango, and I don't mind the stops because I like the break from driving.
I'm pretty sure that most people have multiple reasons, but I'd like to see what they consider the most important.
 

phidauex

Well-Known Member
First Name
Sam
Joined
Dec 8, 2020
Threads
15
Messages
840
Reaction score
1,545
Location
Colorado
Vehicles
2021 MachE 4EX, 2006 Prius, 1997 Tacoma
Occupation
Renewable Energy Engineer
Country flag
There is a bit of a change in mindset, but it isn't as much as you'd think. There is also a need for a bit more reliability (particularly from EA), but that is a solvable problem, not an inherent part of owning the car.

The big thing for me is that the breaks are fine (measure how long you REALLY spend at a stop in a gas car with some family with you, it isn't as fast as you'd think), the chargers have all been reliable (for me), and the car is just so much more damn pleasant to drive in. I've only owned it for 2 months but already all ICE vehicles sound like riding lawnmowers to me. The MachE, between the quiet cabin, comfortable seats, intelligent cruise control and instant power is far nicer to drive on trips.
 

ChasingCoral

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mark
Joined
Feb 3, 2020
Threads
376
Messages
12,403
Reaction score
24,517
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
GB E4X FE, Leaf, Tacoma, F-150 Lightning ordered
Occupation
Retired oceanographer
Country flag
You left off an important one: I prefer to minimize the carbon footprint of my travel.
 

Maquis

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Dec 21, 2020
Threads
30
Messages
4,403
Reaction score
6,093
Location
Illinois
Vehicles
2021 Mach E4X, 2023 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
I used to be a balls-to-the-wall road warrior. Get there as fast as you can, only stop for fuel and toilet.
I recently did that in my Explorer - couldn't take the Mach-E due to the cargo I was carrying. 735 miles in less than 11 hours, two stops. When I got home, I could barely walk and my back hurt so bad that I couldn't stand upright.
My next trip was 550 miles in the Mach-E. I charged four times (could have done just three), one of which was for lunch. I don't remember exactly, but I think it took me between 10-11 hours. When I arrived I felt so relaxed and not at all fatigued. It's definitely a more pleasant experience.
Even if I'm forced to take my Explorer next time, I'll stop more often and not push it.
 

murphy62

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Apr 2, 2021
Threads
6
Messages
236
Reaction score
236
Location
Horsham, PA
Vehicles
2016 Tesla S90D, 2021 Mach-E AWD ER
Occupation
retired
Country flag
I drove from 40 miles north of Philadelphia, PA to Charlottesville, VA without charging. I had 66 miles left when I arrived. I have an AWD ER Premium. I charged to 100% before I left.

I couldn't charge to 100% for the return trip. I charged to 80% at an EVGo station in Charlottesville.
Then I went about 75 miles north to Haymarket, VA and charged to 80% at an EA station. No charging the rest of the way home.

My other car is a Tesla. I've been driving electric since 2014.
 

TRP

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Jun 23, 2021
Threads
61
Messages
1,048
Reaction score
1,205
Location
37841
Vehicles
Mach E P4x, Ford F150
Country flag
First of all, it's our only car, X-AWD. We do have a 2017 F150, costs $80+ to fill that thing up tho.

We have made several 1100 mile round trips in it with zero issues. Wife is currently on a 600 mile solo round trip and only experienced minor inconveniences at an EA location. So, it adds an 1 1/2 to 600 mile one way trip. We can certainly live with that.

I was a bit concerned when we made the switch but it took half a day to get over that. I bought the car in Iowa and immediately road tripped it back to TN, almost 700 miles and had no issues. All anxiety went away after that. I feel confident enough to drive this car almost anywhere. I say "almost" because I am well aware of charging deserts out there. It will get better with some time tho.
 
OP
OP
alexgorod

alexgorod

Well-Known Member
First Name
Alex
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
1,071
Reaction score
1,134
Location
Michigan
Vehicles
21 Job 2 MME Premium SR AWD (21 CR-V - wife's)
Occupation
DBA
Country flag
I like the answers so far - out of 23 travelers 19 use Mach-E by choice, and 10 of them - for pure love of the car! Who knows, maybe when I finally get the car I will join them too ?‍♂
 

SnBGC

Well-Known Member
First Name
Greg
Joined
Apr 20, 2020
Threads
46
Messages
5,955
Reaction score
9,749
Location
Phoenix
Vehicles
2021 Mach-E FE, 2021 Wrangler 4xe High Altitude
Occupation
Manager
Country flag
.... At the same time it's clear that many people use their Mach-Es for long trips. Why?
I voted for saving money. My EVs have saved me a so much over the years that it boggles my mind.

I find the Mach-E to be a very pleasant vehicle to drive long distances. With the adaptive cruise and lane keeping assist it practically drives itself. Plus the navigation is very helpful and give me some level of comfort knowing my trip status at all times. I really like having the altitude displayed on the screen so I know if I am climbing or driving downhill. Cargo capacity is more than enough for my needs on long trips.

Stopping to charge for 35 minutes after the first 200 miles isn't really that much of an issue for me. As long at the DCFC stations work as advertised then it's pretty simple and low stress. It becomes very stressful and aggravating when the charging speeds are much slower than expected so that is the wild card at the moment.

As far as battery size....
Yeah, you will be fine with what you picked. I drove around for a couple years with a 33.5 kW battery and was mostly happy with it. Didn't feel like I needed anything more. Then I got the Mach-E and suddenly I started going places that I wouldn't travel to before. Why? Because I could I guess. It is very liberating to be able to go where I want when I want because I am not burning fuel.

Before I switched to a BEV as a daily driver I had no idea I spent so much time fueling up my ICE vehicle. I was always planning my route to align with a fuel stop along the way if needed. Sometimes I would actually have to divert off course to head to a fuel station and then get back to my route for a given destination. Now that never happens around town. I can head where I want at a moment's notice and I never have to wonder if I need to stop for fuel. I think filling up with gasoline was a 20-30 minute exercise most times. I would usually drive 5-10 minutes out of my way to get to a fueling station with lowest prices or easy access etc. Then fill up (30 gallons in my diesel truck) and then 5-10 minutes back to whatever route I needed to be on in the first place. It all added up to a lot of time.

For the most part, my car doesn't take any time to charge because it happens in my spare time while I am doing something else like sleeping or watching football etc. Pretty convenient. ?
Sponsored

 
 




Top