Ford Mustang Mach-E: Everything You Should Know About Charging
Overview(2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E)
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E is an all-electric muscle car, which means one thing must matter a lot to anyone owing it—proper charging for extensive service. This zero-emission vehicle can go from absolute zero to a top speed of 60MPH in a flash (just 63 seconds). It also has a remarkable EPA estimated range of 250 miles on a full charge, and being a muscle car, you can’t help but admire how fast, sporty, stylish, and modern the vehicle is. The Mach E retains the classic vibes of the old Mustang models while incorporating a fresh taste of class synonymous with modern-day battery electric sports cars like the Tesla Model Y.
But like any Electric Vehicle (EV), you must get the charging basics right with the Mach E; otherwise, you won’t reap its phenomenal convenience. This is why we’ve prepared this 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E charging guide to ensure you give your car the best battery pampering for efficient functioning and extended service life. We promise to leave no stone unturned on this topic, so read to the end for a comprehensive understanding. Ready? Vroom, let’s go!!!
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Charging at Home
Unlike gas-powered vehicles, owning an EV allows you to charge it from the convenience of your home, just like you comfortably charge your cell phone overnight at your bedside. But the type of charger you use matters a lot in determining the level of power you can add to your Mach E battery. There are two options, depending on your outlet type and intended charging outcome.
Level 1 Charging
It's the basic form of charging, and it simply involves plugging your car into the standard 120V wall outlet in your garage/charge station. You can’t expect it to charge the battery too much; you’ll get only enough to do round-the-town errands, approximately 20 miles.
So when should you use it? If you had charged prior and want to replenish power, you can opt for this charging mode. But it’s not dependable for getting a full battery charge as it’d take too much time to fill it up.
Level 2 Charging
This is the real deal when you want to quickly fill in as much charge as possible at home or public charging stations. The mode utilizes 240 V power, and a level 2 charger plugs into the conventional NEMA 14-50 outlets.
For best efficiency, we advise acquiring a Mobile Power Cord at Ford’s accessories store capable of filling up an empty Mach-E battery in approximately 14 hours. This is an impressive charging speed; one hour of charge at this rate can take you up to 21 miles. It’s also a multipurpose charger, compatible with Level 1 and Level 2 charging outlets.
Why Charge your 2023 Mach-E at Home?
Convenient Option
The convenience that home charging offers is out of this world. Imagine all you need to do is plug your car into the power supply and retreat to bed, and by morning, you have sufficient power to travel hundreds of miles.
Keeping track of charging progress is simply effortless. With the FordPass App on your Smartphone, you can control and monitor everything from the comfort of your bed.
Low Budget
What better way of taking advantage of low electricity prices during off-peak hours (usually at night) than charging your Mach E from your home garage?
Factors Influencing Charging Efficiency
You must understand what affects your battery’s charging duration; otherwise, you risk running short of power in the middle of nowhere and getting late to your destination.
- The battery capacity is the primary determinant of how long you’d need to charge. The bigger the kWh rating, the longer the charging time. But again, this is a blessing in disguise because you have more driving range than with a smaller battery.
- A charger with a high power output draws more power and thus results in fast charging time, meaning that you’ll charge faster with a Level 2 charger than with a Level 1 charger.
- How low is your battery’s charge?The lower the charge levels, the longer it takes to fill it up to full capacity.
- Temperature is also a factor primarily because a car’s battery contains chemically reacting components affected by ambient heat conditions. High temperatures are a problem, and so are extremely low temperatures. So, ideally, midrange temperatures guarantee the optimal charging time.
- Car Charging Rate Limitations. You could have a fast charger, but the car’s charging system is not optimized to take advantage of it, and vice versa.
Cost of Charging Your EV at Home
There’s every reason to charge your EV at home, but is it really economical? We believe the cost of setting up an EV charging system is worth every cent, especially if you can take advantage of the electricity off-peak charging hours.
But you can’t just wholly depend on the conventional 120 V outlet because it would take ages to fill up the Mach E battery. So you’ll need to install a 240 V outlet, which is quite pricey. As costly as it may seem, it’s worthwhile as it’ll save you a lot of per-day charging costs.
So how’s the cost per charge? Well, this depends on many factors, but where you live matters a lot. In some States, such as North Dakota, electricity is fairly priced, and it’d cost around $7.60 to fill up an empty Mach E Extended range EV, which is super economical.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Public Charging
Charging the Mach E at a public charging station is also a viable option, and an hour of charge is sufficient to give you up to 27 miles. Filling up the charge from zero to 100% takes approximately 11 hours on a Level 2 type of charger. We recommend charging at home because waiting this long at the public charging station for the battery to fill up can be quite inconvenient.
How about the cost? Obviously, with public charging, you’ll save on what you’d have spent setting up a charging station at home. But is the per kWh charging rate too expensive at charging stations? Again, this depends on the battery type and the electricity rates in your State. A typical Mach E Standard Range battery has a 75.7 kWh capacity, while the Extended Range is rated at 98.8 kWh.
The average rate is $0.50 per kWh of charge for a Level 3 type of charging (The most common charger in public charging stations). So, say you’d like to charge an Extended Range Battery, it’d cost:
98.8 kWh x $0.50 = $ 49.4.
Comparing this rate to the at-home charging costs, it’s apparent that public charging is pretty expensive.
How to Optimize Charging Times and Rates
- First, consider setting up a home charging station, and you’ll save a lot of the time you’d spend lining up at a public charging station. It also helps you charge at your convenience, and you’re guaranteed to leave home on a full charge every morning.
- Take advantage of off-peak electricity use times. Nighttime is usually off-peak, and it means you’ll get the lowest kWh rate.
- Keeping track of the remaining charge can also help you identify the ideal charging time for faster charging speeds. For most EVs, the most rapid charging occurs when the battery is approx between 20 and 80 % charged.
- Also, don’t expose your EV to extreme temperatures when charging. Moderate temperatures are ideal for optimal charging times and also ensure extensive battery health.
- Switch off features you don't really need to conserve energy and avoid regular visits to the charging booth. Listening to music and running the AC in full swing when charging your EV looks cool, but it’s definitely counterproductive.
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