Ford is about to launch an electric vehicle game changer… or not. The EV ecosystem is doubtlessly getting more competitive and interesting with each new entrant. Ford is an automobile manufacturing icon, as it pretty much set the ball rolling as far back as 1908 with the introduction of the Model T - the first mass-produced car in the world.
EVs have been around for a bit, but it only started getting mass-produced around a decade ago. With the Mach-E, Ford will have its first all-electric crossover in the EV market. Ford has also added the Mustang nameplate to the Mach-E hoping that it’ll strengthen the car’s marketability. The Mustang Mach-E is dropping soon, and we’ve listed some reasons why it could be a great EV or a flop.
10 Why It’s Awesome – Long Driving Range
Range is one of the most important factors in an EV. It is determined by the capacity of the battery and the type of electric motor it’s paired with. This is why EV manufacturers continuously research and produce upgraded, longer-lasting batteries.
The Extended Range trim of the Mach-E has an estimated range of 300 miles when its battery is paired with the rear wheels. Not many EVs possess such range.
9 Why Nobody Will Buy – Looks Nothing Like A Mustang
Mustang has a cult following and it’s not hard to understand why. Currently, it is Ford’s most successful nameplate and has been produced as pony and muscle cars. Mustang was introduced in 1965 and it’s now in its sixth generation.
Conversely, Mach-E, asides from being an EV is built as a crossover SUV, therefore, sharing no form with conventional combustion engine Mustangs. It also won’t have the trademark noise often associated with Mustangs as EVs are as quiet as a dove – Mustang enthusiasts won’t be pleased with this.
8 Why It’s Awesome – Fast Charging
The time taken to fully charge an EV could a major deal-breaker in the quest to acquire one. Also, it could be the reason most people would rather stay loyal to internal combustion engine vehicles due to the relatively short time required for a refuel as well as the ease of the process.
However, Ford is deploying a fast charging technology into the Mach-E. This technology can get the battery fully charged in a few hours and it’ll be made available in all Mach-E models.
7 Why Nobody Will Buy – No Complimentary Maintenance
Electric vehicle technology isn’t new but the general adoption of the technology is new, therefore, most people buying EVs are first time buyers. As such, the uncertainties are enormous, as customers have no real clue of what they’re venturing into.
The majority of new owners won’t know the cost of maintenance or how often they’ll be required to carry out such maintenance on their cars. It even gets more puzzling with a new entrant EV. Hence, Ford’s decision to not offer complimentary maintenance for Mach-E could discourage prospective buyers.
6 Why It’s Awesome – Large Cargo Space
Cargo space is a complimentary feature on most cars, however, it could be a major need for numerous car owners as well as the deciding factor when left with several options during purchase.
Mach-E is designed to have its battery positioned within the car floor and this leaves ample space in the car for both the passenger and the cargo. It has a rear cargo space volume of 29 cu-ft and complimentary front cargo space of 4.8 cu-ft – relatively larger than most EVs are offering.
5 Why Nobody Will Buy – Limited Charging Stations
Ford will be selling dedicated home charging stations to its Mach-E customers for ease of charging. Asides this, Ford has also partnered with several charging stations for its FordPass Charging Network claiming it’ll be the largest charging network in the U.S.
These are all great news, but it also means a trip in a Mach-E has to be highly planned and must be limited to areas within the designated charging stations. That could be quite discouraging.
4 Why It’s Awesome – Top Performance
The Mustang Mach-E boasts of quite an impressive powertrain. Offered in both standard range and extended range packs, the battery capacities are 75.7 kWh and 98.8 kWh respectively.
These batteries feed electric motors that are mounted either on the rear or both axes. The extended range battery trim when running on all-wheels produces 459 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque. This incredible power gets the Mach-E from rest to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds.
3 Why Nobody Will Buy – Handling Uncertainty
Vehicle handling is an assessment that examines how a wheeled automobile executes conventional routine tasks such as accelerating, braking, and cornering. To figure out how a vehicle handles, the vehicle has to be driven. Alternatively, prospective buyers could read up stats from trusted automobile blogs to make informed decisions.
However, with the Mach-E, there’s no luxury of handling knowledge as it hasn’t been released to the public. Prospective buyers who are keen on knowing its handling prowess will have to wait till it’s launched.
2 Why It’s Awesome – Competitive Price
Having several EV companies jostle for market share is a prerequisite for a price war. Affordability is often used as a tool to influence buyers during a sale but it doesn’t always guarantee premium quality and features.
The most affordable Mach-E starts at around $45,000 (for the lowest spec). This price sounds like a bargain when compared to the starting prices of the Jaguar I-Pace or the Audi e-tron. However, a few other competitors are offering equal or lesser prices.
1 Why Nobody Will Buy – Unconfirmed Automotive Safety
Crash testing, which is a major component of automotive safety is often carried out on new automobiles. There are several types of crash tests with the most popular being the frontal-impact test. There are also side-impact tests and roll-over tests among others.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, being the designated authorities for these tests are yet to carry them out on the Mach-E.