Cross Country with my Mustang MachE (MME)
I decided to visit my sister for her birthday and show off my MME, I live in Denver she’s in Sarasota FL. I went to the Ford Pass app and used their “Trip Planner” to help. We wanted to stop in New Orleans so I entered that as my destination. This looked great, miles to charging, time of trip, time to charge and percentage to charge to get to the next charger. I soon found out it was difficult to edit once saved, could add stops but couldn’t delete any, could not add % charged at a stop (hotel stay and would be at 100%) and route and chargers would change. OK, I took that info put it in a spreadsheet that total time and planned 10 hour days. Took the last charger location looked on Google Maps for hotels within 0.5 miles. Made reservations thought I was good. The Hotel in New Orleans had to be special, there are very few charges in the city. I called around and the VOCO St. James said they had chargers available. Great booked.
Day one, Started the trip around 8 am. 50 mile outside of town and a truck through a rock and crack, but drivable. The MME first got 200 mile per charge and grew to 230 mile, heard that batteries could do that, so my first stop was in Goodland KS, 195 miles 158 min travel and 44 min charging. Well once we got 75 miles under our belt I got a notice (I would not have noticed it unless my wife was looking it at the exact moment) on the map that it had added a new charging station (this should stay on the map until acknowledged) in Flagler CO, 117 miles and an extra 10 min charging, This really through things off, my next planned charger was based on being in Goodland. Got to the Flagler charger and could not get it to work, called Electrify America and they did some magic and we were charging. I decided to go to Goodland anyway and top off so my route was intact (HAHA). Goodland had Francis charging stations, Fine I’ll just use my credit card. Well that wouldn’t work (no charging station I ever came across would use credit cards although they are designed to). Had to call them up they said use their app, told them could not down load it and they gave me a free charge. Next stop the exact same thing and the exact same results. When I got to the hotel they had Francis chargers 3 of the 4 did not work and the 4th was being used. Fortunately there was an EA within walking distance. I downloaded the Francis app, had to put money in its bank to use it, don’t ever know if I’ll get that back. This day took 14 hours instead of the planned 10.
Day 2, Plugged in the hotel address (figured my planning was out the window) and took off, not a bad day had to add new charging apps, what the heck. Then I reached the last charger before the hotel (EA). All were out order and only had 15 mile left. So I did a search for chargers none real close, but a 6.5 Kw (ChargePoint) so I went there as I was charging I looked for others. Found one in the Public Services parking lot and I had enough now to get to it. This charge said it took credit cards but no. When I called they said it was free and they would start a session, sweet. Got to the hotel 14 hours after start. The charging station for this stop was a James Ceranti Nissan. I called when I planned the trip, the said no problem, called again that morning to remind the and to be sure the area was clear. This worked fine charged overnight got my 100%.
Day 3, headed to New Orleans, not too bad, except I notice distances between chargers was getting shorter. Last stop before hotel was another
[Ma1] Nissan dealership, Bill Hood. This was picked by the trip planner. Pull up and find charger, it was in a driving lane close to a cement wall, had to climb out the passenger side so I could get close enough for the cable to reach. This was going to take hours here. Walked to have lunch and back, still hours. So I’m sitting in there waiting room talking to other customers and mention my predicament, they said there was a target down the street with chargers. Sure enough googled it and there they were 4 EA station. Why would the mapping software pick a slow charge at a dealership and not the EA’s!!! I did double check on the phone app for stations nearby and they did not show up, I did max out to 100% here for safety sake. Finally New Orleans, check in and tell the front desk I needed the car charged, their valet ($40 a night) I was told would take care of it.
Day 4, got up and check my app to see the charge, still 40%. Talked to the front desk about this, they got the Valet manager who told me that their contract with the lot with the charger expired 2 days ago. Begin my frantic search for a new station along the way. I was actually so flustered that I forgot I had my 110v charger with me. I finally found one using google maps.
Day5, saw the city.
Day 6off to Sarasota Fl. had to get another charging app day 7 arrive at destination. 15% charge plug in the 110v 36 hr. to get to 100%. All chargers within 5 miles were slow speed and/or broken.
Day 7-11, had a nice stay.
Day 11, Head home notice the at 100% I was only getting 180 miles watched this go down to by the time I got home it is now 163 miles. This caused me to notice a new quirk. As I driving what I call the buffer of miles between my current destination and the starting charge keeps getting smaller. I soon realize the cause of this is the AC and/or Heater. At times on the trip I had to turn it completely off so I could make to the next charger. I would hope some software guy can put in some switch in the planner to ask are you going to use the climate control low/med/hi and account for the extra drain. It also had to do with driving in the mountains which would be nice if they could account for that.
Made it home, new windshield and all is ok with the world.
Does anybody know if I'll get my range back?
[Ma1]
