So, you need a new car, and you’re thinking, “Maybe we’ll try an electric vehicle?” But there’s a little voice in your head that still isn’t sure about that whole ‘filling it up’ part. You’re not alone! Some 60% of Americans consider buying an electric vehicle but still aren’t sure about how and where to keep them topped up.
Don’t worry; we’re here to help. We just reviewed the new 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, an all-electric SUV, and the Charge Station Pro, the top-of-the-line retail 80-amp charger and standard installation that Ford’s including with all its electric vehicles through the end of the year.
Is Ford’s Power Promise enough to get a fence-sitter like me to go the way of Electric? Is it worth it overall? We have answers to all your burning questions.
WHAT’S THE ELECTRIC MUSTANG LIKE TO DRIVE?
It’s a super sweet ride. This particular all-electric SUV gets nearly 300 miles on a full charge, accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds, and operates whisper-quiet. We set it to charge during off-peak hours, which meant a full charge cost around seven dollars. (And best of all, no trips to the gas station!!!)
HOW EASY IS IT TO FILL UP YOUR EV AT HOME?
It’s as easy as plugging in your phone overnight. I set it to charge during off-peak hours — so a full tank costs around $7. My gas-powered car costs about $80 dollars to fill up.
Here’s a great perk, though; if you buy or lease any electric vehicle, SUV, or truck from Ford between now and January, they throw in the Charge Station Pro, which is a top-of-the-line retail 80-amp charger and they pay for standard installation too.
That saved us a few thousand bucks right there, and all my friends are jealous of this great charger. It’s a big promotion called the “Ford Power Promise” — and the company told us they’re doing it because ‘where and how to charge’ are still the biggest barriers to switching to electric for most people — me included.
I had serious range anxiety before… but it just has not been an issue at all — I mean — when you start each day full, it’s just not a “thing” anymore.
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU ACTUALLY SAVE SWITCHING TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?
It’s hard to nail down an exact number because the costs of gas and electricity vary so much between states. We estimate that we would save about $2,000 a year, or $35 a week, by switching over.
Overall, you’ll save somewhere between 60% and 80% on electricity compared to gas. The Mach-E runs the equivalent of about 91 miles per gallon. Plus, you eliminate the need for oil changes, and there’s a whole lot less maintenance.
DOES YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL GO UP WHEN YOU FILL UP YOUR CAR AT HOME?
Yes. We’ve seen an increase of about $60 per month, depending on how much we drove. Still, that’s nothing compared to the cost of gas and repairs. Our insurance premiums also went up about 4%. Overall, we still saw savings of a couple of grand a year with the switch to electric.
Another number worth noting here is the overall cost of the vehicle. This Mach-E starts at just under $40,000 new off the lot. That’s still a whole lot of dough for most people (us included). The last time we reported on electric vehicles, they averaged $10,000 more than a gas-powered car brand new; but now that’s dropped to just over $2,000 more. Regardless, it’s a big investment.
Don’t forget, you can lease or finance them for around $350 per month versus coming up with such a tremendous amount of cash too.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER MYTHS OUT THERE ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
There are so many myths! But one of the biggest ones, aside from charging fears, is that electric vehicles are worse for the environment than gas or diesel cars. According to the latest data from the EPA and numerous bipartisan sources, this is not the case. When considering power plant emissions, battery manufacturing, materials mining, the impact on the power grid, battery lifespan, and the recycling of materials, electric vehicles cause less impact to the environment than fossil fuel-dependent vehicles.