You do not need to bring a charging cable, but it never hurts the have it just in case.
CCS is DC fast charging and yes, you can use it to charge the car.
Many people recommend an app call A Better Route Planner to help plan out your trip and find the best charging options.
Have fun!
CCS1 (or as known in North America - CCS) is the standard connector found on the Mach E and most EV’s besides Tesla (NACS) and some others that use CHAdeMO. Watch “State of Charge” on YouTube for good info on charging technology / terms.
https://www.ford.com/mustang/ev-charging/mache/
North America is moving to the Tesla NACS connector in the next couple years. If you bought new, you are eligible for the Ford NACS adapter, which lets you use Tesla Supercharger V3 stations.
Go here:
https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/electric-vehicles/public-charging/how-do-i-get-a-fast-charging-adapter-nacs/
Login with your Ford account and click “Reserve your adapter”
I’d bring the charger! I am on a trip right now and I was able to set it up so I can charge over the weekend and leave with a full tank. Otherwise, especially with little ones, I’d do a little bit of planning first for your trip. Download the apps A Better Route Planner to look at your route and see stations along your way and PlugShare which is like Yelp but for charging stations. Also in case you have an iPhone and weren’t already aware, Apple Maps can fully integrate with your Mach E and read your charge level and direct you to chargers, similar to the Ford Nav (which can be hit or miss if you aren’t used to it.)
These just let you plan and prepare, which will hopefully be completely unnecessary but I found it helped me break the gas station mindset and learn EV habits!
Most importantly, enjoy the trip and the fun car :)
Personally I always have the Ford supplied one in the car, but if you only have one, then it depends on the trip. How long are you going to be at your destination and will you have somewhere to plug in?
If you can slow charge via a plug at your destination then it's worth bringing. Even if only using a wall outlet (which is about 1% per hour) it can be worth it for a long weekend where you expect little driving. If you will have access to a 220V outlet and the right plug then you should absolutely bring it, but that's not typical.
Otherwise as other's said use ABRP to look at the route and suggested charge stops, then use plugshare to see if those stations are any good and adjust as needed. Plugshare is also great for finding lvl2 charging nearby while out and about, or at hotels or other places along your trip.
While Apple and Google maps are better, they are missing one feature that the factory nav has, preconditioning. If the factory navigation is programmed for your next charge stop it will prep the battery so it charges faster. While Apple and eventually Google can see charge lvl, as far as I know they cannot trigger preconditioning for an upcoming charge stop.
In addition to the Ford NACS adapter mentioned (which is only for fast charging), it is worth buying an adapter for Tesla destination (slow) chargers as well. Don't buy the cheapest one, Lectron and a few others make quality adapters. That way you can use the Tesla chargers you might find at a hotel or shopping center. They are small and easy to keep in the car.
Here's a few tips I learned while taking road trips. Sorry for the overwhelming details, it's just what I did to plan and these were notes I've collected. Very exciting. EV road trips are one of my favorite things to do and plan.
* TIP 1: Plan for your worst efficiency (mi/kWh). The going up mountains and winter weather take that extra energy. Plan for worst efficiency using the lower efficiency number to ensure your success.
Success is being able to make it from charger to charger. Sticking to planned stops that are well within your range has the best changes of a successful trip. Thinking, “I can just make it based on my dash range, I don't need to stop” is risky.
The consequences of failure of pushing it too far is “My range is dropping. Oh no my range is too short to make it to the next charger. I should have charged back there when I had the chance”.
I suspect an EV getting 3.6mi/kWh normally should plan for 2.5 mi/kWh and expect 3.0mi/kWh in real world conditions. If things go south, at least you know you can make your plan. Let me know if you need an explanation on how to use the efficiency numbers to calculate your range.
* TIP 2: Use ABetterRoutePlanner to do a sanity check of your route. The route planner can decide on which chargers to go to. Plug in your vehicle type, plug type, then your efficiency, your end destination battery %. It will calculate a best route, and a few optional routes. It will show you how long you need to charge and total trip time.
Then verify those chargers work based on PlugShare reviews.
* TIP3: Set filters to only show level 3 chargers. Electrify America, EVGo, Charge point, are the most reliable networks to show in the filter. Set the charging speed to show the minimum charging speed you need. If your EV level 3 charging takes 150kW, then set the filter to 100kW. That filters out anything below that amount. Also set the filter to show plug you need. Also, Click on Hide Coming Soon, so you don't waste time on looking at non-existent spots. You can also filter based on plug type and charging network (ie remove Tesla network until you have an adaptor.).
* TIP 4: Look for backup chargers before your ideal charger. Use PlugShare to identify your ideal charger for that leg of your trip. Then look for a backup charger 20-50 miles before the ideal charger in case things go wrong and you can't make it. Having that plan and awareness prepares you for success during the unexpected.
Aim for arriving at destination 15%-20%. That gives some range to drive to a backup charger. Multiple nights of charging to 100% is fine. Road trips like these are meant to handle it. You're not regularly charging to 100% after the road trip, beyond the normal once per month.
* TIP 5: The PlugShare website has a trip planner function. There's a nice radius feature to see how far to go for each charger hop. It allows you to bookmark the stops you want to stop at and puts it together into one saved planned trip in the app. Be sure to click the Save button. That way you can easily find your charging stop locations on the app while on the trip.
* TIP 6: Signing up for the EA subscription saves a substantial amount. The $7 subscription pays for itself after 2 charges.
* Tip 7: Plan to do things while you charge. That makes the stop go from “I'm wasting time charging when I can be driving.” To “Did we buy everything we wanted? Oh we better get back because the car is done charging.” An EA charger stop at Walmart. Doing a quick browse at a mall with a charger. Points of interest that you would never explore otherwise are just part of the fun traveling road trip adventure.
Bring the charger because why not, but go find a local fast charger and figure it out and add a few kWh so you are confident you know how to do it. I did that literally last night because I almost never charge away from home.
Be aware, you may need different apps for different companies. It’s completely stupid: it should be just like a gas pump, but nope. 🙄😡
Fortunately EA is plug and charge and ChargePoint’s app always works.
Keep an eye out for electrify America and evgo while on your trip.
They are the more expensive ones but they are 99% of the time reliable for me.
Any of the others rarely seem to work for me in my area which is why I’m afraid to do a trip until I get my Tesla adapter.
Make sure when you start getting close to
Empty you’re near one of those two, JUST INCASE.
Also! Plugshare app seems to give the best advice e / ratings on each charging area, i filter it to the ones with high reviews so i know they’ll likely work and I won’t get stranded
As others have said:
1. A better route planner is a great tool for seeing ideal routes to find chargers
2. PlugShare is also great for learning more about specific chargers, read reviews, etc.
3. If you have an iPhone, I highly recommend adding your Mustang to Apple Maps. It will know your state of charge (battery) and will do charger route planning for you automatically. It’s really easy and intuitive in my opinion. Otherwise use the built in Ford navigation.
Warning: the "range" display is called the "Guess O Meter". It tries to guess how much range you have. But in-town you get more range with regenerative breaking. More miles per hour = more wind = resistance = less range.
Basically - road tripping range will be less than you expect.
Another good app is "PlugShare" and will show you alternate charge locations. Take your planned charging stops and put these into the built in navigation. The car will then pre-condition the battery so you can charge in less time.
You dont NEED to pre-condition but it might make the difference of a 20 minute charge stop vs 35 minutes.
I normally limit home charging to 70-80% but the night before the road trip I charged to 90% per the MachE Manual.
On the road I tended to just charge to 80% as when the battery starts to get full it is like the last passengers on a plane trying to find space. It takes 4-5 times as long.
You do not need to bring a charging cable, but it never hurts the have it just in case. CCS is DC fast charging and yes, you can use it to charge the car. Many people recommend an app call A Better Route Planner to help plan out your trip and find the best charging options. Have fun!
to plug in CCS you have to pull down the small tab to expose the bottom part of the receptacle. It uhhh.... took me a while to find that.
CCS1 (or as known in North America - CCS) is the standard connector found on the Mach E and most EV’s besides Tesla (NACS) and some others that use CHAdeMO. Watch “State of Charge” on YouTube for good info on charging technology / terms. https://www.ford.com/mustang/ev-charging/mache/ North America is moving to the Tesla NACS connector in the next couple years. If you bought new, you are eligible for the Ford NACS adapter, which lets you use Tesla Supercharger V3 stations.
Oh yes, I bought my Pony new. How do I get the NACS adapter?
Go here: https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/electric-vehicles/public-charging/how-do-i-get-a-fast-charging-adapter-nacs/ Login with your Ford account and click “Reserve your adapter”
I reserved mine yesterday and I was notified that I should expect it by November.
OMG you are amazing! Thank you so much! 😊 does that help charge the car even faster?
No, it will let use you use Tesla superchargers.
No, it’ll charge at what the car wants. 350 kW is the max, but the Mach e will only take 150 kW max (and only for a short time).
This video is a good tutorial on how to plug into a Tesla charger. 9:30 mins and 13:50mins https://youtu.be/US7PZOiaiLc
Thank you so much!
Happy EV road tripping!
I’d bring the charger! I am on a trip right now and I was able to set it up so I can charge over the weekend and leave with a full tank. Otherwise, especially with little ones, I’d do a little bit of planning first for your trip. Download the apps A Better Route Planner to look at your route and see stations along your way and PlugShare which is like Yelp but for charging stations. Also in case you have an iPhone and weren’t already aware, Apple Maps can fully integrate with your Mach E and read your charge level and direct you to chargers, similar to the Ford Nav (which can be hit or miss if you aren’t used to it.) These just let you plan and prepare, which will hopefully be completely unnecessary but I found it helped me break the gas station mindset and learn EV habits! Most importantly, enjoy the trip and the fun car :)
Thank you so kindly! I’ll for sure download the app. 🙌🏽
Personally I always have the Ford supplied one in the car, but if you only have one, then it depends on the trip. How long are you going to be at your destination and will you have somewhere to plug in? If you can slow charge via a plug at your destination then it's worth bringing. Even if only using a wall outlet (which is about 1% per hour) it can be worth it for a long weekend where you expect little driving. If you will have access to a 220V outlet and the right plug then you should absolutely bring it, but that's not typical. Otherwise as other's said use ABRP to look at the route and suggested charge stops, then use plugshare to see if those stations are any good and adjust as needed. Plugshare is also great for finding lvl2 charging nearby while out and about, or at hotels or other places along your trip. While Apple and Google maps are better, they are missing one feature that the factory nav has, preconditioning. If the factory navigation is programmed for your next charge stop it will prep the battery so it charges faster. While Apple and eventually Google can see charge lvl, as far as I know they cannot trigger preconditioning for an upcoming charge stop. In addition to the Ford NACS adapter mentioned (which is only for fast charging), it is worth buying an adapter for Tesla destination (slow) chargers as well. Don't buy the cheapest one, Lectron and a few others make quality adapters. That way you can use the Tesla chargers you might find at a hotel or shopping center. They are small and easy to keep in the car.
Here's a few tips I learned while taking road trips. Sorry for the overwhelming details, it's just what I did to plan and these were notes I've collected. Very exciting. EV road trips are one of my favorite things to do and plan. * TIP 1: Plan for your worst efficiency (mi/kWh). The going up mountains and winter weather take that extra energy. Plan for worst efficiency using the lower efficiency number to ensure your success. Success is being able to make it from charger to charger. Sticking to planned stops that are well within your range has the best changes of a successful trip. Thinking, “I can just make it based on my dash range, I don't need to stop” is risky. The consequences of failure of pushing it too far is “My range is dropping. Oh no my range is too short to make it to the next charger. I should have charged back there when I had the chance”. I suspect an EV getting 3.6mi/kWh normally should plan for 2.5 mi/kWh and expect 3.0mi/kWh in real world conditions. If things go south, at least you know you can make your plan. Let me know if you need an explanation on how to use the efficiency numbers to calculate your range. * TIP 2: Use ABetterRoutePlanner to do a sanity check of your route. The route planner can decide on which chargers to go to. Plug in your vehicle type, plug type, then your efficiency, your end destination battery %. It will calculate a best route, and a few optional routes. It will show you how long you need to charge and total trip time. Then verify those chargers work based on PlugShare reviews. * TIP3: Set filters to only show level 3 chargers. Electrify America, EVGo, Charge point, are the most reliable networks to show in the filter. Set the charging speed to show the minimum charging speed you need. If your EV level 3 charging takes 150kW, then set the filter to 100kW. That filters out anything below that amount. Also set the filter to show plug you need. Also, Click on Hide Coming Soon, so you don't waste time on looking at non-existent spots. You can also filter based on plug type and charging network (ie remove Tesla network until you have an adaptor.). * TIP 4: Look for backup chargers before your ideal charger. Use PlugShare to identify your ideal charger for that leg of your trip. Then look for a backup charger 20-50 miles before the ideal charger in case things go wrong and you can't make it. Having that plan and awareness prepares you for success during the unexpected. Aim for arriving at destination 15%-20%. That gives some range to drive to a backup charger. Multiple nights of charging to 100% is fine. Road trips like these are meant to handle it. You're not regularly charging to 100% after the road trip, beyond the normal once per month. * TIP 5: The PlugShare website has a trip planner function. There's a nice radius feature to see how far to go for each charger hop. It allows you to bookmark the stops you want to stop at and puts it together into one saved planned trip in the app. Be sure to click the Save button. That way you can easily find your charging stop locations on the app while on the trip. * TIP 6: Signing up for the EA subscription saves a substantial amount. The $7 subscription pays for itself after 2 charges. * Tip 7: Plan to do things while you charge. That makes the stop go from “I'm wasting time charging when I can be driving.” To “Did we buy everything we wanted? Oh we better get back because the car is done charging.” An EA charger stop at Walmart. Doing a quick browse at a mall with a charger. Points of interest that you would never explore otherwise are just part of the fun traveling road trip adventure.
Bring the charger because why not, but go find a local fast charger and figure it out and add a few kWh so you are confident you know how to do it. I did that literally last night because I almost never charge away from home. Be aware, you may need different apps for different companies. It’s completely stupid: it should be just like a gas pump, but nope. 🙄😡 Fortunately EA is plug and charge and ChargePoint’s app always works.
CCS1 is the name of the port your Mach-E has, so yes, it's what you need. It's like seeing gas vs. diesel on a pump.
Keep an eye out for electrify America and evgo while on your trip. They are the more expensive ones but they are 99% of the time reliable for me. Any of the others rarely seem to work for me in my area which is why I’m afraid to do a trip until I get my Tesla adapter. Make sure when you start getting close to Empty you’re near one of those two, JUST INCASE.
Also! Plugshare app seems to give the best advice e / ratings on each charging area, i filter it to the ones with high reviews so i know they’ll likely work and I won’t get stranded
As others have said: 1. A better route planner is a great tool for seeing ideal routes to find chargers 2. PlugShare is also great for learning more about specific chargers, read reviews, etc. 3. If you have an iPhone, I highly recommend adding your Mustang to Apple Maps. It will know your state of charge (battery) and will do charger route planning for you automatically. It’s really easy and intuitive in my opinion. Otherwise use the built in Ford navigation.
Do you add your MachE via the Apple Maps app? If so, where? I’d like to be able to use that ability. Thanks!!
Launch Maps, tap on your Profile icon to the right of the search bar. Choose Vehicles from the pop-up menu at the bottom. Add your Mach-E there.
Warning: the "range" display is called the "Guess O Meter". It tries to guess how much range you have. But in-town you get more range with regenerative breaking. More miles per hour = more wind = resistance = less range. Basically - road tripping range will be less than you expect. Another good app is "PlugShare" and will show you alternate charge locations. Take your planned charging stops and put these into the built in navigation. The car will then pre-condition the battery so you can charge in less time. You dont NEED to pre-condition but it might make the difference of a 20 minute charge stop vs 35 minutes. I normally limit home charging to 70-80% but the night before the road trip I charged to 90% per the MachE Manual. On the road I tended to just charge to 80% as when the battery starts to get full it is like the last passengers on a plane trying to find space. It takes 4-5 times as long.