300,000 Miles and Counting, David’s Mustang Mach-E is Going the Distance
The weather’s warm and the kids are out of school, so it must be time for those long-awaited summer getaways.
Getting the family organised and out of the house is enough of a challenge, but thankfully your Ford and the Ford Pass app 1 are loaded with features to help you get the most out of the hot summer months.
Hot Outside, Cool Inside
Ford electric vehicles allow pre-conditioning, where you can set the in-car temperature for your upcoming journey while the vehicle is plugged in to charge.
If it’s going to be a hot day, you can climb into a perfectly chilled cabin, with the exact amount of battery charge you want for your trip, ready at precisely the time you want to leave. And because it uses energy from the charge point rather than the vehicle battery, you’ll use less energy on the road.
If your Capri, 2 Explorer 3 or Mustang Mach-E 4 aren’t plugged in to charge, you can still set the exact climate control temperature remotely though the Ford Pass app. 5 It’s ideal for when you return to your car after being parked up for a few hours in the heat of the sun. There’s also the option to set the climate control switch on whenever you unlock the vehicle, so it starts to cool down on your return.
Stopping for a short period? When switching off your Explorer or Capri, the exit menu automatically appears, giving you the option to leave the air conditioning running for up to 30 minutes so it stays cool until you return.
Selected Ford electric vehicles are also available with heat pumps, which are more efficient than conventional heating and ventilation systems so you can cool the cabin down using less energy.
Even if your Ford isn’t a Capri, Explorer or Mustang Mach-E, many models offer the global opening feature to start cooling your car down when you return to it. Simply hold down the unlock button on your key fob and it will lower all the windows, and open the sunroof where fitted, allowing fresh air into the cabin.
Safer In The Heat
A moment’s inattention can easily lead to a small child or pet being left on the back seat of a locked vehicle, but all Ford passenger vehicles and the Ford Ranger pickup offer Rear Occupant Alert, designed to help prevent such a situation.
If a rear door is opened at the start of a journey, a visual and audible warning is provided when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition turned off to remind the driver to check the rear seats.
Charge Smarter
Ford electric vehicles can be charged even when the outside temperature is 50 degrees Celsius, but the hotter it is the longer it can take to charge. Using delayed charging means you can set your vehicle to charge later in the day or overnight when temperatures are lower, and with some utility providers you can benefit from cheaper prices during off-peak times too.
You can also keep your electric vehicle plugged in at home if the outside temperature is high, as it will automatically manage the battery temperature to ensure it is at the optimum level.
“If it’s going to be a hot day, you can climb into a perfectly chilled cabin, with the exact amount of battery charge you want for your trip, ready at precisely the time you want to leave.”Charlie Bristow, vehicles topic producer, Ford in Europe
The Perfect Spot
Whatever kind of Ford you drive, there are a few simple things that can help you make the most of the warmer weather.
Parking up in the shade can significantly reduce the cabin temperature, but if you must park in direct sun, a foldable sunshade can help to keep the interior cooler, particularly if it has a reflective backing.
If you’re returning to a hot vehicle it’s tempting to blast the air con on its coldest setting, but it will be more effective if you lower all the windows as you drive off. The breeze through the windows will blow out the hot interior air, so the air conditioning will work more quickly.
If your climate control has a ‘max’ button this is the most effective setting for rapid cooling, but if you have manual air conditioning set the recirculation function to ‘on’ – this means colder air from the system is recycled around the cabin. Without this enabled, the system will be trying to cool hot air from outside, so it will take longer to reach the requested temperature.
With these tips you can keep your car cool and concentrate on having fun – and only break sweat when you want to.
Charlie Bristow is vehicles topic producer for Ford in Europe
1 FordPass app, compatible with selected smartphone platforms, is available via download. Message and data rates apply. FordPass Connect, the FordPass app and complimentary Connected Service are required for remote features (see FordPass terms for details). Connected Service and features depend on Vodafone or Vodafone partner mobile network availability. Evolving technology/mobile networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features. Connected Service excludes Wi-Fi hotspot.
2 Up to 627 km driving range based on full charge of Capri RWD extended range. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
3 Up to 602 km based on full charge of Explorer RWD extended range. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
4 Up to 600 km driving range based on full charge of Mustang Mach-E RWD extended range. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown are for comparability purposes and should only be compared with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. Actual range varies due to factors such as temperature, driving behaviour, route profile, vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and condition.
5 Features may require software update.
