250,000 Miles and Counting, David’s Mustang Mach-E is Going the Distance
Detroit native and proud grandpa Jeffrey Jones embarked on his first-ever road trip with an electric vehicle, an inaugural experience that also included using BlueCruise hands-free highway driving.1
The mission? To help his daughter, son-in-law, and their 7-week-old baby — along with their new 2025 Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD (extended range battery) — relocate their lives 2,000 miles from Denver, Colorado, to Miami, Florida.
Despite initial hesitations about range anxiety and embracing new technology, Jeffrey volunteered for the drive. The love of a father runs deep, after all.
He recruited his brother-in-law, Lloyd Lewis, as his co-pilot. The duo playfully dubbed their adventure the "Mach E-Lderly World Tour 2025!", a testament to their willingness to step outside their comfort zones and explore new horizons.
Smart Planning for an Electric Vehicle Road Trip
Jeffrey is a seasoned road-tripper with gas-powered vehicles, but noted that while all road trips require planning, you use different tools when you have an electric vehicle. This includes apps and a Ford adapter2 if you want to stop to fill up at North American Charging Standard (NACS) fast-charging stations.
“We used A Better Routeplanner app, but you can also use Apple Maps EV Routing with CarPlay,” Jeffrey said. “This allows you to filter by NACS fast-charging stations, such as Tesla Superchargers, to plot the best route for charging, plus some opportunities for exploring along the way.”
“Long road trips are easily accomplished with an electric vehicle, you just need a little bit of planning.”Lloyd Lewis, first-time electric vehicle road-tripper
Once the route was planned, he needed a quick tutorial on BlueCruise, which was available on 90% of the route.
The 2025 Mustang Mach-E has the latest version of BlueCruise available, where BlueCruise automatically makes a lane change without your input to pass slower-moving traffic and keep the vehicle moving along at the set speed.
It can also avoid moving the vehicle into the right-hand lane where the off-ramps, inconsistent lane lines, or merging traffic often require you to put your hands back on the wheel.
“Driving with my hands off the wheel goes against everything I was taught when learning how to drive, so I needed to go against my ingrained habits,” Jeffrey said.
“Once I got comfortable with the automatic lane changes, I became a BlueCruise believer. It helps make travel across long distances effortless and relaxing.”
“We drove 2,000 miles over four days,” Lloyd added, “but it did not feel like a grind or a chore thanks to BlueCruise.”
Conquering the Miles: Trip Highlights from the ‘Mach E-Lderly World Tour’
Upon completing their 2,000-mile journey, Jeffrey and Lloyd's perspective on electric vehicle road trips had entirely shifted.
They were particularly surprised by the widespread accessibility of charging stations throughout their trip and the ease and speed of charging.
“By the time we finished grabbing some snacks and hitting the bathroom, the car was charged and ready to go.”Jeffrey Jones, first-time electric vehicle road-tripper
They also enjoyed the camaraderie of meeting other electric vehicle owners at charging stations across the country.
Their favorite stop?
“If you had to pick a place to hang out while waiting for a charge, Buc-ees would be it,” Jeffrey said.
“We stopped at the one in Amarillo, Texas, off of I-40, and it was a great first-time experience! There were plenty of high-speed chargers available, everything was clean, there was a variety of food, drink stations, and souvenirs. By the time we finished grabbing some snacks and hitting the bathroom, the car was charged and ready to go.”
When asked what they wished people knew about taking an electric vehicle road trip, Lloyd said, “Long road trips are easily accomplished with an electric vehicle, you just need a little bit of planning.”
Jeffrey added, “It is really easy to get to chargers, especially the high-speed chargers, and they are available 24/7 — it is not intimidating or scary.”
Looking ahead, the "Mach E-Lderly World Tour" might continue with plans to explore Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles, or a trip from Detroit to Key West, also known as the "Southernmost Point" in the continental U.S.
Jeffrey even mused about purchasing his own Mustang Mach-E, so he wouldn't have to borrow his son-in-law’s.
The tour, it seems, is just getting started.
Whitney Pineda is a member of the Ford Communications team.
1Available feature on select vehicles. BlueCruise requires an active plan or trial — see ford.com/bluecruise for details. Terms apply. BlueCruise is a driver-assist feature and does not replace safe driving or driver’s attention, judgment, and need to control the vehicle. Only remove hands in a hands-free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.
2Available feature on select vehicles.
