Ford Mustang Mach-E Charging Guide
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EV Charging Levels Explained
Level 1 Charging
Level 1 charging is probably the most convenient form of charging, but it is also the slowest way to charge an EV. Level 1 charging is what you’re doing when you plug your EV into a regular 120V wall outlet. It’s convenient, since these kinds of plugs are everywhere, but the relatively low voltage makes for painfully long charge times. This kind of charging is only recommended for those who drive less than 20 miles a day. There are some other circumstances where you might find it useful, but as a rule, it’s best not to depend on Level 1 charging.
Level 2 Charging
Level 2 charging is what is used for the vast majority of EV charging. Not only are most of the 111,000 BlueOval Charge Network public charging stations Level 2, but the home charging stations sold by Ford (and all other EV manufacturers, for that matter) are all Level 2 as well. This type of charging works at 240V and is much faster than Level 1. Ford sells a couple of different home charging stations, the Ford Charge Station Pro is essentially just for the F-150 Lightning, as it has unique features. The Ford Connected Charge Station is what is recommended for the Mustang Mach-E, but that’s good news, as it is also the more affordable option. This station can charge a Mustang Mach-E with the extended range battery from 0% to 100% charge in just 11 hours, adding roughly 27 miles of range per hour. This kind of home charging, usually performed overnight, accounts for around 80% of all EV charging across all brands.
There is another type of Level 2 charging that’s worth mentioning - which is to just plug directly into a NEMA 14-50 AC outlet, which is the type of “round” outlets used for electric stoves and some other home appliances. Some people already have these types of outlets installed in their garages and don’t see the point of installing a separate charger just for their car. This doesn’t work quite as fast as a dedicated charging station, but it’s still a lot quicker than Level 1 charging, adding about 21 miles of range per hour. For most EV owners, this would probably be enough, but if you don’t already have one of these outlets, and would need to install something, we would still recommend the Ford Connected Charge Station.
Level 3 Charging
Level 3 charging is also sometimes referred to as DC fast charging, and requires such specialized equipment that it effectively only exists in the form of public charging stations. This is the fastest form of charging, by a significant margin. From a 10% charge, you can get your Mustang Mach-E to 80% in just about 38 minutes with Level 3 charging. That time can vary, depending on which battery you have, and the voltage of the charger, as not every DC fast charger is necessarily the same. But no matter what, it will be significantly faster than all other types of charging. This is what you need for taking your EV on a road trip, as it’s fast enough to get you right back on the road. It’s recommended that you use this type of charging sparingly though, as always using fast charging can eventually have a negative impact on battery life. In North America, there are more than 13,000 DC fast charging stations on the BlueOval Charge Network, and Ford recently announced that the Mustang Mach-E can now use Tesla Superchargers, giving you an additional 15,300 stations to choose from.
FordPass And Electric Vehicles
The Mustang Mach-E comes with all kinds of helpful charging features, including things like route planning that gives you the most efficient routes, or routes that take charging stations into account. But with the FordPass app, you can take a lot of the most helpful features with you on your phone. This includes things like checking battery status, or charging progress. You can also precondition the cabin to be heated or cooled to the right temperature before you get in, or precondition the battery to make charging quicker, even in extreme temperatures. It even allows you to use your phone as a key, replacing the fob and reducing clutter in your pocket.
The app can also be used to contact Ford Roadside Assistance for Electric Vehicles, although they can also be reached by phone call. This service is for the extremely rare instances that you run out of battery before you make it home. Ford will cover tows up to 50 miles, either taking you home or to a public charger if you’re more than 50 miles from home.