Some people consider that donkey’s years ago, back in 1888, the first electric vehicle (EV), the Flocken Elektrowagen, was born, all thanks to the German man Andreas Flocken.  But since then, automotive giants like BMW, Ford, Tesla, Geely and BYD have run like the wind – and, in some cases, harnessed it, to produce electric cars like Ford’s new Mustang Mach-E SUV, bristling with all the latest electronic wizardry. 

I have very fond memories of my first-ever EV.  I flicked the switch from off to on, which was a bit more difficult than the way you can do it now from the driver’s seat, or even from inside the house via a smartphone.  I mean back then, I had to flip the little SUV entirely upside down to get the switch flicked on.  But as soon as I did, the headlights lit up and all four wheels (AWD with diff-lock) tenaciously rotated, and I had to turn the car back over very quickly to enjoy its instantaneous acceleration.  It would even climb right over the door’s draught stopper, which was twice as tall as the battery-operated car itself. 

Now the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is leagues ahead of my first EV toy 4×4.  The Mustang Mach-E can instantly twist all of its four wheels (AWD) with as much as 860 Nm of torque and will sprint to 100 km/h (from behind the door sausage) in as little as 3.7 seconds.  You’ll be heating up the tarmac in no time at all.  The RWD versions are only slightly slower and a little less powerful.  There are three driving modes to choose from as well, with the whisper and silent modes being the more frugal of the three.  Obviously, the power mode really packs a punch and should be selected if you want a very firm ride for driving like a lunatic or, better still, for track day. 

One thing I did notice was that I did find myself really enjoying my first ever toy EV.  I would find every excuse to set new challenges just to see what it could do.  From crossing the back yard over the cricket bat, to climbing the sand dunes in my sand pit, to dropping over the side of the couch to see it dart across the carpet with the cat in hot pursuit, it was fun.  However, the inevitable did happen, and the headlights would grow dim, and the wheels would slow down and become so weak that the SUV would no longer move.  Off to the mechanic it had to go, and a total battery replacement was needed, which meant the whole floor base had to be removed and a brand-new battery pack put in.  I did have a good two hours of solid play time before the dreaded low battery signs reared their head.  At worst, I would have to buy a whole new set of AA batteries with my very own hard-earned pocket money.  But if I was very lucky, I only had to wait till the next morning before my mechanic could start removing the floor to replace the set of batteries, as I had received the rechargeable ones on loan from my kind brother. 

At least Ford Mustang’s new E-Mach SUV will make plenty of circuits around Sydney before it will need a re-charge.  Depending on the model, Ford suggests that you have 224–312 miles of go before you slow.  That equates to a range of 358–500 km before you’ll need a top-up.  The Mach-E is an SUV that handles very nicely and sits on the road with high levels of control; this should because it weighs around 2 tonnes or over, depending on the model.  The standard tyres, which are rated 225/55/R19, have been specially formulated to handle the extra weight and torque dimensions of a performance EV like the Mach-E. 

Buying a Mustang Mach-E from new does mean that you’ll also have the peace of mind that the special EV SUV’s battery is covered for 8 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.  The high voltage lithium-ion battery should retain a minimum of 70% of its original capacity and range (358–500 km) over that 8-year period. 

It all comes down to the wire in a new Ford Mustang Mach-E, so variables such as external temperature, driving style, battery age and load size will all impact the EV’s real-world range.  The Mustang Mach-E SUV boasts a lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged from 10–80% at a 150 kW DC public recharging station in around 40 minutes.  A 10.5 kW AC home or office charger takes up to 11 hours when the battery is totally out, or the standard 7.5 AC charging unit takes up to 14 hours. 

There’s a load of features to switch on inside the Mach-E as well.  Wireless smartphone charging and connection, a 15.5-inch digital touchscreen that sits proudly on the minimalist dash, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, direct connection for software updates, climate control air-conditioning (which uses a special heat pump to warm up the vehicle’s cabin and battery pack if outside temperatures get below freezing), a heated steering wheel, camera technology so you can spy on everyone nosing about the car, and even a powered tailgate.  There’s also plenty of USB connection ports of various types, a premium B&O audio package that is as good as a live concert, lots of crash avoidance technology, active cruise control, emergency braking, electric windows, and even electric seats. 

There are many other EV SUVs coming rapidly out for buyers to choose from, but don’t get your wires crossed with just any EV; buy one of the flashy ones.  The new Ford Mustang Mach-E is a sleek, fully electric SUV with plenty of space for the whole family, with over 400 litres of space behind the rear seats for luggage, which opens out to 1420 litres with rear seats folded.  You can also tow up to 1500 kg, so that small trailer full of garden waste can be taken off to the dump.  The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV makes for a rather thrilling ride for you and your family, batteries included!

Breathing new life into old electric know-how to make big advancements in battery technology has become a matter of modern-day reality.  If it’s a new EV SUV that you’re after, then the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E might just rock your socks off and cause you to gallop along to Ford’s showroom to experience one of their new and flashy Mustang EV SUVs.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV models include the:

• Mustang Mach-E Select
• Mustang Mach-E Premium
• Mustang Mach-E GT AWD

For any more information on the new Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Ford dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!