I was on an exciting mission: Drive a shiny red, all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E from Northern to Southern California to test the charging experience across our industry leading FordPass Charging Network. My week-long journey was finally underway, and I had just arrived in Los Angeles after driving the scenic 101 down from Greenfield Labs in Palo Alto.
I was on my way to meet with a supplier when I received a call from our Communications team, excitedly asking about the condition of the car that I was driving. “Is it clean?” “Yes…” “Does it have instrumentation?” “No…” “What color is it?” “Red…” “Perfect!” I was then asked to postpone my supplier visits and charging testing to take an emergency detour up to Sacramento. I didn’t yet know what it was for, but I knew it must be important. So I took a leap of faith and did what I felt needed to be done: I accepted my new mission. So long Los Angeles, Sacramento here I come!
But soon reality set in: My car has a 38% state of charge, it’s 11:30 am, and I need to drive 400 miles. Furthermore, I need arrive in time to get the car detailed for something big, for exactly which I am still not entirely sure. Needless to say, questions started flooding in my mind:
Is it smart to change my plans on a whim in an electric vehicle? Can this pre-production Mustang Mach-E hold up to the task? Are there enough charging stations to get me there safely and on time? What about the battery? A lot was going through my mind…
Fortunately, my range anxiety was quickly subdued on my drive down after successfully using the DC Fast Charging stations along the US-101 corridor. I programmed my destination into the massive SYNC 4A screen and was notified I will need just two charging stops. With confidence, I hoped on I-5, silently scurried through the famous Grapevine, and up the Central Valley I went.
Charging at Electrify America stations in Bakersfield, CA and in Firebaugh, CA
Driving through the vast Central Valley, my mind started to wander as to what would come next. I charged the car at my first destination, a Shell station in Bakersfield – perhaps a revelation of changing times. And then charged again in the town of Firebaugh. I eventually arrived at my destination safely, and with time to get that beautiful Mach-E detailed. But detailed for what? The suspense was starting to get to me. But I quickly found out that the trip would be well worth any change of plans I had to make.
Little did I know, that next morning, California Governor Gavin Newsom would make massive news, announcing that California will phase out the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2035, with the vision of a truly electric future for the Golden State. In the background of the televised announcement is my car, along with a Telsa, Audi, and Honda. When it came time to sign the order Governor Newsom said, “We’re going to pick the Ford, only because we’re appreciating Bill Ford’s leadership” and to my surprise he approached the vehicle – my vehicle! In front of cameras and reporters, the Executive Order was signed right there on the hood of the my shiny red all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E. I was there to witness this symbolic gesture in recognition of our siding with California’s strict clean air standards.
Governor Newsom signs an Executive Order banning the sale of new combustion vehicles starting in 2035 on the hood of the Mustang Mach-E
Reflecting on this event, I am grateful for our forward-thinking leadership and the hard work of the many designers, engineers, builders, programmers, planners, and purchasers on the Mustang Mach-E program. I am proud to be an employee for Ford Motor Company and a resident of California. And how symbolic is it that a ban on gasoline engines was signed on the hood of a car with no engine beneath it?
Governor Newsom and California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols after the Executive Order; Me supervising Governor Newsom’s exclusive early test drive of the Mach-E
I am now back to my original mission of charge testing – which is going great by the way – and luckily my time with the car has been extended. Once the car is loaded back on the truck to Michigan, I’ll have to wait until my ordered Mach-E arrives at the dealer, though I will never forget this particular electric red pony.
After experiencing this electric Mustang, I can’t wait to see how we electrify the F-150, as well as the Transit and the other new electric vehicles yet to be announced. I take pride as our company transitions to more sustainable forms of transportation and addresses the challenge of climate change. As for the hood of my Mustang Mach-E test car? I hope to see it again one day in a museum, maybe The Henry Ford, as it marks an important event, and a very special day for yours truly.