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Ford debuted the Mach-E in 2019, and it was a revelation and a revolution. But three years is three generations in the EV market, and this instant classic needs a refresh.

Why it matters: Sparking a revolution is easy. Staying ahead of it is something else altogether. 

Flashback: When introduced in 2019, the Mach-E was a beautiful, thoughtful, attainable SUV that finally gave American drivers a reason to get excited about going electric. 

At the time, Tesla held ~80% of the EV market. The only mainstream alternatives were the gerbil-like Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt — long on virtue, short on vroom.

There was deep doubt about whether any major automaker — let alone Ford, so deeply mired in bureaucracy it became a central story line in "Ford vs. Ferrari" that same year — could get an EV right. 

The intrigue: The vehicle was a jaw-dropper. 

Eye-catching curves, powerful performance, clever design, as much as 300 miles range, and a starting price of $43,995.

No wonder analysts predicted a sharp drop in Tesla's stock the next day. (Indeed, Ford debuted the car on Elon Musk's doorstep, right outside his company SpaceX.) 

What happened:  The Mach-E finally reached dealers for model year 2021. It swiftly became the second-bestselling EV in the U.S., trailing Tesla.

Yes, but: The sales haven't generated a profit for Ford. 

The automaker in 2018 announced it would invest at least $11 billion to bring 40 hybrid and electric vehicles to market by 2022.

The pandemic — and the market woes, factory shutdowns and supply chain turmoil it wrought — slowed that ambitious rollout.

Zoom in: As recently as last summer, Ford CFO John Lawler said inflation and soaring commodity prices had largely wiped out the company's margins on its Mach E.

However, a company spokesman tells me that the automaker's EV sales overall are profitable.

Meanwhile, automakers such as Kia and Hyundai have started selling similarly priced SUVs with larger instrument clusters, similar range, faster charging speeds and arguably fresher styling.

Chevy expects to begin deliveries this year of its electric Silverado pickup and Equinox SUV — the latter priced around $30k. 

What's next: Ford is hiking prices between $3,000 and nearly $9,000 on its Mach-E, citing battery costs. 

It's not alone. Electric automakers from Polestar to GM bumped their prices for the same reasons.

Ford has emphasized that it's continuing to introduce new features through over-the-air software updates, even as it increases prices.

It's increased its investment in electrification to $50 billion through 2026.

1 big thing: The Mach-E revelation and revolution

The top of the roof is painted black, hiding more generous headroom for the backseat behind a seemingly swooped-back profile. Photo: Alan Neuhauser/Axios

Ford arranged for a fully charged Mustang Mach-E to be dropped off at my home, and I spent the week ripping around the Boston suburbs and jetting down to Rhode Island. 

Price as tested: $54,975 for the Premium trim. Ford has introduced higher trims since, with top-tier GT going for $69,895.

Range: 247 miles standard. Spend another $8,600 for 310 miles range with RWD, or an extra $11,300 for 290 miles range with AWD.

Charge time: About 40 minutes to the recommended 80%. A little on the long side. 

The vibes. Staring down that long, scalloped hood stirs something deep. 

Zippy acceleration, comfortable seats, relatively roomy backseat.

Thoughtful details, including glowing acceleration indicators on the instrument cluster and a swooped roof made taller by optical illusion.

Reasonable price for the range, interior and features.

The instrument cluster is about the size of a large TV remote, rather cramped compared with similarly priced rivals.

Sluggish infotainment system. Apple's iPad debuted 12 years ago — surely the big tablet in the Mach-E can run more smoothly.

A slightly rougher, louder ride than competitors. But perhaps more faithful to a sporty driving experience.

No heat pump, meaning much less range in cold weather. 

The bottom line: This 3-year-old model is due for a refresh — which says more about the accelerating pace of tech than the car itself. 

But it's still got moves, stoking some of the most fun I've had behind the wheel, even just cruising the suburbs.

2. The BFD: Driving the Mustang Mach-E

The interior of a Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV.

The Mach-E features a large central screen and the iconic Mustang pony badge on just about every surface. Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ford hasn't formally introduced a police version of the Mach-E, but law enforcement agencies have already started snapping them up.

Why it matters: Ford tells me it holds a 60% share of the U.S. police vehicle market.

Ford won't share how that translates to revenue. But it's a big chunk of business — and each vehicle a rolling billboard for the brand. 

What's happening: I learned that the Police Department in my soon-to-be hometown, Barrington, Rhode Island, bought a Mach-E last year.

I wasn't allowed to drive this car — let alone borrow it for a week — but Capt. Kevin Igoe shared his department's impressions of its first all-electric police cruiser. 

And I did get to sit in the driver's seat.

Purchase price: ~$50,000. Local police typically get a municipal discount, but demand for the Mach-E meant Barrington PD paid sticker.

Range: ~230 miles in summer, ~180 miles in winter, Igoe says.

Aftermarket features: Lights, siren, radio, logos.

"The performance, handling, speed, pickup. The power really throws you back in your seat." 

"It's quiet. You can sit in town at 3 in the morning, and you can hear a car coming a mile away."  

The backseat is too small to install a traditional cage for transporting someone who's been arrested.

The front seat is too narrow for the traditional suite of equipment. (The department installed a slimmer remote to control the lights and sirens, instead of a more traditional, central-mounted head unit.)

"I would love to see it be able to integrate this screen" — the big central screen in the dash — "with an officer's tablet or laptop." 

Of note: Between the range and charging time, the department designated its Mach-E a supervisor's vehicle. 

"They're in the station a little longer," Igoe says. (The leather seats and heated steering wheel aren't bad management perks either.)

What's next: Ford's been testing police versions of its Mach-E, and it's introducing a police edition of the F-150 Ford Lightning pickup this year. 

The Town of Barrington has already got two Lightnings on the way: one for the Police Department, the other for Public Works. 

Once the new truck arrives, Barrington PD will make that its supervisor's vehicle, and the Mach-E its school resource officer's car. 

Could the whole fleet go electric? "I'd like to see them out [on the road] a bit. I'd like to see the range." 

"If they come out with an Explorer, I don't see why we wouldn't." 

3. 🚓 Mustang Mach-E: police cruiser

The Mach-E is the Barrington Police Department's first all-electric police car. Photo: Alan Neuhauser/Axios

Data: Automotive News Research & Data Center; Chart: Axios Visuals

Ford sold just under 40,000 of its Mustang Mach-Es in 2022. Tesla remains dominant — but Ford has made a dent. Its F-150 Lightning came just behind Rivian's R1T pickup with 15,617 models sold.

4. How the sales stack up 

Alan Neuhauser here, and this week I drove the Ford Mustang Mach-E. 

This electric muscle-car is the first that got me to crank Led Zeppelin on the radio.

And I got to sit in the front seat of an EV police cruiser.

That's it! Tune in next time, when we'll be diving into either the Genesis G80 sedan or ... GMC's Hummer EV. It's big, baby. 

January 14, 2023

1 big thing: The Mach-E revelation and revolution