Mustang Mach E v CyberTruck v Y v Other EV – The Best EV/AV Vehicle for Me in 2020

I just put in my reservation for the Mustang Mach E premium Standard Range Battery – RWD.  I have about 6 months before I need to actually place the order.

I will use this time to make a decision to consider Ford v Tesla v Other EV options, let me know what you think in the comments.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/2021-tesla-model-y-vs-2021-ford-mustang-mach-e/

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/tesla-model-3-vs-tesla-model-y/

See the video: Elon Musk runs into a traffic cone while on a date in the CyberTruck 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA69Sa-MJ_E

Elon Musk was spotted driving the Cybertruck in public. He was on a date with some friends and his girlfriend Grimes dressed up as Leeloo from the 5th element

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fifth_Element

see the article: Celebratory meal, Elon Musk takes his Cybertruck out for a spin in Malibu By MEGAN SHEETS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7769871/Elon-Musk-takes-Cybertruck-spin-Malibu-dines-Nobu-Grimes-Ed-Norton.html

As an engineer and considering my next vehicle, the factors for my choice are safety (ADAS), easy of driving (ADAS), functionality (ADAS), ability to support future technology (what sensors are on the vehicle, location, V2X and the computer system - # of TOPS), total cost of ownership, impact to the environment, promoting new technology, meeting and engaging with interesting people (like Leeloo or Grimes ??), dealership support, brand, quality, how easy to fix if there is a problem and fun to drive.   

The greenest mile you can drive is the mile you do not drive and the greener vehicle you can own may be the one you currently own or share via Uber or Lyft or public transportation. My current vehicle is 9 years old and even though I like it, it is time to get a new one in the next 2 to 3 years. This will be my first EV. I currently have a Ford Explorer but want to upgrade to an EV with good ADAS technology. I do not think Leeloo would want to ride in my 2010 Explorer.

Right now the EVs I am considering are: Mustang Mach E (~$44K after tax rebate) v CyberTruck (~$48K/58K with FSD) v Model 3 v Y v VW eVan/eBus

I may put a reservation in for the CyberTruck. It is just $100 but the wait is a few years out. If I want to buy something in the next 6 months, I would get the Model 3. The Model Y is ~9 Month out and then ~12 months for the Mustang.

I like to bike and would not be able to fit my bike in anything other than the CyberTruck or VW eVan. Not sure it that is reason enough to get a CyberTruck or eVan - getting a date with Leeloo may be. I may just get a hitch for a bike carry if I get a Mustang Mach E or the Model 3 or Y.

I tend to be a frugal engineer (hence the 9 year old vehicle and no date with Leeloo) and even thought I can afford a new vehicle and the extra features, my thinking is that RWD is good enough. You get 20 mile better range with the RWD.   I drive less than 200 miles a week so >95% of the time, I think I will be fine with the 230 mile range.  Smaller batteries are better for the environment and less weight – better range. From an engineering & environmental consideration, you want the lightest weight battery system for the vehicle use. To get a date with Leeloo, the CyberTruck or Mustang may help.

For the times I do need extended range, there are the public charging station options to help with range anxiety. https://www.ford.com/buy-site-wide-content/overlays/mach-e-overlays/public-charging/  I can change my mind when I need to make the final decision. If I go with AWD, I may get the extended battery.

I was with 10 former Motorola coworkers for our annual get together and showed them the Mustang Mach E brochure. As a joke, I asked what vehicle I should get the Mustang Mack E or the Tesla Cyber Truck, the vote was 9 to 1 in favor of the Mustang.  

Author’s note: If I had to guess who would have been the only vote for the CyberTruck, I would have guessed correctly. ??

I asked the millennials waitress (who looked a little like Leeloo) what vehicle she would pick? she picked the Mustang as well. 

Author’s note, I like running jokes (hence the way too many references to Leeloo in this blog) so I think I am going to keep asking this question: Mustang Mach E v CyberTruck and will include this in the updates to this blog. Also, one way to engage with interesting people. Provide your vote in the comments below.

I went to a movie night with a Friend who invited me to the KU Screening: Blade Runner meetup. She recommended that I get the CyberTruck. I think I will have a better understanding of my friends' personalities by how they vote.

https://www.meetup.com/Film-Fanatics-Classic-Movie-Club/events/266130677/

Music for the Love of Travel - the right song for the right Vehicle

Part the driving experience is the Love of Travel. I think a new EV car or truck with ADAS technology can make for a more enjoyable and safer experience. 

On my first drive, I plan to be playing this song: Have Love, Will Travel - The Sonics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20S_kwNb4rg

As I am considering the vehicle to buy, I think it would be good to get the right song for the vehicle. 

If I get the Mustang, this may be the song: My Mustang Ford - Chuck Berry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mt6zT5S2rM

Any song suggestions for the CyberTruck?

I am interested in the VW eBus/eVan. 

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2022-volkswagen-i-d-buzz-preview/

The song for the VW eVan is: I want to Ride in your Van

The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jenWdylTtzs

As I consider other EVs, I will work to get the right song for the Vehicle. Any vehicle or song suggestions, leave in the comments.

Here’s to a safe, fun and exciting driving future.

For the Engineers out there - See my Technology considerations

As an engineer working on AV/CV technology, here is information I found to help me make a good technical decision on the best ADAS technology. Comment on any other articles I should use in my consideration.

In this podcast, AUTONOCAST THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION. Nov 28 #161: What The Cybertruck and Inside The Mustang Mach E

https://www.autonocast.com/blog/2019/11/28/161-what-the-cybertruck-and-inside-the-mustang-mach-e

it included an interview with Ford's Mark Kaufman from the back seat of the Mustang Mach E. Mark mentioned DMS with the Mustang Mach E as well as ADAS features and OTA updates.   I am looking forward to seeing the public specs when they are available.  

Ford's Self-Driving Unit CEO: Here's Where We're Taking Autonomous - Sherif Marakby discusses what challenges to autonomous vehicles remain, when self-driving cars will arrive and who the auto giant is partnering with these days. https://www.thestreet.com/technology/ceo-of-ford-self-driving-business-talks-autonomous-14830934

See this article: Nvidia takes aim at Tesla's custom GPU claims - Elon Musk is a master at promotion, but Nvidia is laying out a few "inaccuracies" with Tesla's GPU comparisons

https://www.zdnet.com/article/nvidia-takes-aim-at-teslas-custom-gpu-claims/

Per Nvidia: “It's not useful to compare the performance of Tesla's two-chip Full Self Driving computer against NVIDIA's single-chip driver assistance system. Tesla's two-chip FSD computer at 144 TOPs would compare against the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Pegasus computer which runs at 320 TOPS for AI perception, localization and path planning.

Additionally, while Xavier delivers 30 TOPS of processing, Tesla erroneously stated that it delivers 21 TOPS. Moreover, a system with a single Xavier processor is designed for assisted driving AutoPilot features, not full self-driving. Self-driving, as Tesla asserts, requires a good deal more compute.”

I like the quotes in this blog https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2019/04/23/tesla-self-driving/

“At NVIDIA, we have long believed in the vision Tesla reiterated: self-driving cars require computers with extraordinary capabilities.

Tesla, however, has the most important issue fully right: Self-driving cars—which are key to new levels of safety, efficiency, and convenience—are the future of the industry. And they require massive amounts of computing performance.”

See th Automated Driving System Demonstration Grants https://www.transportation.gov/av/grants, see this project that highlights my thinking on ADAS technology.

10 – Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station – "AVA: Automated Vehicles for All"

Per this article, it looks like I need the Premium Mustang Mach E will get ADAS features similar to Tesla or Cadillac.   

https://www.autonews.com/future-product/ford-introduce-hands-free-assist-system-mustang-mach-e

LOS ANGELES — Ford Motor Co.'s 2021 Mustang Mach-E will feature a new, hands-free driver-assist system that will compete with Cadillac's Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot.

The automaker will equip Premium and GT trims of the battery-electric crossover with the hardware necessary to launch the optional system, meant for highway driving, once it starts building them in Mexico next year

https://www.consumerreports.org/autonomous-driving/cadillac-tops-tesla-in-automated-systems-ranking/

https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/lane-centering-problems-may-limit-drivers-acceptance-of-automated-systems

I am interested in seeing how the ADAS technologies compare by late 2020 and 2021-2023. Tesla has an advantage of all the miles driven at Level 2 so far: Tesla Vehicle Deliveries and Autopilot Mileage Statistics

https://lexfridman.com/tesla-autopilot-miles-and-vehicles/

Autopilot miles to-date: 1.88 billion miles

Miles in all Tesla vehicles: 16.8 billion miles

But we have a long ways to go: 3.2 Trillion Miles Driven On U.S. Roads In 2016 https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1704.cfm

I think Tesla may have their challenges to get to level 4 without HD Maps and GPS precise positioning to >10cm but we shall see.  I think a DMS like Cadillac can encourage drivers to not abuse the ADAS technology and drive unsafe for the technology deployed. 

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2019/10/17/ford-introduces-north-americas-largest-electric-vehicle-charting-network.html

https://www.ford.com/buy-site-wide-content/overlays/mach-e-overlays/public-charging/

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1126044_ford-mustang-mach-e-vs-tesla-model-y-how-the-electric-cars-compare

https://www.motortrend.com/news/specs-comparison-ford-mustang-mach-e-vs-tesla-model-3-and-model-y/