While true petrolheads may still shudder at the thought of the electric car, it is a reality that is growing on a global basis and automakers are speeding up processes to make ownership and driving them a more pleasurable experience.

Both Ford and Jaguar have added systems – to the Mustang Mach-E and Jaguar I-Pace – that assist drivers with managing the charge available and recharging their vehicles or simply making driving more fun.

Mustang Mach-E’s Intelligent Range can accurately estimate how much range the all-electric SUV has left, helping reduce anxiety about when and where customers can recharge.

“Electric vehicle customers need to be able to trust their range estimates,” says Darren Palmer, Ford global director, battery electric vehicles. “People want to be confident they are going to make it where they need to go, whether they are on a road trip or coming home from work. Our new Intelligent Range feature helps ensure Mustang Mach-E owners around the globe know where they stand ahead of time, freeing them up to enjoy the ride.”

Intelligent Range will calculate range based on past driver behavior and forecasted weather conditions –  taking advantage of the cloud to predict how much energy will be used in future driving. The vehicle battery system reports how much energy is available, while the powertrain module tracks how much energy is being used. Warmer or colder weather can impact range, so Intelligent Range takes that into consideration, too, updating estimated range along the way.

Crowdsourced data from other connected Ford electric vehicles who choose to share information on the road can improve estimates considerably. The all-electric SUV can track how much energy is used in different circumstances, including varying speed, terrain and climate conditions, so it can use fleet averages across all Mustang Mach-Es to improve range estimates – even for routes and conditions an individual customer has never driven before.

If range is impacted notably by any number of factors at the start of a trip, customers will receive a notification in their cluster highlighting the new range estimate and details about why the estimate changed.

Ford will upgrade Intelligent Range through over-the-air updates, designed to deliver even more accurate prediction capabilities for connected Mustang Mach-E, keeping the fully electric SUVs at the forefront of technology. A future update will allow Mustang Mach-E to take even more advantage of cloud-connected capabilities, enabling it to factor in real-time traffic conditions, road slope, the terrain and elevation of a given route, and even the temperature at their final destination.

“Changes in driver behavior and the environment can impact range, which is the reason other electric vehicles often experience significant range adjustments,” says Mark Poll, Ford’s EV charging user experience manager. “Ford is tapping the power of the cloud to make estimates even more accurate –  reducing the need for surprise charging stops and helping reduce customers’ range anxiety.”

The Jaguar I-Pace now offers a new fast, intuitive infotainment system, the first Jaguar to feature the new Pivi Pro infotainment system. 

I-Pace now comes with an 11 kW on-board charger as standard, enabling customers with access to three-phase electricity supplies to enjoy significantly faster charging: when connected to an 11 kW wall box 53 km of range (WLTP) per hour can be achieved, while a full charge from empty now takes only 8,6 hours – ideal for overnight charging at home.

South African customers with access to single-phase supply only can continue using 7 kW wall boxes, which charge up to 35 km per hour, with a full charge taking 12,75 hours.  When charging ‘on the go’, a 60 kW charger will add up to 76 km in 15 minutes, whilst a 100 kW charger will add up to 127 km over the same period. 

With a focus on air quality, occupant well-being is prioritised, with cabin air ionisation now featuring PM2.5 filtration to capture ultrafine airborne particles and allergens. The I-Pace can even filter its cabin air before a journey begins.

Alan Volkaerts, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar I-Pace, says: “When we developed the
I-Pace we wanted it to be the world’s most desirable electric vehicle and to show what happens when Jaguar goes electric. I think we have achieved those ambitious goals, and now we have made it even better with a new infotainment system, three phase charging and technology that benefits driver and passengers alike.”

The new Pivi Pro infotainment system will help to get you where you want to go in less time and with less effort. The navigation uses self-learning algorithms to optimise routing, voice guidance even knows to remain quiet when you’re travelling through areas you know, and maps will always be up to date thanks to software-over-the-air (SOTA) functionality. 

Visibility is significantly enhanced on the updated model – due locally in the last quarter of 2020 – with a new 3D Surround Camera that provides a 360-degree digital plan view of the surrounding area and potential hazards, visible through the central touchscreen. 

Inside the cabin, the ClearSight rear view mirror improves vision and convenience by ensuring the driver always has an unobstructed view of the road behind, even with three people in the rear seat or with the 656-litre luggage compartment loaded up to the roof.

Inside, customers can now benefit from the option of an enhanced Meridian 3D Surround Sound System with TrifieldTM technology. The system features two additional speakers in the cabin headliner, meaning the 16 speaker and one subwoofer arrangement delivers an exceptional experience for all occupants.