Connect with us

News

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT tests its 1/4-mile mettle

Credit: 0t60-3.5 | Mach E Forum

Published

on

Now that Ford has started delivering the Performance variant of the Mustang Mach-E all-electric crossover, the GT configuration is heading to the drag strip to test its mettle in the all-too-common proving ground for performance vehicles.

On the heels of taking delivery of their own Mach-E GT in mid-August, Ford Mach-E Forum member 0t60-3.5 hit the Cedar Falls Motorsports Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The all-electric Mach-E ran a 12.657-second 1/4-mile at 100.02 miles per hour, according to a receipt given to the owner at the track. Impressive, to say the least, the Mach-E GT undoubtedly is living up to the name of its Mustang predecessors. However, this time the powertrain was fueled by electricity and not by gasoline, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly performance run.

Credit: 0t60-3.5 | Mach E Forum

The vehicle was not in Ford’s advertised “Track Mode,” which actually is called “Unbridled Mode.” Ford described it as “an exhilarating drive experience that pays homage to the legacy of Mustang sound in a unique package designed for an all-new electric vehicle.” This may have limited its performance slightly, but that is speculative. Additionally, the car was charged at 72%, and its tire pressure was slightly high at 42 PSI. Ford recommends it to be at 39.

Splits for the Mach-E were as follows:

  • 1/4-mile: 12.657 seconds @ 100.02 MPH
  • 1,000 feet: 10.433 seconds
  • 1/8-mile: 8.03 seconds @ 86.67 MPH
  • 330 feet: 5.26 seconds
  • 60 feet: 1.99 seconds

Additionally, Dragy, a speed tracking device, found the following acceleration rates:

  • 0-10 MPH in .58s
  • 0-20 MPH in 1.20s
  • 0-30 MPH in 1.80s
  • 0-40 MPH in 2.44
  • 0-50 MPH in 3.21
  • 0-60 MPH in 4.12
  • 0-60 MPH with 1-foot rollout in 3.89

Credit: 0t60-3.5 | Mach E Forum

Electric cars have a comparative advantage over their gas-powered opposition, especially during 1/4-mile drags. The lack of energy transfer from the motor to the transmission in an EV, which is present in a combustion engine vehicle, allows an electric car to take off significantly quicker than a gas car. This is where EVs have a substantial competitive advantage, and it shows. While the Mach-E certainly did not run the fastest 1/4-mile drag ever, it certainly did a good job, even with limited battery power and being Ford’s first electric car. This could be utilized as a benchmark for future models.

The Tesla Model S Plaid still has the record, and it doesn’t appear that Ford will dethrone the all-electric flagship sedan from Tesla anytime soon. However, there is plenty to build on, especially as Ford was not necessarily focused on high-end, record-breaking performance for the Mach-E. However, the vehicle still performed reasonably well, and there is plenty to be proud of moving forward.

Check out 0t60-3.5’s video below.

Advertisement

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below, or be sure to email me at joey@teslarati.com or on Twitter @KlenderJoey.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

Elon Musk

Tesla reveals it is using AI to make factories more sustainable: here’s how

Tesla is using AI in its Gigafactory Nevada factory to improve HVAC efficiency.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla has revealed in its Extended Impact Report for 2024 that it is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable its factories to be more sustainable. One example it used was its achievement of managing “the majority of the HVAC infrastructure at Gigafactory Nevada is now AI-controlled” last year.

In a commitment to becoming more efficient and making its production as eco-friendly as possible, Tesla has been working for years to find solutions to reduce energy consumption in its factories.

For example, in 2023, Tesla implemented optimization controls in the plastics and paint shops located at Gigafactory Texas, which increased the efficiency of natural gas consumption. Tesla plans to phase out natural gas use across its factories eventually, but for now, it prioritizes work to reduce emissions from that energy source specifically.

It also uses Hygrometric Control Logic for Air Handling Units at Giafactory Berlin, resulting in 17,000 MWh in energy savings each year. At Gigafactory Nevada, Tesla saves 9.5 GWh of energy through the use of N-Methylpyrrolidone refineries when extracting critical raw material.

Perhaps the most interesting way Tesla is conserving energy is through the use of AI at Gigafactory Nevada, as it describes its use of AI to reduce energy demand:

Advertisement

“In 2023, AI Control for HVAC was expanded from Nevada and Texas to now include our Berlin-Brandenburg and Fremont factories. AI Control policy enables HVAC systems within each factory to work together to process sensor data, model factory dynamics, and apply control actions that safely minimize the energy required to support production. In 2024, this system achieved two milestones: the majority of HVAC infrastructure at Gigafactory Nevada is now AI-controlled, reducing fan and thermal energy demand; and the AI algorithm was extended to manage entire chiller plants, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes both chilled water consumption and the energy required for its generation, all while maintaining factory conditions.”

Tesla utilizes AI Control “primarily on systems that heat or cool critical factory production spaces and equipment.” AI Control communicates with the preexisting standard control logic of each system, and any issues can be resolved by quickly reverting back to standard control. There were none in 2024.

Tesla says that it is utilizing AI to drive impact at its factories, and it has proven to be a valuable tool in reducing energy consumption at one of its facilities.

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

Tesla analysts believe Musk and Trump feud will pass

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump’s feud shall pass, several bulls say.

Published

on

The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
President Donald J. Trump purchases a Tesla on the South Lawn, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

Tesla analysts are breaking down the current feud between CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, as the two continue to disagree on the “Big Beautiful Bill” and its impact on the country’s national debt.

Musk, who headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump Administration, left his post in May. Soon thereafter, he and President Trump entered a very public and verbal disagreement, where things turned sour. They reconciled to an extent, and things seemed to be in the past.

However, the second disagreement between the two started on Monday, as Musk continued to push back on the “Big Beautiful Bill” that the Trump administration is attempting to sign into law. It would, by Musk’s estimation, increase spending and reverse the work DOGE did to trim the deficit.

President Trump has hinted that DOGE could be “the monster” that “eats Elon,” threatening to end the subsidies that SpaceX and Tesla receive. Musk has not been opposed to ending government subsidies for companies, including his own, as long as they are all abolished.

How Tesla could benefit from the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that axes EV subsidies

Despite this contentious back-and-forth between the two, analysts are sharing their opinions now, and a few of the more bullish Tesla observers are convinced that this feud will pass, Trump and Musk will resolve their differences as they have before, and things will return to normal.

ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood said this morning that the feud between Musk and Trump is another example of “this too shall pass:”

Advertisement

Additionally, Wedbush’s Dan Ives, in a note to investors this morning, said that the situation “will settle:”

“We believe this situation will settle and at the end of the day Musk needs Trump and Trump needs Musk given the AI Arms Race going on between the US and China. The jabs between Musk and Trump will continue as the Budget rolls through Congress but Tesla investors want Musk to focus on driving Tesla and stop this political angle…which has turned into a life of its own in a roller coaster ride since the November elections.”

Advertisement

Tesla shares are down about 5 percent at 3:10 p.m. on the East Coast.

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

Tesla scrambles after Musk sidekick exit, CEO takes over sales

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is reportedly overseeing sales in North America and Europe, Bloomberg reports.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla scrambled its executives around following the exit of CEO Elon Musk’s sidekick last week, Omead Afshar. Afshar was relieved of his duties as Head of Sales for both North America and Europe.

Bloomberg is reporting that Musk is now overseeing both regions for sales, according to sources familiar with the matter. Afshar left the company last week, likely due to slow sales in both markets, ending a seven-year term with the electric automaker.

Tesla’s Omead Afshar, known as Elon Musk’s right-hand man, leaves company: reports

Afshar was promoted to the role late last year as Musk was becoming more involved in the road to the White House with President Donald Trump.

Afshar, whose LinkedIn account stated he was working within the “Office of the CEO,” was known as Musk’s right-hand man for years.

Advertisement

Additionally, Tom Zhu, currently the Senior Vice President of Automotive at Tesla, will oversee sales in Asia, according to the report.

It is a scramble by Tesla to get the company’s proven executives over the pain points the automaker has found halfway through the year. Sales are looking to be close to the 1.8 million vehicles the company delivered in both of the past two years.

Tesla is pivoting to pay more attention to the struggling automotive sales that it has felt over the past six months. Although it is still performing well and is the best-selling EV maker by a long way, it is struggling to find growth despite redesigning its vehicles and launching new tech and improvements within them.

The company is also looking to focus more on its deployment of autonomous tech, especially as it recently launched its Robotaxi platform in Austin just over a week ago.

Tesla officially launches Robotaxi service with no driver

Advertisement

However, while this is the long-term catalyst for Tesla, sales still need some work, and it appears the company’s strategy is to put its biggest guns on its biggest problems.

Continue Reading

Trending