No more OTA performance or battery improvements?

[Ghost Ryder]

I don't have direct proof, but base on the absolute s***show involving OTA updates. (think recall, synch update, bluecruise, PAAK) I think Ford software department probably consist one software engineer. And he/she is busy trying to get the latest wordle game working on our MME. Once they he has some free time, then maybe he can start looking in performance updates in say, 2055.

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[ctenidae]

It may also be useful to note that we are in the 2nd model year of an entirely new product for a massive legacy company. It'd be awesome if they could wave a magic wand and have all the data they need and all the analysis they can do and all the improvements possible done yesterday, but they don't. No one does. It took Tesla what, 8 years of data to be able to get a significant performance OTA out for the 3, in its 4th model year? Keep your pants on, stuff will come as they get it.

Honestly, I think the worst thing they could do is rush "performance enhancement" updates out. Motor controllers are finicky things. Hardware misbehaves in ways you can't predict without a zillion miles of data. Software interacts in unpredictable ways sometimes. I'd rather have a slow update that works than a fast one that bricks the system.

It is likely that, eventually, new MMEs (and Lightnings, and whatever elses) will have hardware that can handle software updates that our cars can't have. If that is a deal breaker for anyone, and is a prospect that ruins their life, then buying an early model of a car is a terrible idea and they've chosen poorly. They've also really screwed up in getting an EV, because they are so software dependent and can be updated so often. The only way to be "future proof" and certain that there will be no updates you can't have is to buy an ICE, where there are no OTAs. Or maybe a horse and buggy.

 

[SnBGC]

You keep using the word "orphaned", probably because you're trying to get responses. Totally unfounded.

No, I do not think that Ford has remotely considered "orphaning" the 2021 or 2022 Mach-Es. I expect to see future performance enhancements including charging curve updates.

Hope that helps.

Agreed.
I have over 53k miles on my car and I am still getting updates over the air.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

At this point, I expect no performance improvements on my 2021’s.
Not to beat a dead horse ?, but if I can’t even get a frunk button, how can expect better performance.
I’m sure I’ll get some GUI “improvements” and the ability to watch Netflix at crappy resolution… but as far as anything meaningful… just call me Oliver Twist.

 

[Ghost Ryder]

It may also be useful to note that we are in the 2nd model year of an entirely new product for a massive legacy company. It'd be awesome if they could wave a magic wand and have all the data they need and all the analysis they can do and all the improvements possible done yesterday, but they don't. No one does. It took Tesla what, 8 years of data to be able to get a significant performance OTA out for the 3, in its 4th model year? Keep your pants on, stuff will come as they get it.

If we're only looking at the model 3, I do believe tesla released 2 separate OTA update increase in horsepower with the first 2 years bring down 0-60 time by 0.5 secs. Then then released another OTA horsepower bump decreasing 0-60 time by another 0.5 seconds a a few months later. But this time at a cost of (1 or 2k. Can't remember.)

Model Y got a OTA horsepower bump in the first year of production.

 

[e-pony]

Agreed.
I have over 53k miles on my car and I am still getting updates over the air.

Disagree—7500 miles, have yet to receive one ota. Still waiting for the faulty contacts Recall software update!!!

 

[RickMachE]

Disagree—7500 miles, have yet to receive one ota. Still waiting for the faulty contacts Recall software update!!!

Is there some reason you haven't gone into the dealer?

 

[ctenidae]

If we're only looking at the model 3, I do believe tesla released 2 separate OTA update increase in horsepower with the first 2 years bring down 0-60 time by 0.5 secs. Then then released another OTA horsepower bump decreasing 0-60 time by another 0.5 seconds a a few months later. But this time at a cost of (1 or 2k. Can't remember.)

Model Y got a OTA horsepower bump in the first year of production.

Fair enough - 2 years instead of 4. Still, they've had a lot of data to peruse to do it. You'd expect teh Y to get things quicker, too, since they know the parts well. Point is, Ford ain't there yet.

 

[Ghost Ryder]

Is there some reason you haven't gone into the dealer?

For me, I can't even get the service manager on the phone to make an appointment. Left on hold for >30 mins a few times. Gave up. They occurred at multiple dealership.

 

[RickMachE]

For me, I can't even get the service manager on the phone to make an appointment. Left on hold for >30 mins a few times. Gave up. They occurred at multiple dealership.

Call the GM. Call the owner.

 

[SnBGC]

If we're only looking at the model 3, I do believe tesla released 2 separate OTA update increase in horsepower with the first 2 years bring down 0-60 time by 0.5 secs. Then then released another OTA horsepower bump decreasing 0-60 time by another 0.5 seconds a a few months later. But this time at a cost of (1 or 2k. Can't remember.)

Model Y got a OTA horsepower bump in the first year of production.

So I presume everyone realizes that there is no way to increase power output via software. That is a mechanical function built into the drive train. There is no hp being added to the Teslas.....it was always there. They denied full power and then later gave the appearance of a magical OTA that somehow made the car faster.

They did the same thing with rear heated seats. It was added via an OTA.

I would prefer that Ford just make the best car possible and deliver it fully functional vs insulting us by magically unlocking functions that already exist from the factory.

 

[Ghost Ryder]

So I presume everyone realizes that there is no way to increase power output via software. That is a mechanical function built into the drive train. There is no hp being added to the Teslas.....it was always there. They denied full power and then later gave the appearance of a magical OTA that somehow made the car faster.

They did the same thing with rear heated seats. It was added via an OTA.

I would prefer that Ford just make the best car possible and deliver it fully functional vs insulting us by magically unlocking functions that already exist from the factory.

And by full power, you mean the 5 sec then limp mode that's incorporated into all GTs?

When you say that there's no way to increase horsepower via software, that's only true if the manufacturer tune the car to within one inch of it's life. Otherwise, there's always a "safe limit." Where that safe limit is up the the manufacturer to decide. Tesla sold the Model 3 and Y with a certain performance metric which they met when sold. But then offered an upgrade to horsepower and performance (the first two were at no charge) to people that already bought. So I see that as nothing but a bonus. Ford on the other hand sold a GT with undisclosed (and frankly overstated, implied or otherwise) performance handicap. I'll take Tesla implementation over Ford's any day with regards to OTA.

 

[AZBill]

Disagree—7500 miles, have yet to receive one ota. Still waiting for the faulty contacts Recall software update!!!

I have already gotten 4 OTAs in Oct, in fact I got 2 of them on Oct 5. But it is mostly stuff I will never use, like Alexa and Streaming.

I have no expectations that Ford will improve charging speed, I have noticed the peak is down when at high temperatures, i.e. 100F and higher. The cooling on the Mach E battery is not optimal with the plastic housings for the pouches.

 

[Vulnox]

I think it's way too early to say anything is orphaned. They are releasing OTA updates and while that isn't always as rapid and smooth as we like, it is improving.

Comparing it to Tesla is pointless. We know nothing about Tesla's behind the scenes for those updates. What if Tesla always knew the cars were capable of that extra .5 second 0-60 improvement, and just waited for some number of sold cars and refinement before releasing it, and Ford is confident they released the MME where it needed to be? It's why you should buy the car you want at time of purchase, not the car you hope it might become in the future based on some non-specific earlier press releases that may or may not come.

In another five years we will know if Ford is orphaning early users. Anything else is just speculation and FUD.

 

[SnBGC]

And by full power, you mean the 5 sec then limp mode that's incorporated into all GTs?

When you say that there's no way to increase horsepower via software, that's only true if the manufacturer tune the car to within one inch of it's life. Otherwise, there's always a "safe limit." Where that safe limit is up the the manufacturer to decide. Tesla sold the Model 3 and Y with a certain performance metric which they met when sold. But then offered an upgrade to horsepower and performance (the first two were at no charge) to people that already bought. So I see that as nothing but a bonus. Ford on the other hand sold a GT with undisclosed (and frankly overstated, implied or otherwise) performance handicap. I'll take Tesla implementation over Ford's any day with regards to OTA.

Well, yes. The 5 second limit is what the GT requires. At the risk of starting a flame war.....EVs aren't performance machines. The performance comes as a consequence of large battery packs. I think the actual goal of building an MME GT was to sell cars and not necessarily build an actual performance oriented machine.

As far as Tesla goes.....they must think their customers are suckers and built that into their product. They know their customers expect frequent updates so deliver an less featured product initially and then artificially add in features later just to trick the customer into thinking they are getting more for their money. It is actually genius business model provided you have a gullible customer base.

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