Wait for LFP Battery? / Marital Advice

[William Watts]

I have my sights on a 2023 Mach E, Californiat Route 1 trim, at my local dealer, and am ready to buy. My wife, however, thinks we should wait for the LFP batteries, which are more environmentally friendly and possibly more resilient and flexible in terms of charging and discharging (i.e. they can be charged to the maximum, and you don't need to worry so much about running them down before charging again). Of course, I point out that such batteries are going to come from China for the foreseeable future, and will therefiore not be eligible for the full tax credit. What do you think: Is there good reason to wait for the LFP battery before buying?

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[Mirak]

Do whatever your wife wants. But there are pros and cons such that it’s basically a wash.

 

[Mach-Lee]

That's a no brainer, Route 1 has the bigger battery. Which would you rather choose, the car with 310 miles range or wait for the one that will have 210 miles of range?

Mention the LFP batteries will take 6 months so she can think about all the extra carbon you'll produce while waiting for it.

 

[MachEMaster]

Buy the car you want now. The LFP batteries may only be initially offered in the Standard Range MME anyway.

 

[HGxxx]

I see you are from Indiana, I would definitely go with NCM not LFP, esp when we don't know the heating strategy that ford will do and the range you will get. Work on convincing wife to get the route 1

 

[Maquis]

Buy the car you want now. The LFP batteries may only be initially offered in the Standard Range MME anyway.

There’s no “may” about it. Ford has already stated that LFPs go in SRs only.

 

[4sallypat]

I would prefer LFP as I charge to 100% every time.

Also since I live in warm weather (So Cal), I don't have the cold range loss.

Wish my very delayed MME order (10 months) will come with LFP....

 

[MidWestMachE]

The LFP battery is good for charging in general, fast and safe. However, it is much heavier considering it is a Iron based chemistry and will eventually be a smaller battery to keep the vehicle weight lower.

After much research, I recently got a CRT1. I am loving the car and the range so far. It does a 240 miles actual with 100% SOC in 19F cold. I am not sure many EVs have that kind of efficiency. Also the higher range will extend the battery life because of the throughput.

If you are able to buy a CRT1 before March 31st then go for it.

 

[AKgrampy]

You will get more range out of a CR-1 at 90% than a SR with LFP at 100%. Also I am not so sure over the life of the car, or possibly your ownership, that you will see that much degradation even if you charge to 100%. Finally cold weather performance may be an issue with LFP. Go for CR-1 (you can always trade it in on a LFP in a year if they prove to be good in cold weather and have sufficient range for your local)

 

[jay1122]

I would not wait if there is a good deal around to take advantage of the tax credit. The LFP battery has lower range for the same weight. I think it is chosen mostly because it is cheaper. It is equally terrible in winter temperature. Tesla has been using LFP, as well as many other manufacturers. you can search around and see it is not really a jump. More of an economical alternate. Range is still the king.

 

[alexgorod]

Doesn't Mach-E with LFP battery have 8 sec 0-60 mph acceleration? It's killing the idea of an electric car.

 

[sotek2345]

My vote is that if you live anywhere with an actual winter, stay as far away from LFP as you can unless you just want a local runabout. It will be heavier, slower, have a longer stopping distance, and have substantially less range, especially in the cold.

We aren't sure when specific type of LFP batteries Ford will be using (i.e. is a doped with something to improve performance?), but basic LFP chemistry batteries can see up to 50% capacity loss in sub-zero temps. Given the already small range of the SR Mach-e, and the added weight, you could be looking at a sub 100 mile range car in the cold.

 

[fxo]

I will only ever buy an LFP, many people that own LFP models in places like Sweden say that if the car has a good pre-conditioning strategy for the battery pack , the LFP's perform and charge well in cold temperatures (meaning below freezing).

LFP has more charge cycles than NMC, meaning your battery pack will last longer. So you are getting more ... NMC batteries have been involved in a number of car fires. LFP batteries are considered safer.

250 miles of range in an LFP RWD Mach-E (Premium or Select) is pretty awesome!
Or 310 miles in a CR1, also awesome of course.

The range is not really that different, your daily drive is probably under 100 miles. That is what you have to think carefully about. Will I really be stressing the 250 mile range, almost ever???

And how often do you go 500 miles where you might need 2 charges with the LFP and only 1 with the CR1???

My big drive is 330 miles to my mother's place, and in that case either car works perfectly.

Just one charge in either case. LFP is what Ford is investing big into, why, cheaper cheaper cheaper.

By the way, all batteries do poorly in cold, you need to condition them...

 

[Garbone]

Lfp are more cold adverse, your up north. I would do the RT1 if possible.

 

[Maquis]

I will only ever buy an LFP, many people that own LFP models in places like Sweden say that if the car has a good pre-conditioning strategy for the battery pack , the LFP's perform and charge well in cold temperatures (meaning below freezing).

LFP has more charge cycles than NMC, meaning your battery pack will last longer. So you are getting more ... NMC batteries have been involved in a number of car fires. LFP batteries are considered safer.

250 miles of range in an LFP RWD Mach-E (Premium or Select) is pretty awesome!
Or 310 miles in a CR1, also awesome of course.

The range is not really that different, your daily drive is probably under 100 miles. That is what you have to think carefully about. Will I really be stressing the 250 mile range, almost ever???

And how often do you go 500 miles where you might need 2 charges with the LFP and only 1 with the CR1???

My big drive is 330 miles to my mother's place, and in that case either car works perfectly.

Just one charge in either case. LFP is what Ford is investing big into, why, cheaper cheaper cheaper.

By the way, all batteries do poorly in cold, you need to condition them...

LFP cold weather performance is demonstrably inferior to NMC.
Each person should consider their use case(s) and their local climate when they have a choice in battery chemistry.

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