>80% SOC, 33 kW on 125 A charger vs 44 kW on standard Electrify Canada/America charger

[MikesMachE]

Can anyone please explain to me why if I'm charging on an Electrify America/Canada charger (150 or 350 kW) and surpass 80% SOC the vehicle will throttle down to 44 kW (~115 A), whereas if I'm charging on a FLO 50 kW (125 A) unit, after 80%, the charger will throttle down to 33 kW (~90 A)? Doesn't really make sense why this would happen.

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[Mach-Lee]

Because Ford is dumb and sets the charge rate at 80% based on the initial charger amperage (probably some percentage of the initial rate). It should always do 44 kW at 80% if the charger is capable of outputting it, but it doesn't.

It's like an additional penalty when using a slow charger, "let's proportionally shrink your entire charge curve ?"

 

[breeves002]

I have noticed this and bitched to whomever at Ford that would listen but they don’t.

It is even worse in winter. I would get as low as like 25kW at 80%. For no reason…shitty programming.

 

[MikesMachE]

It's terrible. Doesn't make any scientific sense why it would be decreased even further. @Ford please do something!

 

[breeves002]

It's terrible. Doesn't make any scientific sense why it would be decreased even further. @Ford please do something!

For me it isn't imperative but I like to use the free 125A/50kW charger my local Chevrolet dealer has on occasion and in the winter it just isn't worth my time with the de-rate. Plus electricity is incredibly cheap here in the winter so the money saved is minuscule making it even less worth my time.

In the summer I use it often as I like to walk and I'll plug in and walk around the area. My gym is also next door and grocery store is a 10 minute walk or less so I'll go there too sometimes in the evenings.

 

[kltye]

I've been wondering the same myself. Why does Ford have such weird algorithms for charging? This isn't a charging curve thing (which is a separate but equally idiotic problem), and I've never heard of any other battery pack in the world charge in this manner - I'm talking e-bikes, e-scooters, LFP batteries from no-name brands in China, laptops, cellphones, Tesla Megapacks, battery-backed DCFC, EVs, cameras, flashlights, NiCd and NiMH batteries....

What the actual fuck, @Ford Motor Company?

 

[generaltso]

@Ford please do something!

I guarantee that there is nothing Robert can do.

 

[MikesMachE]

I've been wondering the same myself. Why does Ford have such weird algorithms for charging? This isn't a charging curve thing (which is a separate but equally idiotic problem), and I've never heard of any other battery pack in the world charge in this manner - I'm talking e-bikes, e-scooters, LFP batteries from no-name brands in China, laptops, cellphones, Tesla Megapacks, battery-backed DCFC, EVs, cameras, flashlights, NiCd and NiMH batteries....

What the actual fuck, @Ford Motor Company?

Yeah, it's really bizarre. I feel like the current charging curve is extremely conservative and frankly doesn't make a lot of scientific sense. The current should be higher, for longer and should be sustained at high levels and taper down in a non-linear fashion. Hopefully this can be fixed in an OTA - but who knows when (or if) that would happen. At least we are no longer stuck at 12 kW (or whatever) beyond 80% SOC.

 

[MikesMachE]

I guarantee that there is nothing Robert can do.

Whoops!

 

[kltye]

Yeah, it's really bizarre. I feel like the current charging curve is extremely conservative and frankly doesn't make a lot of scientific sense. The current should be higher, for longer and should be sustained at high levels and taper down in a non-linear fashion. Hopefully this can be fixed in an OTA - but who knows when (or if) that would happen. At least we are no longer stuck at 12 kW (or whatever) beyond 80% SOC.

The maximum current levels are somewhat affected by the thickness (gauge) of the DC wiring, but yes - it should definitely be able to hold even its maximum continuous rated current for much longer than it does now.

It's been several years since the first cars rolled off the line, so I doubt Ford will be fixing this anytime soon. (Even in @Kamuelaflyer's Soon™️ timeframe)

I think the Mach-E is a great car, but boy does it have a lot of head-scratching issues it simply shouldn't have.

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