Iron phosphate battery in cold climate

[ElviBel]

Hello; new to the forum. Do not have Mach E yet, just learning if this a good choice for the area i live. Specifically - does anyone have the iron phosphate battery (2023 models) and live in cold climate, we have -35 degree Celsiuc here in Calgary a few days/weeks a year.

Thank you.

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[Nolanbro]

Hello; new to the forum. Do not have Mach E yet, just learning if this a good choice for the area i live. Specifically - does anyone have the iron phosphate battery (2023 models) and live in cold climate, we have -35 degree Celsiuc here in Calgary a few days/weeks a year.

Thank you.

I cant comment on the LFP packs, but I do live in Buffalo and I will say with the NCM battery there is some serious range loss in cold temps, and dc charging a cold battery is already slow. The LFP will just make things worse. Keep in mind there is a better heater on the LFP car so that could help improve cabin heating.

It honestly will come down to more performance/range/charging speed or a warmer cabin IMO.

If possible I would wait for a 2024 has they now have heat scavenging which will help both the NCM and LFP cars.

 

[the pickle]

which years have which batteries?

 

[thekat03]

which years have which batteries?

Only the standard range batteries are LFP, starting with model year 2023.5.

 

[Homestead]

Our 2023.5 LFP worked fine through the winter. It didn't get any lower than 13F however.
Range was definitely affected. Kept it plugged in outside when it got below freezing.
GOM range has gone up 30miles or so now that temps are in the 60's-70's.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Hello; new to the forum. Do not have Mach E yet, just learning if this a good choice for the area i live. Specifically - does anyone have the iron phosphate battery (2023 models) and live in cold climate, we have -35 degree Celsiuc here in Calgary a few days/weeks a year.

Thank you.

Can't comment on LFP specifically, but the Mach-E does not do well when it's below -25ºC. Expect about 50% range loss (half of summer range). Cabin heat will also become limited and may not fully keep up below that temperature.

Strongly recommended that you park in a garage at night (not outside), plug into a 240V Level 2 charger (not 120V) each night, and set a departure time each morning you will drive the car. These actions will ensure the battery stays warm enough to drive. However parking outside unplugged for 8 hours in -25ºC could cause some issues with the LFP including severe power limitations and minimal cabin heat until the battery is able to warm up. LFP really likes to stay above 0ºC and will not charge below that temp until the battery warms up. There is a 7 kW heater, but it is shared between the cabin and battery pack, and is too small to heat both at the same time at those temps. The battery will get priority if it's too cold and you'll lose cabin heat.

I don't know your situation, but if the car has to stay outside unplugged for extended periods when it's below -25ºC, I would advise not getting a Mach-E due to their limited heater size compared to other EVs. You will want to keep it plugged in like a block heater as much as possible.

 

[ElviBel]

Can't comment on LFP specifically, but the Mach-E does not do well when it's below -25ºC. Expect about 50% range loss (half of summer range). Cabin heat will also become limited and may not fully keep up below that temperature.

Strongly recommended that you park in a garage at night (not outside), plug into a 240V Level 2 charger (not 120V) each night, and set a departure time each morning you will drive the car. These actions will ensure the battery stays warm enough to drive. However parking outside unplugged for 8 hours in -25ºC could cause some issues with the LFP including severe power limitations and minimal cabin heat until the battery is able to warm up. LFP really likes to stay above 0ºC and will not charge below that temp until the battery warms up. There is a 7 kW heater, but it is shared between the cabin and battery pack, and is too small to heat both at the same time at those temps. The battery will get priority if it's too cold and you'll lose cabin heat.

I don't know your situation, but if the car has to stay outside unplugged for extended periods when it's below -25ºC, I would advise not getting a Mach-E due to their limited heater size compared to other EVs. You will want to keep it plugged in like a block heater as much as possible.

I park in garage (not heated though); will put L2 charger. Even 50% loss is fine (100km daily range; so as long as i can drive 100km, i'm fine).

Curious, the lack of cabin heat - could it cause some sort of mist inside or something that will limit visibility while driving?

Thanks

 

[Teslaeata]

There is this:

https://www.evlithium.com/Blog/lifepo4-temperature-range.html

Sounds like -20C to -10C is the lower range of fairly normal performance of LiFePO4 battery though lower temps affect performance & charging is not fatal to battery use or life.

If it were me, applying logical thinking, the risk of just couple of weeks of such low temps per year would not be fatal to a decision to go LFP EV.

After all, once pre-conditioned, battery should be at optimal temperature and remain so in use and I would have thought a DCFC charge out in the road, mid run, shouldn’t be slow.

 

[ElviBel]

There is this:

https://www.evlithium.com/Blog/lifepo4-temperature-range.html

Sounds like -20C to -10C is the lower range of fairly normal performance of LiFePO4 battery though lower temps affect performance & charging is not fatal to battery use or life.

If it were me, applying logical thinking, the risk of just couple of weeks of such low temps per year would not be fatal to a decision to go LFP EV.

After all, once pre-conditioned, battery should be at optimal temperature and remain so in use and I would have thought a DCFC charge out in the road, mid run, shouldn’t be slow.

Thanks for the link. Also the Mach E I am looking at is 2023 year (brand new) which was sitting on dealer's lot for more than a year. I doubt it was charged during extreme low temperature periods, and like said it this blog " Extreme cold can lead to irreversible damage to battery components and a heightened risk of thermal runaway". Not sure if the battery as good as new.

 

[AngryMan]

Thanks for the link. Also the Mach E I am looking at is 2023 year (brand new) which was sitting on dealer's lot for more than a year. .

I hope the dealer is finally ready to "deal" on that car . You seem to have some good leverage ...unless that's his favorite car and he can't stand the thought of it being gone ?

 

[EMachE]

I’m still driving my 21 Mach E and it’s great in the winter. I park in my heated garage at night and precondition before departure but it sits outside on the street during the work hours and has no problem getting going at the end of the work day. You can remote start before leaving work and by the time you clean the snow off you can just drive. I’ve had no issues and with winter tires the car is amazing in the snow. I would recommend making sure that the dealership has all software updates done before taking delivery (put in deal) that way you shouldn’t have any problems.

 

[thekat03]

Thanks for the link. Also the Mach E I am looking at is 2023 year (brand new) which was sitting on dealer's lot for more than a year. I doubt it was charged during extreme low temperature periods, and like said it this blog " Extreme cold can lead to irreversible damage to battery components and a heightened risk of thermal runaway". Not sure if the battery as good as new.

If it's been sitting for more than a year, are you sure it's got an LFP battery? Also, for a car sitting that long, I would make sure the software is fully updated before you buy it.

 

[ElviBel]

If it's been sitting for more than a year, are you sure it's got an LFP battery? Also, for a car sitting that long, I would make sure the software is fully updated before you buy it.

Hmm, not sure about LFP battery; someone (online) said that all Mach E's from 2023 have this new battery...

 

[RickMachE]

Hmm, not sure about LFP battery; someone (online) said that all Mach E's from 2023 have this new battery...

As was stated above, that's not true. If it wasn't produced in the 2nd half of 2023, it can't be. And, it's on SR, not ER batteries.

Says right on the sticker if it's LFP.

 

[thekat03]

Hmm, not sure about LFP battery; someone (online) said that all Mach E's from 2023 have this new battery...

I think you should be able to tell by the sticker, or the date of manufacture. The first half of 2023, the standard range battery was the NMC like the extended range.

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