Long term parking and preparation

[rzanzerkia]

Looking for some advice.
I plan to leave my 21 Mach-e outdoors (under car cover) in the New England winter (Jan-March) outside my garage.
My primary concern is 12V battery.
Should I take it out and leave on trickle charger in the garage?
Should I open the Frunk before leaving in case I have to jump start?
Trickle charge 12V before leaving outdoors?
How to shutdown the car so it’s not detecting Keyes etc.?
Anything else?

Thanks,
PS: I have left it in the garage for 2 months in the past no issues.

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[Phantom E]

I would leave the battery installed and connect a battery tender. I wouldn't try to disable the car otherwise. Keep the cover secured underneath to prevent chafing in windy conditions. I think I'd be more concerned with mice getting in and making a nest.

 

[david_quick]

Can your charger cable reach it? If so just plug the car in. Even if it’s just 110v. If not look into an extension cable. I have one I keep in the frunk to use at in laws.

 

[RickMachE]

Looking for some advice.
I plan to leave my 21 Mach-e outdoors (under car cover) in the New England winter (Jan-March) outside my garage.
My primary concern is 12V battery.
Should I take it out and leave on trickle charger in the garage?
Should I open the Frunk before leaving in case I have to jump start?
Trickle charge 12V before leaving outdoors?
How to shutdown the car so it’s not detecting Keyes etc.?
Anything else?

Thanks,
PS: I have left it in the garage for 2 months in the past no issues.

Can your charger cable reach it? If so just plug the car in. Even if it’s just 110v. If not look into an extension cable. I have one I keep in the frunk to use at in laws.

keys...

Manual tells you exactly what to do. Charge to 50% SOC, disconnect 12v battery. Some people leave the 12v connected to a Battery Tender. With the 12v disconnected, you can pop the front panel and open the frunk with a 12v power source, then connect the battery.

You should NOT leave it connected to a car charger for any reason. That is bad advice. And definitely not using an extension, which is never recommended and certainly not for 3 months.

 

[MME in KC]

Just got my MME this week. Loving it! Similar question. How about if it’s only for four weeks? I think I read elsewhere that, for that amount of time, it’s okay to charge to 100% and then just leave it be. FYI, car will be in an attached garage. Thanks!

 

[RickMachE]

Just got my MME this week. Loving it! Similar question. How about if it’s only for four weeks? I think I read elsewhere that, for that amount of time, it’s okay to charge to 100% and then just leave it be. FYI, car will be in an attached garage. Thanks!

You should NOT leave it sit at 100% for 4 weeks. READ THE MANUAL, it tells you exactly what to do. 30 days is mentioned. 28 days is not 30 days, but a car should not sit at 100% for 4 weeks, regardless of battery type.

 

[MME in KC]

okay thanks.

 

[david_quick]

Looking for some advice.
I plan to leave my 21 Mach-e outdoors (under car cover) in the New England winter (Jan-March) outside my garage.
My primary concern is 12V battery.
Should I take it out and leave on trickle charger in the garage?
Should I open the Frunk before leaving in case I have to jump start?
Trickle charge 12V before leaving outdoors?
How to shutdown the car so it’s not detecting Keyes etc.?
Anything else?

Thanks,
PS: I have left it in the garage for 2 months in the past no issues.

Why, what is the technical reason? I am not talking about an extension cord but:


Inteset 30ft 40amp J1772 EV Extension Cord, Made in USA - for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Carrying Bag, Ultra-Flex Cable, UL Listed Parts
https://a.co/d/7YeFfi4

 

[RickMachE]

Why, what is the technical reason? I am not talking about an extension cord but:


Inteset 30ft 40amp J1772 EV Extension Cord, Made in USA - for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Carrying Bag, Ultra-Flex Cable, UL Listed Parts
https://a.co/d/7YeFfi4

In fact, that is an extension cord...

 

[Schwartzcynthia]

Just got my MME this week. Loving it! Similar question. How about if it’s only for four weeks? I think I read elsewhere that, for that amount of time, it’s okay to charge to 100% and then just leave it be. FYI, car will be in an attached garage. Thanks!

I live in Texas so winters here are warmer(unless the occassional ice storm). I have left my MME outside last 2 winters for 8 weeks at 40-50% charged with no problem when I returned.

 

[buffasnow]

Looking for some advice.
I plan to leave my 21 Mach-e outdoors (under car cover) in the New England winter (Jan-March) outside my garage.
My primary concern is 12V battery.
Should I take it out and leave on trickle charger in the garage?
Should I open the Frunk before leaving in case I have to jump start?
Trickle charge 12V before leaving outdoors?
How to shutdown the car so it’s not detecting Keyes etc.?
Anything else?

Thanks,
PS: I have left it in the garage for 2 months in the past no issues.

I asked something similar in Mach-Lee's Cold Weather Charging Strategies thread. A few people responded. I ended up driving it into the trailer, disconnecting the 12V and putting it in my basement, and leaving the hood open. I also fully inflated the tires and scattered some ant & mouse bait/killer in the trailer. I just beat the 4 feet of snow we got in the past week or so.

I would run the big battery down to 50%, then disconnect the 12V battery. That's the recommended procedure. Remote start isn't enough to keep the 12V battery charged and is basically pointless (remember you can only do it 2x before you have to get in and start the car manually).

Leave the hood open and frunk covers off to discourage mice from nesting under the hood and chewing on wires.

 

[ChasingCoral]

 

[rzanzerkia]

ChasingCoral: Thank you, that was very helpful.
Everyone thanks for ideas. Here is my understanding so far.

IF storing the car for more than 30 days…
1. Make sure SOC is 50% or less.
2. Disconnect 12V battery.

Now that leads me to my next question.
What’s the best way to reconnect the 12V battery? (Going to leave it in the car).
1. If you close the frunk how do you open it w/o 12V battery?
I know there is a connector at the front so can I just attach my trickle charger there and pop open it?
** This would be ideal as I don’t leave car open to rodents etc. by leaving frunk slightly open. Besides snow weight might just close it shut.

Thanks

 

[Maquis]

ChasingCoral: Thank you, that was very helpful.
Everyone thanks for ideas. Here is my understanding so far.

IF storing the car for more than 30 days…
1. Make sure SOC is 50% or less.
2. Disconnect 12V battery.

Now that leads me to my next question.
What’s the best way to reconnect the 12V battery? (Going to leave it in the car).
1. If you close the frunk how do you open it w/o 12V battery?
I know there is a connector at the front so can I just attach my trickle charger there and pop open it?
** This would be ideal as I don’t leave car open to rodents etc. by leaving frunk slightly open. Besides snow weight might just close it shut.

Thanks

Not “50% or less”…..you want it as close to 50% as you can.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/opening-frunk-with-jump-box.19134/

 

[HuntingPudel]

Not “50% or less”…..you want it as close to 50% as you can.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/opening-frunk-with-jump-box.19134/

Right. So charge to a little over 50% (maybe 52-53%) and over the 4 or so weeks you are gone it should not drop significantly below 50%. ??

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