Article: "What All EV Owner's Should Hear."

[Jimrpa]

Not sure about EV Batteries but cell phone batteries have the technology of optimization so as to not charge to 100% to save on battery length. Now I realize that on the settings you can charge to 80% or whatever you want, it would still be nice to have a program that would dissuade you from entertaining the thought of charging to 100%. (new car purchasers come to mind)

Because it is hard on batteries, there should have been something built into the software and when you want to charge to 100% (for a long trip), there should be a notice of "are you sure you want to charge to 100%".

I would assume that would have been an extremely simple programming solution but no one either cared or thought about it?

I believe there is an approximately 11 KWH buffer - in other words, we have 99 KWH (extended range) batteries, but Ford only allows us access to 88 KWH of that capacity.

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[bbulkow]

Is there not a reserve buffer in out batteries so that when we charge to 100%, we’re not REALLY charging to 100%? I’ve never known how the buffer is managed and taken into account.

Of course there is, just like buffer on the "bottom side". That's why this "important information" is old news and rather tiresome. Just read your manual and do what it says in there.

 

[bbulkow]

I believe there is an approximately 11 KWH buffer - in other words, we have 99 KWH (extended range) batteries, but Ford only allows us access to 88 KWH of that capacity.

Depending on model year? I think my '23 shows 108KWH (car scanner) with 91KWH usable?

And that buffer has to be split somehow between high and low?

 

[Jimrpa]

Of course there is, just like buffer on the "bottom side". That's why this "important information" is old news and rather tiresome. Just read your manual and do what it says in there.

I have read my manual. My point is that it’s never been clear how Ford manages that buffer. For example, if you charge to 100%, are you charging the 88 KWH available, or the full 99 KWh? This is sort of important as you would then have to be less concerned about charging to 100%. The idea behind the buffer, when it was originally “revealed” was that the (initially) “excess” capacity could be released by Ford over time to ensure that the battery provides the advertised capacity throughout the 8 year warranty period.

At least that’s my understanding.

 

[bbulkow]

I have read my manual. My point is that it’s never been clear how Ford manages that buffer. For example, if you charge to 100%, are you charging the 88 KWH available, or the full 99 KWh? This is sort of important as you would then have to be less concerned about charging to 100%. The idea behind the buffer, when it was originally “revealed” was that the (initially) “excess” capacity could be released by Ford over time to ensure that the battery provides the advertised capacity throughout the 8 year warranty period.

At least that’s my understanding.

Sure, it's not clear how they manage this, but the use is clear: follow the manual using the percentage on the dashboard / charging app.

( Especially because those percent numbers don't exactly match the raw numbers you get from CarScanner anyway, even without the buffer ).

I'm OK with Ford figuring out the rest - and reacting to new research from their fleet as it becomes available, potentially. That's they "could" release some of the buffer, or not. They might also change the charging curve slightly. That's on them.

If you don't trust Ford to pick the right values for the battery, or believe they are misinforming us, why not pick a different manufacturer? Not to be rude, but .... there's a point where I know I don't have the data, and you don't have the data, so why try to second guess? I don't get it.

 

[Jimrpa]

Sure, it's not clear how they manage this, but the use is clear: follow the manual using the percentage on the dashboard / charging app.

( Especially because those percent numbers don't exactly match the raw numbers you get from CarScanner anyway, even without the buffer ).

I'm OK with Ford figuring out the rest - and reacting to new research from their fleet as it becomes available, potentially. That's they "could" release some of the buffer, or not. They might also change the charging curve slightly. That's on them.

If you don't trust Ford to pick the right values for the battery, or believe they are misinforming us, why not pick a different manufacturer? Not to be rude, but .... there's a point where I know I don't have the data, and you don't have the data, so why try to second guess? I don't get it.

It’s not a matter of “trust” - it’s more a matter of curiosity. To be it is interesting to have more insight as how how my car works and why, even if that level of information would never impact me.

 

[bbulkow]

It’s not a matter of “trust” - it’s more a matter of curiosity. To be it is interesting to have more insight as how how my car works and why, even if that level of information would never impact me.

To satisfy my curiosity, I have a bluetooth OBD2 dongle and carscanner on my phone. It's not all the information but I'm satisfied enough and I know I'm unlikely to get more info.

With the dongle, its easy to see a lot of fun information (eg, in-route preconditioning, buffer levels, map between dashboard percent and "real percent"....)

Glad we agree the manual is clear and what we're supposed to do as users is clear.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I have read my manual. My point is that it’s never been clear how Ford manages that buffer. For example, if you charge to 100%, are you charging the 88 KWH available, or the full 99 KWh? This is sort of important as you would then have to be less concerned about charging to 100%. The idea behind the buffer, when it was originally “revealed” was that the (initially) “excess” capacity could be released by Ford over time to ensure that the battery provides the advertised capacity throughout the 8 year warranty period.

At least that’s my understanding.

There are two buffers: One below 0% indicated, one above 100% indicated. The battery’s actual capacity is 99KWh. The indicated capacity is 91KWh. The buffers are sized such that a 100% indicated charge is apx. 95-96% actual. 50% indicated is very close to 50% actual. Ford doesn’t let the car discharge below 0% indicated or charge over 100% indicated. ??

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I have a rule about ignoring any headline or article that has a question as a title or is so full of pronouns as to be completely vague. Tell me point blank what the article is about or I'm not clicking on you

 

[superdave80]

Caveat #2: Analyses by Recurrent show that IRL battery performance really doesn't care much about how you fast charge or how you treat the battery.

Caveat #3: Recurrent does not actually have access to SOH, and just uses the range estimator as a proxy measurement, so take their conclusions with a giant grain of salt...

 

[MoonRiver]

I’m still trying to figure out what this means: simple tip : "Don't use your battery until it runs out."

I thought my English wasn't good enough to comprehend it.

 

[Jimrpa]

There are two buffers: One below 0% indicated, one above 100% indicated. The battery’s actual capacity is 99KWh. The indicated capacity is 91KWh. The buffers are sized such that a 100% indicated charge is apx. 95-96% actual. 50% indicated is very close to 50% actual. Ford doesn’t let the car discharge below 0% indicated or charge over 100% indicated. ??

Thanks! That’s what I was looking for ? now, if only you had a cask of brandy around your neck like a St. Bernard ???

 

[HuntingPudel]

Thanks! That’s what I was looking for ? now, if only you had a cask of brandy around your neck like a St. Bernard ???

I got better: A freezer full of fowl. ??

 

[Jimrpa]

I got better: A freezer full of fowl. ??

As a vegetarian, I’ll settle for the brandy ?

 

[Shayne]

Because it is hard on batteries, there should have been something built into the software and when you want to charge to 100% (for a long trip), there should be a notice of "are you sure you want to charge to 100%".

That would make sense. A easy fix is to program the default L2 plug and charge to 80% with the slider to bring it to 100% with all the warnings they want.

When the charging scheduling does not work and it always defaults to right away and to 100% keeping it not sitting at 100% becomes a manual juggling challenge and at -20C a bit impossible. Default L2 plug and charge to 80% would have help as it is better for the batteries than sitting at 100. Simple to make it better.

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