12V Battery FAQ

[Sikkun]

My ford.com account doesn't show the voltage of my lvb, it does show the percentage of charge.
Do you have a link for this website that shows the voltage?

The charge level % on ford.com under your account is your lvb not the big battery.

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[Jerrytball]

All BEVs have two batteries.

The charge level % on ford.com under your account is your lvb not the big battery.

so I think what he said above, he sees the percent of the low level battery. He’s looking for the voltage number of it. I don’t think he mentioned the big battery. I think you need a ODB scanner to see the battery volts.

 

[Space_Pony]

The charge level % on ford.com under your account is your lvb not the big battery.

I got that, but you said the ford website showed 14 volts. I've never seen any volts showing on the ford site. Where is that at?

 

[Sikkun]

I got that, but you said the ford website showed 14 volts. I've never seen any volts showing on the ford site. Where is that at?

Ah for that you have to use your browsers network tools and then inspect the files as the page loads. There is a JSON file that list the Battery % and the current voltage level that loads in the background.

 

[Mach1E]

Yes, but the 12v battery has been more of a challenged for me to keep charged given my life is mostly short trip driving. So now I understand how it charges and know what to do to keep it charged. I didn’t expect something like a simple 12v battery to be so lame on such a sophisticated car.

Kinda the same for a gas powered car you only do short trips in.

But honestly with ours? You could just ignore this whole thread, do nothing about your 12v and drive normally.

The car should take care of the rest and will notify you if it’s low.

 

[mkhuffman]

Yes, but the 12v battery has been more of a challenged for me to keep charged given my life is mostly short trip driving. So now I understand how it charges and know what to do to keep it charged. I didn’t expect something like a simple 12v battery to be so lame on such a sophisticated car.

We can agree to disagree, because I don't think the 12V battery is lame at all.

If you drive the car regularly, and not just very short distances, it will be fine. Just like every car you have ever owned. It isn't any different. You drive it, it gets charged. You don't, and it drains.

So, if you are not driving it regularly, and then only very short trips, you probably need to give some extra care to the battery. It sounds like this is the case for you.

Every year I do the desulfating procedure Lee describes in another thread, not only for my MME, but for my ICE vehicles as well. All AGM batteries benefit from having that done. It is just part of maintaining a car.

So, IMO, it is not lame. It is normal.

 

[sci_goat]

Will using Scheduled Departure Time setting periodically recharge the 12V?
I didn’t see this discussed.

 

[mkhuffman]

Will using Scheduled Departure Time setting periodically recharge the 12V?
I didn’t see this discussed.

I think it will but it is irrelevant because the car only runs for a short period of time, and not long enough to keep the LVB charged. It might add a couple % to the SoC of the LVB, if that.

I have multiple departure times set during the work week. I left my car in my garage and plugged in for 7 days. The LVB SoC sagged down to 51% before I came home. And that is with the departure times active.

You really need to drive the car for significant time or put the LVB on a tender. It is no different from a ICEV. You don't drive those very often and the 12V battery dies as well.

 

[dtbaker61]

.....

You really need to drive the car for significant time or put the LVB on a tender. It is no different from a ICEV. You don't drive those very often and the 12V battery dies as well.

except there is an option you do not mention.

UNLIKE an ICE vehicle, you can leave your MME 'on' overnight, or even 24hrs... which will definately charge the 12v to 100%, and desulfate nicely. No battery tender or connections required.

 

[sci_goat]

except there is an option you do not mention.

UNLIKE an ICE vehicle, you can leave your MME 'on' overnight, or even 24hrs... which will definately charge the 12v to 100%, and desulfate nicely. No battery tender or connections required.

Thanks for your replies! I’m on a 3 week vacation so this is quite relevant. I already turned off the auto-off timer. So at the 2 week point I will try to remote start and leave it going for a few hours to help the 12V battery.

 

[Sikkun]

Thanks for your replies! I’m on a 3 week vacation so this is quite relevant. I already turned off the auto-off timer. So at the 2 week point I will try to remote start and leave it going for a few hours to help the 12V battery.

Auto off timer resets every time you start the car, so you won’t be able to remote start it for more than an hour (30min and then extend).

But if your 12v is healthy 3 weeks shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Thanks for your replies! I’m on a 3 week vacation so this is quite relevant. I already turned off the auto-off timer. So at the 2 week point I will try to remote start and leave it going for a few hours to help the 12V battery.

You have a 2023 which should have updated 12V software. The battery will auto recharge if it gets low. You shouldn't have to do anything for a 3 week vacation provided your 12V battery is healthy and you aren't getting any warnings. You cannot disable the auto-shutdown timer remotely (the setting does not stick once the vehicle is turned off), and a remote start (15 mins, max 2x) is not enough time to do much for the 12V battery. Your best bet is to just leave it sit and take care of itself.

 

[mkhuffman]

Thanks for your replies! I’m on a 3 week vacation so this is quite relevant. I already turned off the auto-off timer. So at the 2 week point I will try to remote start and leave it going for a few hours to help the 12V battery.

I agree with Lee. When you are away from home there is nothing you can do to significantly charge the LVB, except put it on a battery tender. Plug it in, set your target charge to 60%, and let it sit. It will be fine. Really, it will.

 

[mkhuffman]

except there is an option you do not mention.

UNLIKE an ICE vehicle, you can leave your MME 'on' overnight, or even 24hrs... which will definately charge the 12v to 100%, and desulfate nicely. No battery tender or connections required.

And because it isn't a ICEV, you can leave it on in your garage. Of course you have to be home to do that.

I prefer to just connect a power supply to the LVB and desulfate it that way. Much more economical.

 

[dtbaker61]

Thanks for your replies! I’m on a 3 week vacation so this is quite relevant. I already turned off the auto-off timer. So at the 2 week point I will try to remote start and leave it going for a few hours to help the 12V battery.

you need 4-24 hrs on to be sure 12v charges to 100%.

vehicle on, auto-off disabled. maybe once per 3 months is good practice

don't worry about <2 months storage... when 12v drops, it will call for charge while you are gone
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