70%, 80%, 90%?? For those charging at home, what threshold do you use?

[valfam]

Yes, you would be wrong. Ford states in the manual 90% for daily use for the NCM battery. The LFP says charge to 100%.

From the manual:

Extended Range Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) Batteries
Set your preferred charging times to be at least 2-3 hours after your typical plug in time. This allows the battery to cool before charging begins. Additionally, setting the maximum charge level to 90% for everyday usage reduces strain on the battery.

Standard Range Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries
Set the maximum charge level to 100% and charge to 100% at least once per month to maintain range accuracy.

I guess I am wrong. Thanks for correcting me.

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[MightyMike]

I go with 85% (rather than the 90%). Thoughts are that I don't really need the range, and the actual battery charge is 80%. I charge every day when I get home. with a 10kw L2 charger (chargepoint hardwired)

 

[medriver]

Yes, you would be wrong. Ford states in the manual 90% for daily use for the NCM battery. The LFP says charge to 100%.

From the manual:

Extended Range Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) Batteries
Set your preferred charging times to be at least 2-3 hours after your typical plug in time. This allows the battery to cool before charging begins. Additionally, setting the maximum charge level to 90% for everyday usage reduces strain on the battery.

Standard Range Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries
Set the maximum charge level to 100% and charge to 100% at least once per month to maintain range accuracy.

If the battery was overheated and you plugged it in to a level 2 wouldn't it use the energy to cool it, like it does if it's cold. I never understood this.

 

[mkhuffman]

If the battery was overheated and you plugged it in to a level 2 wouldn't it use the energy to cool it, like it does if it's cold. I never understood this.

I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the battery temperature. It has to do with the temperature of the car and the charger that is built in. The EVSE is not a charger. It just delivers the AC requested by the car, and the car's charger converts it into DC to charge the battery. I think they are attempting to reduce the stress on the internal charger, not the battery.

When traveling, you arrive at the DC charging station and plug in immediately. That session bypasses the car's internal charger. That is the only difference.

I really don't know why they provide that recommendation, but logic says it has nothing to do with the battery.

 

[medriver]

I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the battery temperature. It has to do with the temperature of the car and the charger that is built in. The EVSE is not a charger. It just delivers the AC requested by the car, and the car's charger converts it into DC to charge the battery. I think they are attempting to reduce the stress on the internal charger, not the battery.

When traveling, you arrive at the DC charging station and plug in immediately. That session bypasses the car's internal charger. That is the only difference.

I really don't know why they provide that recommendation, but logic says it has nothing to do with the battery.

It literally says that waiting allows the battery to cool, haven't we shown the battery holds heat well and wouldn't plugging it in help?

 

[mkhuffman]

It literally says that waiting allows the battery to cool, haven't we shown the battery holds heat well and wouldn't plugging it in help?

Thier language doesn't make logical sense.

L2 charging speed is so much slower and less stressful than DCFC speed, yet we almost always are arriving at the DCFC station with a hot battery. Plugging in to L2 after arriving home should be much less stressful on a hot battery than plugging into a DCFC charger during a trip.

It makes no sense to say we should avoid L2 due to battery temperature. Other than stress on the AC charger, I don't know why they are giving that recommendation.

Regardless, I plug in whenever I freaking feel like it. And that is frequently as soon as I arrive home from a trip.

@Mach-Lee, do you have an opinion on this? Your opinion is worth three of mine.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Thier language doesn't make logical sense.

L2 charging speed is so much slower and less stressful than DCFC speed, yet we almost always are arriving at the DCFC station with a hot battery. Plugging in to L2 after arriving home should be much less stressful on a hot battery than plugging into a DCFC charger during a trip.

It makes no sense to say we should avoid L2 due to battery temperature. Other than stress on the AC charger, I don't know why they are giving that recommendation.

Regardless, I plug in whenever I freaking feel like it. And that is frequently as soon as I arrive home from a trip.

@Mach-Lee, do you have an opinion on this? Your opinion is worth three of mine.

I think the general consensus is that was language copied or left over from the CMAX/Fusion energi hybrid owners manuals. Those vehicles had air cooled batteries that would get extremely hot while driving and needed to cool down afterwards.

There is no technical reason why you couldn’t charge your Mach-E right away as soon as you get home. The battery doesn’t really even warm up while driving. If the battery was too hot, it would cool itself down as soon as you plug in. We have liquid cooling so heat is not really a concern.

 

[jamarksiii]

Just purchased 2023 AWD w/ext batt. My daily commute is approx. 220 miles roundtrip. I've been charging overnight to 80%, but I do a quick charge (around 35%-40%) before my return trip. I think if I did a 90% charge overnight, I might be able to do the round trip without the midway recharge. Any thoughts?
(I've been doing this commute for over 8 years with a gas and most recently a Dodge Dart that I purchased used with 40K miles and ended with 242K- no mechanical issues. I would do an oil change monthly. But, I was ready to move from gas).

 

[AhardFSU]

Just purchased 2023 AWD w/ext batt. My daily commute is approx. 220 miles roundtrip. I've been charging overnight to 80%, but I do a quick charge (around 35%-40%) before my return trip. I think if I did a 90% charge overnight, I might be able to do the round trip without the midway recharge. Any thoughts?
(I've been doing this commute for over 8 years with a gas and most recently a Dodge Dart that I purchased used with 40K miles and ended with 242K- no mechanical issues. I would do an oil change monthly. But, I was ready to move from gas).

I'd do whatever would allow me to do the roundtrip without needing to do a quick charge before the return trip. Doing that allows you to factor in the charger possibly being out of order or something funky happening when you're ready to return.

 

[Thunderbuck]

Just purchased 2023 AWD w/ext batt. My daily commute is approx. 220 miles roundtrip. I've been charging overnight to 80%, but I do a quick charge (around 35%-40%) before my return trip. I think if I did a 90% charge overnight, I might be able to do the round trip without the midway recharge. Any thoughts?
(I've been doing this commute for over 8 years with a gas and most recently a Dodge Dart that I purchased used with 40K miles and ended with 242K- no mechanical issues. I would do an oil change monthly. But, I was ready to move from gas).

Remember that Ford builds in a 10% buffer into the battery so yes, you can go up to a 90% charge in this circumstance, I'd say.

 

[KarenW]

I have a 124 mile RT commute 5 days a week, in addition to any errands before work (rarely), at lunch (occasionally) or after work (often). Given that, I plan to charge each evening. I do have the option of charging at work via a standard 120v plug in, if needed.

In the Ford Pass app, I do not have the option of setting a maximum charge level; only charging times; or the option to charge to 100%. I am generally home by 7p and leave again between 7 and 7:30a, so I set it to charge from 8p to 7a and will see what that gets me to. Last night I charged when I got in at 7p to 7:30a and was at 94%, so that should work. Will adjust accordingly but being able to set the level would help.

Was that in an earlier iteration of the app which is no longer available, or am I missing something?

 

[bbulkow]

I’m always at a 100%. I always say it’s not like I’m gonna keep the car forever. But also I need the 100% as I put over 40k miles a year lol.

You do realize when you go to sell it, the buyer will check the wear level of the battery, and give you a lower price? Battery state of health (SoH) can be read in a moment using a Bluetooth OBD2, and I predict will be the new "miles" when buying a used EV. I'd certainly pay a lot more for a 97% SoH than an 80% SoH used EV, not even close.

If you need 100% you need 100%, of course, but if you've got a NMH battery following Ford's recommendation to charge to 90% - assuming that still avoids DC fast charges - will, I predict, save you money in the long term. Why not do it?

 

[Rpellicciotti]

I am a new owner as well. We typically use our Mach-E as a city car. Based on what I read in various places, we are using 90% as the limit when AC charging at home. The couple of times we have used a DC fast charger we have stopped at 80% or lower. I wouldn't hesitate to AC charge to 100% prior to leaving on a long trip (very seldom in our case). If I have any of this wrong, I would appreciate some guidance.

 

[AKgrampy]

Just purchased 2023 AWD w/ext batt. My daily commute is approx. 220 miles roundtrip. I've been charging overnight to 80%, but I do a quick charge (around 35%-40%) before my return trip. I think if I did a 90% charge overnight, I might be able to do the round trip without the midway recharge. Any thoughts?
(I've been doing this commute for over 8 years with a gas and most recently a Dodge Dart that I purchased used with 40K miles and ended with 242K- no mechanical issues. I would do an oil change monthly. But, I was ready to move from gas).

I would 100% give that a try as Ford recommends 90% charge; however, that may cut thing too tight as you say you are adding at least 35% so 10% up front may not be sufficient. Any chance of getting L2 installed where you work ( even if not free?)

 

[will]

80% level 1 charging Friday - Sunday gets me back to 80%, lowest I get is 47-55%

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