Battery Charging Taking Much Longer

[Shayne]

I'm not sure if this thread is supposed to be about Level 2 or DCFC rates? Make up your minds...

High jacked a bit and as it is titled Battery Charging Taking Much Longer. Do you have some input as to why they have crapped out DCFC over 80% again? Is it just me our have they snuck that in across the board? I can start a new thread if you think it would help us get an answer.

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[Tampamike]

I'm not sure if this thread is supposed to be about Level 2 or DCFC rates? Make up your minds...

Yes.

 

[DamDoc]

Exact same time here.

Concur.. same time here.. basically overnight

 

[devmach-e]

Another question I have is why on 50 KW chargers is this car requesting 43 KW? Then averaging out at 45 and never goes to 50? Is 50 just too much for the car to pull? There are Ioniq 5's up here now and they are pulling 50. You would think if you see them charging at 80 90 KW they could at least pull 50 for a bit. And of course do it to 90%. Charger down at a key location now and I need to make 245KM (155 miles) in one run. Do the math at 5F. Huge buffer and can only charge the thing to 80% slowly when you need it does not say it is the best. Think this is what we bought into or is there a chance it may get better?

The reason that you don't get 50 kW out of a 50 kW has to do with how electrical devices are rated. Basically Volts times Amps = Watts. Typically the device is rated by the maximum number of amps it can supply at the rated voltage. In your home, your toaster might be rated at 1500 watts when all the elements are on. 1500W / 120V = 12.5A. A traditional incandescent 100W bulb drew 0.8333333A. 1200W Microwave? 10A.

A 50 kW DC fast charger usually means the device can supply 125A up to a maximum voltage of 400V (125A * 400V = 50,000W). The reason you don't get 50 kW is because at a lower state of charge, the battery pack voltage isn't 400V. It is closer to 350V. Remember that the maximum amperage that the 50 kW DC fast charger can supply is 125A. So 125A times 350V = 43,750W (43.75 kW). Why can't we just charge at 400V? Because we'll fry the battery pumping too many volts into the pack. We need to be just above the battery's voltage in order to safely charge the battery.

The IONIQ 5 can handle higher voltage because its battery pack architecture is 800V, and backwards compatible with 400V stations. So it can take the full 50 kW the station can put out and convert things appropriately inside the car to charge at 800V.

 

[Shayne]

@devmach-e thank you I understand 44 KW max it is. About it dropping to 33 KW as soon as it hits 80%. This is at the cars request?

My guess is a recent update to my car has caused my 80 to 90% charging rate to drop to 33 KW at 80% soc. It appears to be hard coded and not based too much on physics or current condition. I'm assuming that 44 KW charging on a 50 KW charger before it hits 80% has an adverse effect on some part of the system therefore a max limit has now been put in place?

Confirmations from others would help. I am getting a drop to 33 KW since this car was updated early October. Having 43 KW 80 to 90 for the summer did no good. If it is a seasonal thing I pick the winter.

I will sit there if needed but the DCFC capabilities of this car have to be better than that? 44 KW 15 to 80 and then 33 KW at 80% is what I currently have. I have seen a steady 43 to 90% with no adverse conditions noted. My November tripping is going to be interesting if that critical station is still down. I will run in on the way down when not needed on the first leg from home just to see if I can count on it on the way back but apps are saying maybe not. We need more chargers up here so I should be flagging it to Doug Ford Premier of Ontario and not the Company Ford. When one station goes down our eastern winter travels are a no go after November. Feeling very dependent on chargers. I have no range anxiety just DCFC anxiety. More chargers would fix it but right now it is not helping that Ford co. is limiting the options to using only 60% of the 100 KW battery unless really penalizing us slow guys . Could it be taken into account you are not coming from 80 90 KW power or is the same drop required for all? I was smiling when I saw I could get 90% at 43 KW as 10% is about 10% and opens options.

 

[kltye]

Another question I have is why on 50 KW chargers is this car requesting 43 KW? Then averaging out at 45 and never goes to 50? Is 50 just too much for the car to pull? There are Ioniq 5's up here now and they are pulling 50. You would think if you see them charging at 80 90 KW they could at least pull 50 for a bit. And of course do it to 90%. Charger down at a key location now and I need to make 245KM (155 miles) in one run. Do the math at 5F. Huge buffer and can only charge the thing to 80% slowly when you need it does not say it is the best. Think this is what we bought into or is there a chance it may get better?

Chargers are technically rated by amps, not power. A 50kW charger generally goes up to 125A. So 125*350ish volts (which is probably the nominal pack voltage) you get 43 ish kW. I'm not sure why, but Ford has gone with a pack design that has one of the lowest nominal voltages in any 400v car I've seen.

 

[Shayne]

Chargers are technically rated by amps, not power. A 50kW charger generally goes up to 125A. So 125*350ish volts (which is probably the nominal pack voltage) you get 43 ish kW. I'm not sure why, but Ford has gone with a pack design that has one of the lowest nominal voltages in any 400v car I've seen.

Yes that was stated above but thankyou for the repeated confirmation. I now understand that the mach-e's is hardware limited to 44 KW my question was why when you hit 80% does it drop to 33 KW. Guess no real answer and/or transparence on that recent software change. Guess it is the ev dealers that are required to be transparent and us we just have to keep rolling with not robust enough hardware. At this point it would be hard to recommend this experience to anyone. 10 times into service in less than 2 years with no maintenance service carried out to date. Now the software is back to a dive at 80%. Hoping for better luck on my second EV and at this point it will most likely not be a ford. Most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned by far. Poor engineering and down right cheap will most likely not be at the top of my list I hope next time. I understand new tech and also understand poor tech. Tried to talk up this car for environmental reasons just can't do it anymore.

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