Cold Weather range is no joke

[rreddy3]

Turtles go south in winter...

So true …

And, it turns out electrons also migrate south like turtles and birds as winter approaches … and when warmer weather returns in the spring in the northern latitudes, the electrons return north to their nesting grounds in our cars’ batteries…and life goes on as normal

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[cbcb1983]

Well starting to get the first dose of cold weather in the area (30 and below) and man, you guys aren't kidding. Went from 88% to 65% with pretty much normal driving. Not truly worried since I charge at home and commutes are small but just wasn't expecting it. Does the heat pump really make that huge a of difference in the 25 model?

I hear you. I'm in the northeast and my '25 MME is projecting a 30 mile range loss in 40-50F temps. During the summer a 70% battery came with ~210 mile range estimate (so 3 miles per 1% batt); now a 70% battery comes with ~180 mile estimate. In practice, it's a little better but I'm expecting further driveable range loss in winter. Also recharge times are noticeably longer now.

 

[RSF]

Unless you need maximum range for that day’s driving, battery preconditioning just uses more electricity overall than not preconditioning.

But if you don't precondition and drive with a cold battery you will get much less range and will need to charge more. I am in upstate NY and precondition whenever it is below 40 degrees and I am going further than around town. Unfortunately the much requested feature of 'pre condition now' has never been added to FordPass so it is a bit inconvenient to use it.

 

[RickMachE]

But if you don't precondition and drive with a cold battery you will get much less range and will need to charge more. I am in upstate NY and precondition whenever it is below 40 degrees and I am going further than around town. Unfortunately the much requested feature of 'pre condition now' has never been added to FordPass so it is a bit inconvenient to use it.

You're missing the point.

Yes, a cold battery results in lower range. However, if you aren't going to use your range before charging again at home, the question is:

Is the energy required to warm the battery during the departure time precondition < the energy saved by driving with a warm battery?

In other words, if I spend say 8kWh doing the departure time prep, will I then spend 8kWh less driving to/from my destination, as compared to not doing the 8kWh prep? For a short drive, the answer is no, don't do the departure time, just do a remote start (Climate button).

 

[Maquis]

But if you don't precondition and drive with a cold battery you will get much less range and will need to charge more. I am in upstate NY and precondition whenever it is below 40 degrees and I am going further than around town. Unfortunately the much requested feature of 'pre condition now' has never been added to FordPass so it is a bit inconvenient to use it.

Like Rick stated, if you can get back home without charging, you’re wasting energy by preconditioning.

 

[RSF]

You're missing the point.

Yes, a cold battery results in lower range. However, if you aren't going to use your range before charging again at home, the question is:

Is the energy required to warm the battery during the departure time precondition < the energy saved by driving with a warm battery?

In other words, if I spend say 8kWh doing the departure time prep, will I then spend 8kWh less driving to/from my destination, as compared to not doing the 8kWh prep? For a short drive, the answer is no, don't do the departure time, just do a remote start (Climate button).

A cold battery results in lower efficiency. If I leave home with a cold battery to just run errands, say 20 miles of driving, I will come home at a lower percentage than if I had precondition. I'm not disagreeing with the math of the small amount of kw but I think a warm battery is better.

 

[RickMachE]

A cold battery results in lower efficiency. If I leave home with a cold battery to just run errands, say 20 miles of driving, I will come home at a lower percentage than if I had precondition. I'm not disagreeing with the math of the small amount of kw but I think a warm battery is better.

Depends what you consider small, and what you pay for electricity. If it's 10kWh, and I pay 20 cents per, that's $2 to run errands times x days a week.

A warm battery is not "better" as far as "if I keep the battery warm, it's better for it in the long run". These batteries are made for operating in Norway, Alaska, etc.

 

[Billyk24]

A cold battery results in lower efficiency. If I leave home with a cold battery to just run errands, say 20 miles of driving, I will come home at a lower percentage than if I had precondition. I'm not disagreeing with the math of the small amount of kw but I think a warm battery is better.

A cold battery is what temperature? I ask because I have never seen my 21 Premium develop a battery temperature over 58f when using a departure setting. During winter the battery temperature will drop (and drp fast) as you drive especially when it is mid 20f and colder.

 

[sglewiswl]

So what would be the best way to get maximum range on a 20 F day? Let's assume I have the car plugged in because I know its cold and I decide I need to make an unexpected afternoon trip of 150 miles. The car is fully charged, but I want maximum range. I understand that could set the departure time, but can I just warm the battery up?

 

[Bakahump]

I see reference to being able to see battery temp. Is that native to the ford software somewhere? Or is that because you use a obd2 scanner?

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

So what would be the best way to get maximum range on a 20 F day? Let's assume I have the car plugged in because I know its cold and I decide I need to make an unexpected afternoon trip of 150 miles. The car is fully charged, but I want maximum range. I understand that could set the departure time, but can I just warm the battery up?

If you know when you are leaving ahead of time, you can set a Departure Time. This will get you the best range from the start.

If you have an unplanned trip, start the climate system while you prepare for the trip, and unplug once everything else is ready. This will not heat the battery, but you will start with a conditioned cabin.

I only charge to 70%, and the winter range on the '24 Rally is ~200 miles, so I would plan to hit a convenient charge stop at some point of the trip. (If I have any warning, I would also start charging the car through the app as every little bit of charge helps.)

Once I was on the homeward leg, I would allow an estimated arrival of 5%, and that gets lower as I get closer to home. I know I will be able to charge, and I have other vehicles if there is an issue.

 

[DK922]

Always precondition when the temp is below 40F. It's better for the battery, and you climb into a nice warm vehicle. The benefits outweigh the cost.

 

[sglewiswl]

If you know when you are leaving ahead of time, you can set a Departure Time. This will get you the best range from the start.

If you have an unplanned trip, start the climate system while you prepare for the trip, and unplug once everything else is ready. This will not heat the battery, but you will start with a conditioned cabin.

I only charge to 70%, and the winter range on the '24 Rally is ~200 miles, so I would plan to hit a convenient charge stop at some point of the trip. (If I have any warning, I would also start charging the car through the app as every little bit of charge helps.)

Once I was on the homeward leg, I would allow an estimated arrival of 5%, and that gets lower as I get closer to home. I know I will be able to charge, and I have other vehicles if there is an issue.

I am a lifelong Michigander so cabin temp is not my main concern. Would I just set the departure time for 30 minutes in the future or is there another way to force the battery to warm?

 

[gavine]

Have photo but stupid site doesn't allow upload from my dumb phone.

You should get a smart phone

 

[gavine]

There is a way to precondition just the battery manually via app ->

https://www.macheforum.com/how-to-remotely-precondition-battery-unplugged/

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