DCFC preconditioning is it coming????

[Mach-Lee]

I did some tests today. And there is indeed a preconditioning that is done.

The distances and temperatures indicated below are in KM and C since I am in Canada.

The maximum distance for the car to start warming up the battery is 30km (19 miles). As soon as I choose a DCFC within 30km, the coolant heater starts and the temperature of the coolant inlet rises.

If the DCFC is more than 30km away, nothing happens. Until on the route the DCFC is less than 30km away and at this moment the coolant heater starts.

However the battery temperature rises by only 5C (9 F). I did two tests and had the same result of a maximum increase of 5C.

But it seems to be cumulative.

First test the temperature rose from 3C (37 F) to 8C (46 F). Second test a little later, the temperature went from 6C (43 F) to 11C (52 F)....

The small rise in temperature helps the recharging speed a little, but to be really useful the temperature would really have to increase more.

Maybe that's one of the reasons why Ford hasn't published on the subject? Maybe a future update will adjust the parameters to be really efficient?

A 5-10°C rise is honestly what I expected, which I agree is a little disappointing.

If you’re driving 75 MPH on the interstate, 30 km ahead is only going to heat the battery for 15 minutes with the reserve heat, which won’t be a big difference. Why bother? ?‍

Ford, you need to minimally double the preconditioning distance to 60 km to effect a large enough increase in battery temp to be useful! If heat reserve is low, I would start 100 km ahead! Budget 5 kWh, that’s an acceptable range compromise.

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[ckt]

I did some tests today. And there is indeed a preconditioning that is done.

The distances and temperatures indicated below are in KM and C since I am in Canada.

The maximum distance for the car to start warming up the battery is 30km (19 miles). As soon as I choose a DCFC within 30km, the coolant heater starts and the temperature of the coolant inlet rises.

If the DCFC is more than 30km away, nothing happens. Until on the route the DCFC is less than 30km away and at this moment the coolant heater starts.

However the battery temperature rises by only 5C (9 F). I did two tests and had the same result of a maximum increase of 5C.

But it seems to be cumulative.

First test the temperature rose from 3C (37 F) to 8C (46 F). Second test a little later, the temperature went from 6C (43 F) to 11C (52 F)....

The small rise in temperature helps the recharging speed a little, but to be really useful the temperature would really have to increase more.

Maybe that's one of the reasons why Ford hasn't published on the subject? Maybe a future update will adjust the parameters to be really efficient?

Probably a work-around is to rinse and repeat nav preconditioning until you reach your intended DCFC. A bit annoying.
Edit: this assumes 2 DCFC are 30km apart on your trip, often not the case

 

[Logal727]

A 5-10°C rise is honestly what I expected, which I agree is a little disappointing.

If you’re driving 75 MPH on the interstate, 30 km ahead is only going to heat the battery for 15 minutes with the reserve heat, which won’t be a big difference. Why bother? ?‍

Ford, you need to minimally double the preconditioning distance to 60 km to effect a large enough increase in battery temp to be useful! If heat reserve is low, I would start 100 km ahead! Budget 5 kWh, that’s an acceptable range compromise.

It’s still pretty cool this has been implemented, baby steps I guess

 

[generaltso]

Probably a work-around is to rinse and repeat nav preconditioning until you reach your intended DCFC. A bit annoying.

How would you do that if it will only heat when you’re within 30km of the station?

 

[ckt]

How would you do that if it will only heat when you’re within 30km of the station?

Good point, often there aren't 2 DCFC that are 30km apart on your trip, so NVM.

 

[GuliblGuy]

It’s still pretty cool this has been implemented, baby steps I guess

Is everyone forgetting where the actual Ford engineer said in this thread that oops it actually hasn't been released yet?

 

[Logal727]

Is everyone forgetting where the actual Ford engineer said in this thread that oops it actually hasn't been released yet?

Seems like it actually is it’s just not as effective as we hoped or maybe it’s something else, either way, cool that it’s working or partially working

 

[ktn]

Can confirm it does NOT work with CarPlay routing, which I expected. Only noticed it kick on with Ford Nav.

 

[Maquis]

How would you do that if it will only heat when you’re within 30km of the station?

Drive the last 30km really, really slowwwwwww……

 

[AZBill]

I did some tests today. And there is indeed a preconditioning that is done.

The distances and temperatures indicated below are in KM and C since I am in Canada.

The maximum distance for the car to start warming up the battery is 30km (19 miles). As soon as I choose a DCFC within 30km, the coolant heater starts and the temperature of the coolant inlet rises.

If the DCFC is more than 30km away, nothing happens. Until on the route the DCFC is less than 30km away and at this moment the coolant heater starts.

However the battery temperature rises by only 5C (9 F). I did two tests and had the same result of a maximum increase of 5C.

But it seems to be cumulative.

First test the temperature rose from 3C (37 F) to 8C (46 F). Second test a little later, the temperature went from 6C (43 F) to 11C (52 F)....

The small rise in temperature helps the recharging speed a little, but to be really useful the temperature would really have to increase more.

Maybe that's one of the reasons why Ford hasn't published on the subject? Maybe a future update will adjust the parameters to be really efficient?

To really have good preconditioning, a heat pump is needed. Both Tesla and GM are claiming 4x to 5x the amount of heat transfer when using a heat pump. Both of those companies use the heat pump in conjunction with motor waste heat, no direct power from the battery.

 

[Johnny572]

I did a quick search in the thread and didn’t see this video posted. It's from out of spec. External temp was 33 degrees and battery was like 35. Did the preconditioning in the ioniq 5 and went to the charger. Around 45% SOC it charged at almost 200kw. Another ioniq 5 at the same station and similir soc was charging at 48kw.

That’s called coldgating

To really have good preconditioning, a heat pump is needed. Both Tesla and GM are claiming 4x to 5x the amount of heat transfer when using a heat pump. Both of those companies use the heat pump in conjunction with motor waste heat, no direct power from the battery.

tesla has been preconditioning before heat pumps.

 

[generaltso]

To really have good preconditioning, a heat pump is needed. Both Tesla and GM are claiming 4x to 5x the amount of heat transfer when using a heat pump. Both of those companies use the heat pump in conjunction with motor waste heat, no direct power from the battery.

Heat pumps are more efficient. They don’t produce more heat.

 

[Maquis]

Heat pumps are more efficient.

Under certain conditions.

 

[AZBill]

Heat pumps are more efficient. They don’t produce more heat.

I did not say they produce more heat, they just perform better at transferring it (less losses).

 

[generaltso]

I did not say they produce more heat, they just perform better at transferring it (less losses).

Not sure how that means that a heat pump is needed.

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