Frunk - electronic open and close - why didn't they?

[RickMachE]

Each time I use the Frunk, I wonder why they didn't design it like the hatch. Push a button to open it, push a button to close it. I hate putting my hands on it to close it and then seeing hand prints. How much could this have possibly added to the cost?

Edit - seems a bunch of people didn't understand what I referred to. I want the Mach-E's frunk to open and close, electrically, like the F-150's. Not a button instead of the double pull on today's handle, and then I go and open it the rest of the way manually and slam it shut manually.

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[JGuske23]

We've been told on here that they are working on it in an update

 

[CHeil402]

It's a safety / regulatory issue not a technical one. If your trunk opens accidentally while driving it's bad but not nearly as bad as the hood flying up and blocking your view.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Each time I use the Frunk, I wonder why they didn't design it like the hatch. Push a button to open it, push a button to close it. I hate putting my hands on it to close it and then seeing hand prints. How much could this have possibly added to the cost?

It wasn’t a cost issue. The current status of the Frunk in the US is due to the nature of the system they intended to use to open it in the event a toddler was trapped inside. Hence the dividers and the manual release for now.

I’ve been told that the new system was driven by EU regulations, although I’ve not bothered to research that claim in any detail. And since 2/3s of the Mach-e are headed to EU countries, the former EU. Country and EU economic area countries, that could explain a bit.

In the meantime, we have Frunk dividers and a manual hood release.

 

[RickMachE]

We've been told on here that they are working on it in an update

I'm not talking about the ability to unlatch the frunk with a button on the screen. I'm talking about electronically raising and lowering it, like the hatch. Not having to slam it down to close it.

 

[TJ-Mach-e]

It's a safety / regulatory issue not a technical one. If your trunk opens accidentally while driving it's bad but not nearly as bad as the hood flying up and blocking your view.

Oh really? So why is Tesla and FORD not adhering to those "safety / regulatory issues?"
Yes that's right I said FORD... because the F-150 Lightning has a Frunk release via the key Fob.

Oh yeah, it's also powered of the F-150 Lightning.

 

[Stang68]

It's a safety / regulatory issue not a technical one. If your trunk opens accidentally while driving it's bad but not nearly as bad as the hood flying up and blocking your view.

However, the F150 Lightning has an automatic lifting frunk...

 

[Stang68]

Honestly, unless the Ford Fairy magically added a power lift and close to the Mach E frunk, I don't think I'll use it very often, even when they add the app button release.

It's too much of a pain to close it most of the time, and every time I need to use a microfiber cloth to close it otherwise it looks like I was searched by police on the hood of my car.

 

[AZBill]

Rivian and Hummer also have powered frunks. For safety all you need is some backup manual release for emergency cases. The Mach E frunk has a release button inside, but I believe it is electrical.

A question for safety, do you have to consider a child locked in the frunk and loss of electrical power at the same time?

 

[CHeil402]

However, the F150 Lightning has an automatic lifting frunk...

The F150 is "planned" to. The MME wasn't supposed to have those dividers either, but they got added at the last minute. They committed to adding app control in the future, so they're likely already working with the necessary regulators to get the change to the MME and in parallel the F150. Just because it's an issue at the moment, doesn't mean it can't be waived / changed in the future.

 

[Stang68]

The F150 is "planned" to. The MME wasn't supposed to have those dividers either, but they got added at the last minute. They committed to adding app control in the future, so they're likely already working with the necessary regulators to get the change to the MME and in parallel the F150. Just because it's an issue at the moment, doesn't mean it can't be waived / changed in the future.

I mean, sure, they could add it to the Mach E in the future, but that doesn't help us!

And the CEO of Ford has gone on record saying the remote opening frunk on the Lightning is one of is favorite things about the truck. I highly doubt they'll be removing it lol

 

[will]

Each time I use the Frunk, I wonder why they didn't design it like the hatch. Push a button to open it, push a button to close it. I hate putting my hands on it to close it and then seeing hand prints. How much could this have possibly added to the cost?

Don't put your hands on it... use the El Jefe method.

Edit: never mind, El Jefe method requires hands too

 

[benk016]

I'm not talking about the ability to unlatch the frunk with a button on the screen. I'm talking about electronically raising and lowering it, like the hatch. Not having to slam it down to close it.

I'm still holding out hope that once the electronic latch is enabled, it will not only release electronically, but will close it as well. Kinda like some older cars trunk where you just close it most of the way and then it does the final latching for you. I don't expect that to be the case, but would be cool.

 

[Blanked]

I'm willing to sign a petition: Free in$tall of the Powered FRUNK/FROOT hardware to make it retroactive on the First Edition MME

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Rivian and Hummer also have powered frunks. For safety all you need is some backup manual release for emergency cases. The Mach E frunk has a release button inside, but I believe it is electrical.

A question for safety, do you have to consider a child locked in the frunk and loss of electrical power at the same time?

The emergency release is a different system on the MME than Tesla, Porsche, and even other Fords. It required additional regulatory approval in the US. The system design appears to be driven (from what I've read here) by certain EU regulations. It's not an issue with other vehicles as they use, for the most part, old-fashioned mechanical releases. The reality of worldwide commerce is that the USA is not the world's largest post-industrial economy. The EU, even post Brexit, is a larger market. They also have greater EV adoption and are accelerating the shift to ZEVs. They are driving much of what you see on cars (and other products) now.

Eventually, the regulatory approval will happen and Ford can (if it so chooses) stop making MME's with the divider and have an automatic hood release. Speaking for myself though, I just don't see the reason for some people's angst over not having a power hood. Closing this thing isn't that hard and opening it is pretty simple too.

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