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

[benk016]

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

the E-Latch hardware is already installed, Just waiting on regulatory approvals to enable the functionality.

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[AZBill]

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.

For me personally, I do not care so much about the powered feature, but I want a button to be able to open it from outside the car, when I walk up to it. Best way for that is a button on the fob, not something buried on my phone. Or a button on the car near the frunk, like the one on the rear hatch.

A suggestion to Ford: today the fob has a two push button for the rear hatch, so how about a push and hold for the frunk release using the same button? That could be done with software.

 

[RickMachE]

Closing this thing isn't that hard and opening it is pretty simple too.

Handprints on hood.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Handprints on hood.

Mine is ceramic coated. No hand prints.

 

[Timelessblur]

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

F150 has it planned to be in there and the other key part is the F150 is North America only. That could be one of the big reasons as well. They do not have to deal with the EU requirements. Plus inside the the F150 Frunk I would not be surprised if there is a fully manual release that pops its. Unless the Mach E the internal manual release button is still a software button.

 

[fightinag]

A suggestion to Ford: today the fob has a two push button for the rear hatch, so how about a push and hold for the frunk release using the same button? That could be done with software.

Love this idea...sound like an easy software fix

 

[Stang68]

F150 has it planned to be in there and the other key part is the F150 is North America only. That could be one of the big reasons as well. They do not have to deal with the EU requirements. Plus inside the the F150 Frunk I would not be surprised if there is a fully manual release that pops its. Unless the Mach E the internal manual release button is still a software button.

But in the EU the Mach E DOES have a remote frunk release, or at least it’s going to because they have a frunk button on their fobs.

 

[AzCoronaDog]

For me personally, I do not care so much about the powered feature, but I want a button to be able to open it from outside the car, when I walk up to it. Best way for that is a button on the fob, not something buried on my phone. Or a button on the car near the frunk, like the one on the rear hatch.

A suggestion to Ford: today the fob has a two push button for the rear hatch, so how about a push and hold for the frunk release using the same button? That could be done with software.

On my 911, you can open the frunk by putting your hand near the Porsche emblem on the hood when you have the fob in your pocket. No touching required. It then has a spring loaded safety latch you have to slide your hand under the opening to undo, like every other modern hood.
But you still have to put your hands on it to close it, so still the fingerprint issue. I just got over it... LOL

 

[Jimrpa]

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.

Has it been confirmed that EU regulations required Ford to implement an all-electronic front trunk hood release mechanism in the Mustang Mach E? If so, what regulations are they and what is the rationale for them? Why aren’t other manufacturers that are launching new vehicles with front trunks also incorporating electronically released front trunk hoods? If they are, how do they comply with US regulations? And why would a hood for a front trunk require an electronic release mechanism by regulation while a good for a front mechanical bay (such as the VW ID.4) would not?
This regulatory rationale continues to make no sense. Every time I ask about it, different answers are offered. One time, it’s because the electronic mechanism may not always work and allow a person to exit the front trunk, thus violating US regulations. Another time, it’s because some mythical doll can/can’t fit in the compartment, again violating some regulation (having removed the dividers, I’m pretty sure there are few sentient beings small enough to fit in the front trunk of a Mustang Mach E who would understand the purpose of the emergency release button, let alone be able to contort themselves to press it when the hood is closed? If I were to apply that logic, the glove box might as well have an emergency release button ? Now, the excuse on offer (which is probably the most believable one knowing how absurd some European regulations are) is that the Europeans have crafted some kind of regulation for emergency front trunk hood release that is incompatible with US standard (by requiring it to be electronic or some such nonsense) and Ford got stuck in the Brussels-D.C. crossfire.

 

[ChasingCoral]

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?

As stated above and in many other threads, this was a safety regulation issue that Ford is working to resolve. You will find more in the thread: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/frunk.2063/

Hopefully the solution will come in an upcoming Power-Up. Apparently it is close. There is a non-functional button on the screen in an advance peak into Sync upgrades coming soon:

 

[RickMachE]

As stated above and in many other threads, this was a safety regulation issue that Ford is working to resolve. You will find more in the thread: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/frunk.2063/

Hopefully the solution will come in an upcoming Power-Up. Apparently it is close. There is a non-functional button on the screen in an advance peak into Sync upgrades coming soon:

Again, this is not the issue. The frunk button they're working on replaces the double handle pull. Great.

I want the front trunk to open and close electrically, like the back hatch. And like the F-150's frunk.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Again, this is not the issue. The frunk button they're working on replaces the double handle pull. Great.

I want the front trunk to open and close electrically, like the back hatch. And like the F-150's frunk.

Oh, you want it motorized? That's probably a cost saving and an expectation the Frunk won't get used as much as the hatch. Note that even the rear hatch isn't motorized on the Select and CA Rt 1.

First World problems.

 

[JCHLi]

Mostly a cost issue imo, I'd love a powered open/close hood. I'd wager several things impact the cost:

1. Size of the hood itself
2. Weight of the hood
3. EU requirements for pedestrian safety. I imagine they take up some space that would be useful if you wanted to motorize the operation.
4. Usefulness, marketability. For the F150 (not available yet just to be clear) they are trying to compete with trucks with lockable trucks in the bed (Honda?) or in the side of the bed (Dodge?)

 

[CHeil402]

Another time, it’s because some mythical doll can/can’t fit in the compartment, again violating some regulation (having removed the dividers, I’m pretty sure there are few sentient beings small enough to fit in the front trunk of a Mustang Mach E who would understand the purpose of the emergency release button, let alone be able to contort themselves to press it when the hood is closed?

From 49 CFR 571.401 S3.(a)(4):

"Is large enough so that the three-year-old child dummy described in Subpart C of Part 572 can be placed inside the trunk compartment..."

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/571.401

In this context "trunk" also applies to "frunk".

 

[MG101]

Why? Money. Mach-e was built with a price point in mind.

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