New to Mach-E and EV in general

[Marcin]

Limiting NCM battery charging to 80% allows you to enjoy high SOH for longer. If you don't need long ranges on a daily basis, this type of charging has many advantages. My observations show that LG NCM batteries are very durable. I work in a car repair shop, but in Europe, I often deal with Mach-e vehicles. I even keep a small SOH statistic for batteries. They typically have SOH above 95% by 30,000 miles, and above 90% by 100,000 miles. I'm also currently working on an app for checking HV battery health in Mach-e vehicles. Currently, it's available for Android. If there's significant interest, I'll implement additional features and iOS versions and try to adapt to US standards.

The first version is officially available on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wegrzyn.marcin.fbatt

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[jdz00]

Limiting NCM battery charging to 80% allows you to enjoy high SOH for longer. If you don't need long ranges on a daily basis, this type of charging has many advantages. My observations show that LG NCM batteries are very durable. I work in a car repair shop, but in Europe, I often deal with Mach-e vehicles. I even keep a small SOH statistic for batteries. They typically have SOH above 95% by 30,000 miles, and above 90% by 100,000 miles. I'm also currently working on an app for checking HV battery health in Mach-e vehicles. Currently, it's available for Android. If there's significant interest, I'll implement additional features and iOS versions and try to adapt to US standards.

The first version is officially available on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wegrzyn.marcin.fbatt

Initial version look cool. I will give a try once I buy those mentioned devices.

 

[HughJazzol]

Limiting NCM battery charging to 80% allows you to enjoy high SOH for longer.

Hey Marcin
I've owned my 24 NCM for a year, and for some reason, I chose 85% as my default charge amount.
Should I lower it to 80 because that extra 5 percent is harmful?
Probably not, right?

 

[Richard Goulet]

Hey Marcin
I've owned my 24 NCM for a year, and for some reason, I chose 85% as my default charge amount.
Should I lower it to 80 because that extra 5 percent is harmful?
Probably not, right?

According to Form, the NMC battery can be charged on a regular basis to 90%, so I don't think you have any worries about battery degradation if you have been using 85,% as your regular charging ceiling.

 

[Teslaeata]

Stangy’s 5 yrs old next week.

Just passed its annual MOT Test.

Had a 4-wheel alignment check & adjustments done.

126,006 miles.

HVB SoH stands at 92.5%.

Still on first LVB despite all the paranoiac twaddle about changing LVB after three years on these forums.

1,030 times on all charge stations.

694 times on home charger mostly to 100% taking in 34,143.3kWh costing £5,085.74.

336 times on DCFC charge points costing £6,382.42 for 9,594.86kWh.

Averaged 9.1p/kWh and 2.9miles/kWh.

Just WHAT a car!

 

[bojesphob]

Limiting NCM battery charging to 80% allows you to enjoy high SOH for longer. If you don't need long ranges on a daily basis, this type of charging has many advantages. My observations show that LG NCM batteries are very durable. I work in a car repair shop, but in Europe, I often deal with Mach-e vehicles. I even keep a small SOH statistic for batteries. They typically have SOH above 95% by 30,000 miles, and above 90% by 100,000 miles. I'm also currently working on an app for checking HV battery health in Mach-e vehicles. Currently, it's available for Android. If there's significant interest, I'll implement additional features and iOS versions and try to adapt to US standards.

The first version is officially available on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wegrzyn.marcin.fbatt

Is there some documentation on the 80% number? I've read recently that 90% should also be okay, but if there is an added bonus to only charging to 80%, I'd definitely switch over to it if that's what's recommended.

 

[RickMachE]

Is there some documentation on the 80% number? I've read recently that 90% should also be okay, but if there is an added bonus to only charging to 80%, I'd definitely switch over to it if that's what's recommended.

No.

Ford reserves battery capacity, so 90% on a 91kW usable battery is actually (0.9 x 91)/98=83.6%.

 

[rhougey]

Is there some documentation on the 80% number? I've read recently that 90% should also be okay, but if there is an added bonus to only charging to 80%, I'd definitely switch over to it if that's what's recommended.

Early on, Ford recommended charging only to 80% on a regular basis. It’s in my 2021 owners manual. At some point, I think within that first model year, Ford announced that they were relaxing that guidance and that 90% on a regular basis would be OK. And later models have that number in their owners manuals. So was 80% overly conservative initially? Probably. But I have left my default charge level at 80 because I don’t mind overly conservative, and I just don’t need 90% on a regular basis. That being said, I am not hesitant to charge to 100% as often as I need to for a long drive.

 

[dalola]

I've been charging to 100% every night since day one.... this BS charge to this level, or that level... come on people... the OEM's have protections baked in. If it's so damn important, then the OEM's should base their range on the recommended charge level.

 

[mdwinther35]

Current charging recommendations from Ford:

https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...ow-do-i-maintain-my-electric-vehicle-battery/

 

[Mach-Lee]

Current charging recommendations from Ford:

https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...ow-do-i-maintain-my-electric-vehicle-battery/

^ Folks should read that article if they are confused about recommended charge levels.

Is there some documentation on the 80% number? I've read recently that 90% should also be okay, but if there is an added bonus to only charging to 80%, I'd definitely switch over to it if that's what's recommended.

No, but lower % is better for long-term battery health and range preservation. So 80% is better than 90%, and 90% is better than 100%. I typically charge to 80% at home.

My other personal rule is "don't keep the battery above 90% for more than 12 hours."

I've been charging to 100% every night since day one.... this BS charge to this level, or that level... come on people... the OEM's have protections baked in. If it's so damn important, then the OEM's should base their range on the recommended charge level.

It's not BS, but you can charge it to 100% if you want. You'll just have statistically more long-term battery degradation at the end of the battery warranty period than someone who only charges to 80% or 90%. Ford has chosen the 100% voltage level carefully so virtually all packs will pass the warranty threshold of >70% in 8 years. You just might end up with a 75% health vs. 85% health pack if you charge to 100% every day.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Hey Marcin
I've owned my 24 NCM for a year, and for some reason, I chose 85% as my default charge amount.
Should I lower it to 80 because that extra 5 percent is harmful?
Probably not, right?

Given the upper and lower buffers that are not displayed on the in-car display, 85% indicated SoC is very close to 80% actual. Also note that short-term excursions above 80% or below 20% actual SoC do very little damage to the battery’s SoH. It’s the time of dwell above or below those numbers that increase the likelihood of damage.

That said, if you don’t need to be at 85% daily, it can’t hurt to limit to 60%, 75%, 80%, or whatever you do need. You can always change your charge limit whenever you want.

 

[HughJazzol]

Given the upper and lower buffers that are not displayed on the in-car display, 85% indicated SoC is very close to 80% actual. Also note that short-term excursions above 80% or below 20% actual SoC do very little damage to the battery’s SoH. It’s the time of dwell above or below those numbers that increase the likelihood of damage.

That said, if you don’t need to be at 85% daily, it can’t hurt to limit to 60%, 75%, 80%, or whatever you do need. You can always change your charge limit whenever you want.

thank you Puddle Hunter Steve
Despite many posts saying ABC, "always be charging", I don't top off to 85% daily. I drive very little ~ 20 miles weekly or so, so I only refill when I'm below 60 or 50 or 40; I'm not a daily top-off-er.
Every month I hit 100% as instructed elsewhere, and every 2 or 3 months, I do the calibration procedure outline by Lee.

 

[HuntingPudel]

No.

Ford reserves battery capacity, so 90% on a 91kW usable battery is actually (0.9 x 91)/98=83.6%.

You’re forgetting that the reserved areas are on both the top and bottom. Assuming symmetrical buffers, 91KWh useable/99KWh actual capacity = 91.9% of the battery us usable. 100% - 91.9% = 8.1%. So, assuming that 4% of the battery is the lower buffers (which is always charged) 90% indicated * 91KWh useable = 81.9KWh above buffer + 4% lower buffer * 99KWh actual capacity = 3.96KWh = 85.86KWh actual charge. 85.86KWh charge / 99KWh capacity = 86.73% actual SoC.

By that same math, 85% indicated is 82.13% actual SoC.

 

[dalola]

It's not BS, but you can charge it to 100% if you want. You'll just have statistically more long-term battery degradation at the end of the battery warranty period than someone who only charges to 80% or 90%. Ford has chosen the 100% voltage level carefully so virtually all packs will pass the warranty threshold of >70% in 8 years. You just might end up with a 75% health vs. 85% health pack if you charge to 100% every day.

Sure, I get all that, the BS is that this is even a thing. OEM's love to push the max range in bold headlines, but then they recommend something entirely different for every day use... THAT is the BS. But I couldn't care less, I'm on a 3 year lease....

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