Pre-conditioning the batteries....how?

[AKgrampy]

It's getting below freezing at night now here in Kentucky. I just looked thru my phone FordPass app... where would I find the "Preparing for Drive" tab? ..maybe 28 degrees is not cold enough yet to triggger it?

...or do I have to have a Departure Time set in order to see the "Preparing for Drive" notice?

Yes - set a departure time as the message indicates preconditioning is taking place.

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[21st Century Pony]

Yes - set a departure time as the message indicates preconditioning is taking place.

...I learn something every day about this car

 

[Womps]

My MME is garaged at 40 degrees. Should I still precondition when outside temperature is at 0 or colder?

 

[RickMachE]

My MME is garaged at 40 degrees. Should I still precondition when outside temperature is at 0 or colder?

The optimum battery temperature is low 70s.

You should consider preconditioning when the outside temperature is cold, and you need the range. You mean 32F, not 0F, since you're in Canada. Yes, you should see how it makes a difference, and how much energy it uses vs. not setting a departure time, and then evaluate. If you need the range, you should absolutely consider it. 32F is only special for water...

 

[Darauk]

I just looked thru my phone FordPass app... where would I find the "Preparing for Drive" tab?

In the FordPass app, tap vehicle, expand Charging, and tap Charge Settings. You can configure Departure Times there.

For what its worth, I have found Departure Times are more reliably set in the car. Tap the car icon, tap Settings, and select Charge. You can edit your charge times and depature times there.

I am still figuring all this out as well, so others on here may have better suggestions.

 

[BuckBaker]

The process of warming or cooling the battery takes place only when the car is plugged into a L2 or L3 (I think, not positive on L3) charging source. The car uses shore power to condition the battery. Thus, it takes mains power (aka "electricity") to warm or cool the battery to operating temperature.

So it will not precondition from L1? I am in a situation where I will be doing all my charging at my office where we have L2 charging available so I was hoping not to have to install a special outlet at home.

 

[Darauk]

Also, Departure Times by default only work when the car is plugged into a charger. I think there is an option to tell the car to prep a departure time even when not charging, but I haven't tried that yet.

Also, I don't know whether and L2 charger is needed. I installed one because I only had a 110v outlet in the garage.

 

[HuntingPudel]

So it will not precondition from L1? I am in a situation where I will be doing all my charging at my office where we have L2 charging available so I was hoping not to have to install a special outlet at home.

Everything I have read indicates L2 is needed. Someone more knowledgeable like @Mach-Lee ot @Gimme_my_MME please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[generaltso]

My MME is garaged at 40 degrees. Should I still precondition when outside temperature is at 0 or colder?

That depends on your goal. Unless I'm going on a road trip and need the maximum possible range, I don't set a departure time at all, regardless of the temperature. If it's very cold or hot, and I'd like the cabin to be more comfortable before I get in, I manually do a remote start 10 minutes before I leave. I think people worry too much about trying to do the absolute best thing to reduce battery degradation over 10 years. It just makes it more complicated to own an EV, and most people won't own the car that long anyway.

 

[RickMachE]

So it will not precondition from L1? I am in a situation where I will be doing all my charging at my office where we have L2 charging available so I was hoping not to have to install a special outlet at home.

Correct. Level 1 doesn't supply enough power. The heater is 5kW. Level 1 can't even supply that.

 

[Womps]

Okay, this I like. I was referring to -18 c outside or 0 F. I was thinking if I had to precondition battery at anything under 70 degrees that Would be 95% of our days! Majority of times I’ll use the MME for 200 kms or less in a trip. Real cold, then I drive the ice vehicle.

 

[AKgrampy]

Okay, this I like. I was referring to -18 c outside or 0 F. I was thinking if I had to precondition battery at anything under 70 degrees that Would be 95% of our days! Majority of times I’ll use the MME for 200 kms or less in a trip. Real cold, then I drive the ice vehicle.

If kept in a heated garage preconditioning, in my opinion, will give you little benefit. Even at 40 F. If I parked outside I certainly would as it would take quite a bit of energy to heat up the batteries and shore power would be a better option than the HVB. Plus when driving there would be the balance between heating HVB and car interior.

 

[Mach-Lee]

So it will not precondition from L1? I am in a situation where I will be doing all my charging at my office where we have L2 charging available so I was hoping not to have to install a special outlet at home.

The cabin will warm up, but I don't think the battery will be heated. The cabin warming will use some battery because L1 doesn't supply enough watts for the heater. So L1 works very similar to being unplugged.

 

[dj_stang]

So I’ve noticed that whether in the summer or winter, whether remote starting or using departure times, my MachE will always start with about 1% less battery than it’s desired charge limit. This is while plugged in to a 40A L2 charger, which should be plenty I think to take care of heating/cooling while maintaining the set battery level.

Does anyone else have this issue where the MachE doesn’t maintain charge level when remote starting or preconditioning?

 

[Mach-Lee]

So I’ve noticed that whether in the summer or winter, whether remote starting or using departure times, my MachE will always start with about 1% less battery than it’s desired charge limit. This is while plugged in to a 40A L2 charger, which should be plenty I think to take care of heating/cooling while maintaining the set battery level.

Does anyone else have this issue where the MachE doesn’t maintain charge level when remote starting or preconditioning?

BMS creep from cell balancing, normal

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