'Precondition Now' Button

[sotek2345]

When I need to charge to 100% for a trip and outside temperature is cold,
I try sync my departure time with charge complete time so the battery is already preconditioned or at least warmer and the cabin is toasty when I leave.

I do the same, but it sucks when that means you need to wake up at 2am to start the charge cycle.

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[generaltso]

Preconditioning the battery and driving with the battery at its optimal temperature is supposed to help with battery longevity.

In my opinion, people get way too caught up in battery longevity. Just drive the car.

 

[worachj]

In my opinion, people get way too caught up in battery longevity. Just drive the car.

Agree with what you said. Ford's cold weather recommendation is to plug in your car nightly when temps fall below 40 F. So its helpful with my cold Minnesota winters.

 

[generaltso]

Agree with what you said. Ford's cold weather recommendation is to plug in your car nightly when temps fall below 40 F. So its helpful with my cold Minnesota winters.

That's one of the many recommendations I ignore.

 

[Teslaeata]

FWIW, my car has finally started communicating with the phone for departure schedules again. It hasn’t done so in 6 months or so. I’m not sure if it was 4.2.5 or a FP update, or something else. But if either of the first two, they really ought to cover this in the patch notes.

Well, something happened this morning.

Set pre-condition on app last night scheduling it for 7:30am get-go to London & Birmingham, it hadn’t started by 7:15am.

Cursing the app I drew car out the garage, started loading the tools when at 7:25am, just 5 mins before I set the thing, it started conditioning suggesting the pre-condition would take only 5mins??‍ Shopping trolley syndrome strikes again! This car goes where is likes does what it likes when it likes and how it likes making for an exciting life because I just never know how it will perform at any one time, bloomin’ good looking beast, though ?

 

[Teslaeata]

FWIW, my car has finally started communicating with the phone for departure schedules again. It hasn’t done so in 6 months or so. I’m not sure if it was 4.2.5 or a FP update, or something else. But if either of the first two, they really ought to cover this in the patch notes.

Maybe you got the 5-0 update over there in Hawaii?

 

[Mach-e4x]

Well, something happened this morning.

Set pre-condition on app last night scheduling it for 7:30am get-go to London & Birmingham, it hadn’t started by 7:15am.

Cursing the app I drew car out the garage, started loading the tools when at 7:25am, just 5 mins before I set the thing, it started conditioning suggesting the pre-condition would take only 5mins??‍ Shopping trolley syndrome strikes again! This car goes where is likes does what it likes when it likes and how it likes making for an exciting life because I just never know how it will perform at any one time, bloomin’ good looking beast, though ?

I have to agree with you on the "bloomin'" remark.

 

[Mach-Lee]

To summarize, of 300 responses about 92% would want a 'Precondition Now' button! And of those, the vast majority (89%) would be willing to wait 45+ minutes for preconditioning to occur. That's a pretty strong showing, and honestly a lot higher than I expected considering the longer wait time.

Ford should strongly consider adding that button to FordPass, clearly a lot of people want the simplicity of a single button press to precondition the battery, even if it means waiting a while. The schedule is too complicated or unreliable for most people.

 

[AKgrampy]

New owner here so please be patient with newbie questions. Not clear to me if I need to be plugged into my home charger when I precondition my cabin using the remote Ford app. The online article I read wasn’t clear - just said I could use the onboard Charge Settings (car is plugged-in) or the app (silent on plug in status). Haven’t preconditioned yet - only owned the car for a few weeks and still learning this whole new way of driving!

There are several in depth threads on this subject. If you are referring to cabin climate then you do not need to be plugged in as the car will heat or cool but remember if not plugged in it will begin draining the battery. Preconditioning, the subject of this thread, warms up the main HVB and provides extended range (among other benefits) so really good to do for longer travel when range matters. Preconditioning only occurs when plugged in with a departure time programmed or now if you use Ford navigation to find a DCFC location (warm battery reduces charge time.) Search forum for more in depth discussion.

 

[AllenXS]

Takes the family an hour to get ready.
Plus we need to wear those ugly Christmas sweaters we got from Costco!

 

[Gilles]

Absolutely would love this option. Even if you can't wait the full time, you are starting off with a warmer battery than if you didn't do anything.

I would also love this to be combined with a "charge to 100%" option so it heats the battery and adds as much charge as it can.

In Toronto it can get quite cold. I always plug my car (no garage, it sits outside). 15 minutes before departing, I press the remote start on my FORDPASS. If I want to warm the battery, I press charge now (to charge above my normal 90%). But I only use the charge now when I have a long trip.
One nice feature just introduced in Ontario is the ultra-low (2.4 ¢) hydro price between 11 pm and 7 am.
If I drive 100 km in a day, it cost me less than $0.50 US to recharge.

 

[sotek2345]

In Toronto it can get quite cold. I always plug my car (no garage, it sits outside). 15 minutes before departing, I press the remote start on my FORDPASS. If I want to warm the battery, I press charge now (to charge above my normal 90%). But I only use the charge now when I have a long trip.
One nice feature just introduced in Ontario is the ultra-low (2.4 ¢) hydro price between 11 pm and 7 am.
If I drive 100 km in a day, it cost me less than $0.50 US to recharge.

Upstate NY, so very similar climate and I do the same thing. I am very jealous of that electric rate through. Mine varies between 13.5¢ and 17.5¢. We have a TOU plan as well, but when I run the math it would cost me more than I pay now because of higher day rates and non-EV usage.

 

[Gilles]

Upstate NY, so very similar climate and I do the same thing. I am very jealous of that electric rate through. Mine varies between 13.5¢ and 17.5¢. We have a TOU plan as well, but when I run the math it would cost me more than I pay now because of higher day rates and non-EV usage.

Before the new rate, we had three tears (7.4¢, 10.2¢ and 15.1¢). The lowest rate was 7 pm to 7 am, and that was when I charged. Now they have the ultra-low 2.4¢ from 11 pm to 7 am, but 4-9 pm is at 24.0¢. Fortunately, I can see our hourly usage by day. I calculated that the ultra-low rate was the best. We pay a higher rate when we cook dinner, but that does not consume as much as charging.

 

[Graction]

Yes, I would use it, but...

In reality, we NEVER go on a lengthy drive without planning.

More relevant, setting a Departure Time for this Friday, leaving on a trip, and then REMEMBERING to go back and delete it, is really annoying. You should be able to check "One-Time" or "Reoccurring".

Yes definitely need a one time/ad-hoc departure time setting. Very stupid to have to update the schedule for one use and then change it later. Also be able to set a desired battery level for that departure.

 

[thesloth]

While we are taking polls on Fordpass features how about:
- Realtime cabin temperature
- Remote Start with Max Defrost
- Vent button (crack windows, max fan, close windows to blow out moisture when you park in the winter and hot air in the summer before returning to car)

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