Preconditioning

[RickMachE]

You'll note at the bottom of this page that there are lots of preconditioning threads. Next time I encourage you to use the Forum's search feature before starting yet another.

Good to know, thanks... ?

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[Gene Bank]

Not a dumb question. Ford makes preconditioning the battery much more clunky than it needs to be. Departure times are fine if you want them, but there should also be a one-time "Precondition Now" button. Many of us have been complaining about this for years.

This is my number one beef over the years. I'm retired so there is no set schedule for me to be driving. Setting it up to warm up the battery and then having to cancel the schedule each time. It would seem to be an easy fix in the app but it is never changed, even with all the complaints

 

[HuntingPudel]

At least Departure Times do work now.
<SNIP>

LOL they aren’t working correctly in my 2024. I think there is a bug in it because the departure time is set to be ready before I leave for work but the auto climate start doesn’t come on until after I park at work. People asked me why my car’s tail lights are on. Anyhow, I am pretty sure that it is a problem with having sent the departure time from the FordPass app on my phone to the car rather than having set it up in the car. I haven’t had the chance to delete the departure schedule and go in-car to set it locally. Too many other more important things to do at the moment. ?‍?

 

[Gyrfalcon08]

I just do my best to hit charge to 100% about 1hr to 30min before I plan to leave. Figure it throws some heat in the battery and gives me 1-5% charge boost on whatever drive I was about to make. Saves power from setting a recurring departure time and then never leaving as well.

 

[kkgg]

An alternate is, you can just start charging the car.

Battery needs to be in a ideal temperature in order to charge. If its too cold, the car will first warm the battery then charge. It will do the opposite in hot temperatures.

 

[HuntingPudel]

LOL they aren’t working correctly in my 2024. I think there is a bug in it because the departure time is set to be ready before I leave for work but the auto climate start doesn’t come on until after I park at work. People asked me why my car’s tail lights are on. Anyhow, I am pretty sure that it is a problem with having sent the departure time from the FordPass app on my phone to the car rather than having set it up in the car. I haven’t had the chance to delete the departure schedule and go in-car to set it locally. Too many other more important things to do at the moment. ?‍?

LOL yup, the old FordPass bug for sending parameters to the car strikes again. The departure times were all over the place. I deleted the schedule in the app and created a local schedule in the car. I bet tomorrow morning it will start the HVAC just fine. ??

 

[Deleted member 19354]

LOL yup, the old FordPass bug for sending parameters to the car strikes again. The departure times were all over the place. I deleted the schedule in the app and created a local schedule in the car. I bet tomorrow morning it will start the HVAC just fine. ??

I plugged into a L1. Within 20 min said I gained 45 miles ?

 

[bburk00]

I spoke to Ford they said yes level 1 does precondition yet some say no. I agree a button would be great. I set my nav for EA which was about 25 miles away. Was 36F I can only ASSume is was preconditioning

I use a level 1 to "precondition" mine. It kind of works I guess you would say. The cabin is warm and toasty but as soon as I unplug and start to the leave the neighborhood the battery almost instantly drops 5%. I've set to charge to 85% now because of that. Once it drops that 5% within 200 yards of driving it seems to keep the battery % usage like normal (not sure how to word that to make it make sense)

No idea if that is normal behavior. Before my wife totaled her MachE GT we would precondition it off our Level 2 charger and it didn't do that. Now that she has the Lightning and she goes into work 5 days a week she pretty much has to use the level 2 to precondition in the winter. So I'm stuck with the level 1

 

[HuntingPudel]

B

LOL yup, the old FordPass bug for sending parameters to the car strikes again. The departure times were all over the place. I deleted the schedule in the app and created a local schedule in the car. I bet tomorrow morning it will start the HVAC just fine. ??

Bwahahaha! It preconditioned 3 hours early! More messing around, I guess. ??

 

[Herbknowsit]

Here's what puzzles me. The owners manual says the following in quotes below as if this is a precondtioning or battery prep step. Yet if I plug in off my ChargePoint outside my scheduled charging times nothing happens. Why does Ford say to plug in your car when it gets below 32?
"At temperatures just above the freezing
point or lower, you should plug your vehicle
in to maintain battery performance and
maximize driving range."

 

[RickMachE]

Here's what puzzles me. The owners manual says the following in quotes below as if this is a precondtioning or battery prep step. Yet if I plug in off my ChargePoint outside my scheduled charging times nothing happens. Why does Ford say to plug in your car when it gets below 32?
"At temperatures just above the freezing
point or lower, you should plug your vehicle
in to maintain battery performance and
maximize driving range."

IF it gets really cold, the car will pull juice for 15 or 20 minutes to warm the battery some. When I paid attention, in my garage (unheated, but attached), it did this a handful of times in a winter.

Remember, windchill affects people. It's 30 degrees here, with a wind that's irrelevant to the car. It's 42 or so in my garage.

 

[Deleted member 19354]

IF it gets really cold, the car will pull juice for 15 or 20 minutes to warm the battery some. When I paid attention, in my garage (unheated, but attached), it did this a handful of times in a winter.

Remember, windchill affects people. It's 30 degrees here, with a wind that's irrelevant to the car. It's 42 or so in my garage.

Seattle has had a small cold snap and I’ve seen some reduction but we’re on the upswing back to the upper 40s.

 

[Herbknowsit]

So are other posters recommending in real cold temps to plug into an AC outlet and charge (slow as watching paint dry) just to keep the battery warm and in optimum condition? This would be preferable for me as I too am retired and don't have logical departure time schedule.

 

[RickMachE]

So are other posters recommending in real cold temps to plug into an AC outlet and charge (slow as watching paint dry) just to keep the battery warm and in optimum condition? This would be preferable for me as I too am retired and don't have logical departure time schedule.

No.

Yes, some people believe that instead of setting a departure time, you charge via AC (1.1kW per hour), and that gives SOME warmth to the battery. @Mach-Lee has a thread showing that.

However, it doesn't keep the battery "in optimum condition". It keeps it warmer than not doing that.

I'm in Michigan also. I never do a departure time unless I am going on a trip. Wastes energy. Don't need range for local driving. I do a remote start to warm cabin, and then head out.

 

[Herbknowsit]

No.

Yes, some people believe that instead of setting a departure time, you charge via AC (1.1kW per hour), and that gives SOME warmth to the battery. @Mach-Lee has a thread showing that.

However, it doesn't keep the battery "in optimum condition". It keeps it warmer than not doing that.

I'm in Michigan also. I never do a departure time unless I am going on a trip. Wastes energy. Don't need range for local driving. I do a remote start to warm cabin, and then head out.

And so it shall be Rick. I'll stop fretting over it. Just get in and drive and if I remember I can turn on the heat a few minutes ahead in Pass app. Thanks! Lord knows I have no lack of battery operated tools and equipment around here but as they say in UP, EV's are a "whole nudder ting".

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