[Justjoe]

If the number one priority is to maximize battery life and reliability how is the battery state of charge managed?
I have read the Ford Owners Manual and here is what I currently know and do:
Manual says to charge daily at home to below 100% state of charge. I target 90%
Manual says when charging at a public DC charger 80% is the preferred maximum state of charge. (Haven't tried yet)
Manual says when storing the truck discharge the battery to 50% state of charge. Lower is better than higher.
Currently I plug in the truck everyday and allow it to charge to 90% between 10pm and 5am.

Now the question:
Is there a LOW battery state of charge target that will maximize battery life and reliability?
For example: If I allowed the battery to discharge to say 20%, before plugging in the charger for the next charge to 90%, is there a benefit?
JB

 

[208]

15% is an industry accepted floor for your usage cycle. Going below that from time to time is not terrible, but you should get it on a charger right away when a cycle takes it below 15%; such as on a road trip.

As for targeting a low before you charge, no. There is no "memory" effect with these batteries, so you should not target a low.

For your battery's health, think of it as a balloon. Unlike the LA batteries we are used to, Lithium batteries are longest lived when kept toward the middle. The absolute best possible life for a lithium battery would be to keep it around 50% (hence the suggestion to store them this way). The farther you fill it or empty it, the more "stress" on the balloon. Getting it really full (100%) stresses the balloon the most, so don't do that unless you need the range. Charging to 90% gives you good range, and is better for the battery then regularly charging it to 100% (usable). However, if you only use your truck around town most days and 60% is enough, that is even better for you truck. Only charge it to 90% when you know you will need more.

Seem reasonable?

 

[THEsocalledfan]

15% is an industry accepted floor for your usage cycle. Going below that from time to time is not terrible, but you should get it on a charger right away when a cycle takes it below 15%; such as on a road trip.

As for targeting a low before you charge, no. There is no "memory" effect with these batteries, so you should not target a low.

For your battery's health, think of it as a balloon. Unlike the LA batteries we are used to, Lithium batteries are longest lived when kept toward the middle. The absolute best possible life for a lithium battery would be to keep it around 50% (hence the suggestion to store them this way). The farther you fill it or empty it, the more "stress" on the balloon. Getting it really full (100%) stresses the balloon the most, so don't do that unless you need the range. Charging to 90% gives you good range, and is better for the battery then regularly charging it to 100% (usable). However, if you only use your truck around town most days and 60% is enough, that is even better for you truck. Only charge it to 90% when you know you will need more.

Seem reasonable?

This is good discussion Tesla driver. Since I finally got my order in, I'm starting to think about strategy. I'll have to charge to 100% whenever starting on a road trip, but I'll avoid that like the plague outside of that and make sure to put juice back in right away as often I'll be near zero at destination. For my regular driving around town/work, I was thinking of charging to 80%, then not typically charging until down to about 20%. Is that good strategy?

 

[208]

This is good discussion Tesla driver. Since I finally got my order in, I'm starting to think about strategy. I'll have to charge to 100% whenever starting on a road trip, but I'll avoid that like the plague outside of that and make sure to put juice back in right away as often I'll be near zero at destination. For my regular driving around town/work, I was thinking of charging to 80%, then not typically charging until down to about 20%. Is that good strategy?

Whereas setting your charge to 80% is a popular and common strategy, there's really no reason to let it go down to a certain point before you charge it back up. That mindset was popular when batteries were nickel metal hydride chemistry because of memory effect.

If you are able to plug your vehicle in every night, you should. Let it sit at 80%. Your vehicle is then ready for use anytime, and you are better protected against parasitic draw should the vehicle get left unused for a time.

 

[btreece]

@TeslaDriver I really appreciate your experience and advice. As a first time BEV owner I am learning a lot from you and others on the forum.

 

[Justjoe]

Thanks for the info. Being that I am retired I do have a lot of flexibility when it comes to charging. It is nice to leave the garage each day with a "full tank" but I will try reducing my target maximum state of charge and see if I can comfortably manage any range anxiety it may cause.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Whereas setting your charge to 80% is a popular and common strategy, there's really no reason to let it go down to a certain point before you charge it back up. That mindset was popular when batteries were nickel metal hydride chemistry because of memory effect.

This approach has a benefit to Lithium chemistry batteries as well. They have the longest life and are "happiest" at around 50% SOC. This is also why the storage recommendation is in. Staying between about 20-80% is best for battery health. I personally recharge when my EVs get down to about 40% and charge them to 80%. However, there is nothing magical about that range.

There is nothing wrong to occasionally going below even 10% or up to 100%. If you have a long trip planned, charge to 100% the night before. The most important is to not let it sit at high or low levels. If the EV is below 10%, charge it right away. If it is at 100%, drive it!

It is nice to leave the garage each day with a "full tank" but I will try reducing my target maximum state of charge and see if I can comfortably manage any range anxiety it may cause.

How far are you likely to drive in a day, even a fairly regular "long" day? Use that to set your personal target levels.

 

[tj309]

Maybe a stupid question but if it's not advisable to charge to 100% every time why is the truck default 100% and the one time limit is user adjustable but you have to adjust it every time? A better way would be to default to 80% or a user set value, and have to go through the extra steps to do 100%.

 

[tj309]

Better yet... allow the user to set a limit and have the truck use that limit until the user changes it. Ford could do that right now with a software update.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Maybe a stupid question but if it's not advisable to charge to 100% every time why is the truck default 100% and the one time limit is user adjustable but you have to adjust it every time? A better way would be to default to 80% or a user set value, and have to go through the extra steps to do 100%.

Perhaps because the average buyer would be confused if the truck stopped charging at 80% and think it was broken.

 

[Simsonic]

Here are the facts.

• when your battery gets close to 15% then charge to 90%, preferably on a level 2 charger.
• forget the 80% for daily driving stuff is better.
• Ford has idiot proofed this for us.
• it’s okay to charge to 100% if you are going on a long trip immediately.
• leaving for a month or longer? Charge to 50%.
• DC fast chargers are no bueno. Use sparingly, and only to 90%.
• Use your home charger over night or during the day as much as possible.

The batteries inside the car are just like an iPhone. Here is a video on that w/evidence. Shomes | Tech & Lifestyle on TikTok

 

[Justjoe]

I like messing with the Truck and all the settings because that is my Nature but, as my wife says, "I am not ready for an all electric vehicle unless I don't have to think about settings". The only thing she is willing to do is plug-in and un-plug. She loves the truck but sees me messing with the Ford Pass app and settings almost everyday. Not her thing.

 

[Simsonic]

I like messing with the Truck and all the settings because that is my Nature but, as my wife says, "I am not ready for an all electric vehicle unless I don't have to think about settings". The only thing she is willing to do is plug-in and un-plug. She loves the truck but sees me messing with the Ford Pass app and settings almost everyday. Not her thing.

That’s why Ford idiot proofed this. Just plug it in when it gets low and charge it to 90% all the time, unless going on a long trip soon.