[Kawartha Lightning]

I'm interested in other people's experience with the impact of cold weather on battery range / SOC. I got my Lariat ER in August. With temps going to 50F (10C for my Cdn colleagues!), I'm guessing I am taking a 10% hit to my range already (basing this on actual mi/kWh and distance actually driven vs the GOM - I am no fan of the GOM and based on what I am reading, you have to be a psychic or a NASA-engineer to interpret it correctly and for it to mean anything!).

Speaking of random guesses, I'm guessing I will lose at least 25% of my warm weather driving range once the temps go below 32F (0 C). I'm in Canada so we will go to 14 F (-10) and almost certainly -4F (-20C) in the winter (in Western Canada, colder still).

I'd be OK with a 25% loss (reasonable) but wondering if it will be more like 40% (or more) based on other EV's winter experience, especially since Ford decided not to include a heat pump in the Lightning. Too soon to tell as no one has driven a winter yet but interested to see what those of you in the northern States and Cda are seeing so far. Thanks.

 

[Cuetip]

I have a Mach E SR and at -25 I saw about a 40% hit on a 68kWh battery.
The bigger the battery, the lower the impact. The range hit is mainly the heater using power to heat the battery and cabin. That heater uses the same amount of power whether it is heating a car or a pickup since the interior air volume is roughly the same. My Mach E pulls about 7kW for heating. My lightning pulls the same (7.2). So on a 68kWh battery that is about 10% per hour of driving and on a 131kWh battery that’s about 6% per hour of driving.

 

[Kawartha Lightning]

Thanks - would this explain why when I pre-warm the vehicle and start it from my Fordpass App (while still plugged into my wall charger) at the house, my GOM and mileage for the trip is better vs a 'cold' start from the office where I don't have the ability to precondition the vehicle this way. I've read the threads against it, but I really wish Ford included a heat pump in these monsters in addition to the thirsty resistive heat system

 

[THEsocalledfan]

Thanks - would this explain why when I pre-warm the vehicle and start it from my Fordpass App (while still plugged into my wall charger) at the house, my GOM and mileage for the trip is better vs a 'cold' start from the office where I don't have the ability to precondition the vehicle this way. I've read the threads against it, but I really wish Ford included a heat pump in these monsters in addition to the thirsty resistive heat system

That is the future, no doubt, but for those of us in the brutal cold, they are not yet a reliable system. (You much live in the Canadian eastern banana belt.....) I live in South Dakota and want no part of them until show reliable in below 0 F degree weather.

 

[Maine-Lightning-owner]

Hello all - I own a Lightning w standard range here in Maine. Regrettably we don’t have a garage yet (but hope to build one by next summer), so the truck will be outsidecold through the winter. I’ve read up on various measures to take for winter EV ownsership such as preheating/start up before use, leaving charge plugged in over night, not over charging above 80%, and avoiding fast charging during below 40F temps. Im comfortable with the reality of range loss during winter months, but an issue I’m finding little info on is how the seasonal realities of cold weather will effect the longevity of the battery. Will the batteries life span be dramatically impacted by the cold weather over the years?

 

[THEsocalledfan]

Hello all - I own a Lightning w standard range here in Maine. Regrettably we don’t have a garage yet (but hope to build one by next summer), so the truck will be outsidecold through the winter. I’ve read up on various measures to take for winter EV ownsership such as preheating/start up before use, leaving charge plugged in over night, not over charging above 80%, and avoiding fast charging during below 40F temps. Im comfortable with the reality of range loss during winter months, but an issue I’m finding little info on is how the seasonal realities of cold weather will effect the longevity of the battery. Will the batteries life span be dramatically impacted by the cold weather over the years?

Never heard "avoiding fast charging during below 40F temps". I'm not following how this can be advice. That would eliminate all of winter for me for any long range trips?

 

[R.I.P.]

That is the future, no doubt, but for those of us in the brutal cold, they are not yet a reliable system. (You much live in the Canadian eastern banana belt.....) I live in South Dakota and want no part of them until show reliable in below 0 F degree weather.

For a lot of us (I spend time in Nebraska and SD in the winter) Tesla's heat pump is working fantastic.

No system in the world has ever proved perfect, and you can find people that have had problems. But the difference from the Model 3 with resistive to the Model Y with the "octovalve" heat pump is dramatic. Most of us have had zero problems with it and the range penalty for a toasty cabin is negligible.

No heat pump is on the list of why the Lightning will be a interim truck for me. Their advertised "gen 2" truck will no doubt fix this issue.

 

[R.I.P.]

Hello all - I own a Lightning w standard range here in Maine. Regrettably we don’t have a garage yet (but hope to build one by next summer), so the truck will be outsidecold through the winter. I’ve read up on various measures to take for winter EV ownsership such as preheating/start up before use, leaving charge plugged in over night, not over charging above 80%, and avoiding fast charging during below 40F temps. Im comfortable with the reality of range loss during winter months, but an issue I’m finding little info on is how the seasonal realities of cold weather will effect the longevity of the battery. Will the batteries life span be dramatically impacted by the cold weather over the years?

Lithium batteries are temperature sensitive. Charging/discharging them outside of their safe zones will affect their longevity.

The Ford Lightning, like most modern EVs have a climate-controlled battery pack. The truck will keep the pack within safe temperature zones for charging and operation. When possible, leave the truck plugged in when not in use in extreme temperatures. This green-lights the BMS to use the power necessary to keep the battery in an optimum range, rather than the power-saving "safe" range.

These battery conditioning systems also negate any problems with fast charging in the cold. The old "40F" warning was for air-cooled packs like the Leaf.

Make sense?

 

[THEsocalledfan]

Lithium batteries are temperature sensitive. Charging/discharging them outside of their safe zones will affect their longevity.

The Ford Lightning, like most modern EVs have a climate-controlled battery pack. The truck will keep the pack within safe temperature zones for charging and operation. When possible, leave the truck plugged in when not in use in extreme temperatures. This green-lights the BMS to use the power necessary to keep the battery in an optimum range, rather than the power-saving "safe" range.

These battery conditioning systems also negate any problems with fast charging in the cold. The old "40F" warning was for air-cooled packs like the Leaf.

Make sense?

Yeah, I was thinking that had to be bad info as I could not understand why they would even market to us in cold climates.

 

[Maine-Lightning-owner]

Lithium batteries are temperature sensitive. Charging/discharging them outside of their safe zones will affect their longevity.

The Ford Lightning, like most modern EVs have a climate-controlled battery pack. The truck will keep the pack within safe temperature zones for charging and operation. When possible, leave the truck plugged in when not in use in extreme temperatures. This green-lights the BMS to use the power necessary to keep the battery in an optimum range, rather than the power-saving "safe" range.

These battery conditioning systems also negate any problems with fast charging in the cold. The old "40F" warning was for air-cooled packs like the Leaf.

Make sense?

makes sense! Much appreciated

 

[GDN]

Hello all - I own a Lightning w standard range here in Maine. Regrettably we don’t have a garage yet (but hope to build one by next summer), so the truck will be outsidecold through the winter. I’ve read up on various measures to take for winter EV ownsership such as preheating/start up before use, leaving charge plugged in over night, not over charging above 80%, and avoiding fast charging during below 40F temps. Im comfortable with the reality of range loss during winter months, but an issue I’m finding little info on is how the seasonal realities of cold weather will effect the longevity of the battery. Will the batteries life span be dramatically impacted by the cold weather over the years?

The bottom line is this - when it is at home, especially in the winter months plug it in. Arrange your charging so that there is charging and "preconditioning" the couple of hours before you leave, turn the heater on while plugged in before you leave.

If you believe in Ford - leave everything else to the truck - charge when you need at whatever temp it is and drive it like any other truck. The BMS/software will charge at the right speed and won't let you do damage to the battery.

 

[Maine-Lightning-owner]

All the above answers are great - thank you all!

Still wondering if anyone out there knows if the year over year, seasonal cold exposure (in months November-March here) will degrade the battery’s range ability (in the optimal warmer seasons) over time quicker than if we lived in say, the Carolina’s, rather than Maine.

Grateful for any thoughts or knowledge!

 

[HellBoy]

I have had a few EVs - with mild winter weather expect 10-20% range loss…once you cross into extreme, -30C and below, you can count on 40-50% loss.

 

[THEsocalledfan]

I have had a few EVs - with mild winter weather expect 10-20% range loss…once you cross into extreme, -30C and below, you can count on 40-50% loss.

What we looking at around -15C? Typical temp here in SD. (0F or so)

 

[Kawartha Lightning]

That is the future, no doubt, but for those of us in the brutal cold, they are not yet a reliable system. (You much live in the Canadian eastern banana belt.....) I live in South Dakota and want no part of them until show reliable in below 0 F degree weather.

When you say that is not yet reliable, are you referring to the Lightning itself or the heat pump technology? And yes, it’s comparatively balmy here vs your location. Unfortunately none of these EVs fare that well in the deep freeze

 

[Kawartha Lightning]

Lithium batteries are temperature sensitive. Charging/discharging them outside of their safe zones will affect their longevity.

The Ford Lightning, like most modern EVs have a climate-controlled battery pack. The truck will keep the pack within safe temperature zones for charging and operation. When possible, leave the truck plugged in when not in use in extreme temperatures. This green-lights the BMS to use the power necessary to keep the battery in an optimum range, rather than the power-saving "safe" range.

These battery conditioning systems also negate any problems with fast charging in the cold. The old "40F" warning was for air-cooled packs like the Leaf.

Make sense?

So in cold temps, if you leave it plugged in, will this help the battery even if (1) charging is not required and (2) you're not pre-conditioning?

 

[Cuetip]

Yes.

 

[R.I.P.]

All the above answers are great - thank you all!

Still wondering if anyone out there knows if the year over year, seasonal cold exposure (in months November-March here) will degrade the battery’s range ability (in the optimal warmer seasons) over time quicker than if we lived in say, the Carolina’s, rather than Maine.

Grateful for any thoughts or knowledge!

If you are driving an air-cooled EV, then yes. As stated above, modern EVs control battery temperatures to prevent temperature degradation.

 

[R.I.P.]

I have had a few EVs - with mild winter weather expect 10-20% range loss…once you cross into extreme, -30C and below, you can count on 40-50% loss.

The question was regarding battery degradation, not range loss.

 

[R.I.P.]

So in cold temps, if you leave it plugged in, will this help the battery even if (1) charging is not required and (2) you're not pre-conditioning?

Correct.