Android Auto Preconditioning

[josh27292]

So I found out today that Android Auto will support route planning using Google Maps with preconditioning for Tesla Superchargers. We are primarily a Apple household and switching to Android would be a massive change for us. I'm curious if anyone has ever tried using their iPhone as a hotspot for a cheap Android phone so they can utilize Android Auto for the route planning functionality?

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[Zprime29]

That should work just fine as far as running Android Auto. The preconditioning part is a little less certain. This seems to work for me as far as cooling the battery when approaching the charging station. I don't have any personal experience on getting the truck to warm the battery in cold weather. I've seen lots of complaints about it not working in that regard.

 

[Firn]

Totally not worth it.

Preconditioning only works for cooling, which you can do yourself by putting it in Sport mode.

 

[RickLightning]

Totally not worth it.

Preconditioning only works for cooling, which you can do yourself by putting it in Sport mode.

Umm, what?

Preconditioning is primarily a WARMING function. I'm always in Sport mode, and it doesn't warm it squat in the dead of winter.

 

[K6CCC]

I'm curious if anyone has ever tried using their iPhone as a hotspot for a cheap Android phone

I can answer this part. When I had a work forced on me @#$%^& iPhone (that I hated), it did come with truly unlimited data and unlimited tethering (and priority government access). I used it quite a few times to tether my personal android or my laptop when in an area that the work phone worked and my personal one did not (different carriers). Worked fine. One note is for most users, tethering is seriously NOT unlimited - even if you have a theoretical unlimited data plan (most really are not).

Can't help on pre-conditioning because as far as I have been able to tell, I have never been in a situation where I needed pre-conditioning.

 

[Zprime29]

Umm, what?

Preconditioning is primarily a WARMING function. I'm always in Sport mode, and it doesn't warm it squat in the dead of winter.

Maybe for you folk up north. For those of us in the south, preconditioning is primarily for cooling the battery. I drive in normal, I don't like the aggressive regen. So my battery temp in 110F+ weather is well above the middle line, which means DCFC gets throttled after about 30 seconds. If I want a decent charge curve for 20-80%, I NEED to cool the battery before I get to the charger. So Android Auto preconditioning (cooling) working for me (or others in hot weather) is significant and useful knowledge.

 

[RickLightning]

Maybe for you folk up north. For those of us in the south, preconditioning is primarily for cooling the battery. I drive in normal, I don't like the aggressive regen. So my battery temp in 110F+ weather is well above the middle line, which means DCFC gets throttled after about 30 seconds. If I want a decent charge curve for 20-80%, I NEED to cool the battery before I get to the charger. So Android Auto preconditioning (cooling) working for me (or others in hot weather) is significant and useful knowledge.

I can safely say that even driving in Florida, I have never driven in 110F+ weather.

 

[K6CCC]

On my Tucson trip in late March, it was HOT. Lots of time over 105 and some over 110. I normally drive in "Normal" mode. I never had the battery temp over the middle prior to charging, but when the weather was hot, I did get well over the midpoint on the battery temp gauge after DCFC. Switching to Tow/Haul mode did cool it down better (I understand Sport also does, but not tested).

 

[halfbakedenchilada]

From what I can tell looking at the temps of the battery and what Ford nav tries to do when preconditioning, it's trying to get the battery to about 91 degrees F to DCFC. So this could be a warming or a cooling function, depending on the outside temp. In my experience, once the battery is warm, preconditioning doesn't do much. What I mean is that when it's super hot, there is enough time for the battery to get close to 91 without doing anything (it gets to about 93-95 if it's really hot out). When it's cold it might be a bit cooler than that but DCFC is still plenty fast and just the act of driving keeps it warm enough.

I think the biggest use for preconditioning would be when your battery is cold soaked and you are starting your trip. It might make a difference to help get it up towards about 90 degrees for the first DCFC. I've never done this, though, since I am usually L2 charging before a trip.

This is a very long way of saying that what you are suggesting would be fun to try, but I don't think it's worth it IMHO. I just use ABRP or Apple Maps for navigating on road trips and I have never seen it throttle the charge rate except in rare cases (which is suspect is often the charger, not the truck). This truck does a really good job on repeated DCFC sessions in my experience with no preconditioning at all.

 

[Firn]

Umm, what?

Preconditioning is primarily a WARMING function. I'm always in Sport mode, and it doesn't warm it squat in the dead of winter.

Do we have any reports of preconditioning actually functioning to warm the battery? Maybe it was just the older trucks but I was under the impression it didnt actually work to warm the battery

I want to say there were some reports of it cooling the battery, but thats hardly reason to switch ecosystems when the exact same effect can be had by switching to sport mode, or essentially manual preconditioning.

 

[K6CCC]

Do we have any reports of preconditioning actually functioning to warm the battery? Maybe it was just the older trucks but I was under the impression it didnt actually work to warm the battery

Not anywhere near cold enough here for me to notice, but I also understood Pre-Conditioning to be primarily a warming function. Ideally it should do both.

 

[Charge_Rob]

En-Route Preconditioning absolutely warms and cools the battery, whichever is needed. The primary benefit is warming the pack in cold weather.

Currently, Connected Navigation and Google Maps EV Routing for Android Auto can do this for 2021-2025MY EVs.

 

[PJnc284]

Do we have any reports of preconditioning actually functioning to warm the battery? Maybe it was just the older trucks but I was under the impression it didnt actually work to warm the battery

I want to say there were some reports of it cooling the battery, but thats hardly reason to switch ecosystems when the exact same effect can be had by switching to sport mode, or essentially manual preconditioning.

I haven't had any luck getting it to warm the battery using either the native ford nav or google maps/AA on my 23 even with the cabin heater off. Granted low 20's is about the lowest I've seen the battery here in eastern NC so maybe just not cold enough as Car Scanner was still showing the Charger Power Limit around 180kW. Believe @RickLightning has confirmed it works on his mach-e but not his '22 lightning though.

 

[RickLightning]

En-Route Preconditioning absolutely warms and cools the battery, whichever is needed. The primary benefit is warming the pack in cold weather.

Currently, Connected Navigation and Google Maps EV Routing for Android Auto can do this for 2021-2025MY EVs.

Yes, primarily for warming.

No, 2022 Lightnings still do not have preconditioning, no matter what apps or combination of apps.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Currently, Connected Navigation and Google Maps EV Routing for Android Auto can do this for 2021-2025MY EVs.

Tested & failed to warm my 2022 Lightning during a deep freeze run to the ionna DCFC lasted winter.

@Ford Motor Company where are we on the special request to FIX this issue on 2022 Lightnings?

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