Pre-conditioning.

[Robert1380]

If you are on the road travelling, this is what happens:
Yes, the Ford Lightning will pre-condition its battery when a DC fast charger is set as a destination or waypoint in Google Maps on Android Auto. This feature, known as En-Route Preconditioning, ensures the battery is at its optimal temperature for fast charging when you arrive.

Here's how it works:

• Using Google Maps:
  When you set a DC fast charger as a destination or waypoint in Google Maps (projected onto your in-vehicle display through Android Auto), the vehicle's system will automatically begin to cool or warm the battery as you approach the charger.
  
  
• Timing:
  The preconditioning starts a certain distance from the charger, allowing the battery to reach the optimal temperature before charging begins.
  
  
• No need to manually start:
  You don't need to manually trigger preconditioning; the system will automatically do it based on your navigation.
  
  
• Benefits:
  This ensures that you can achieve the fastest possible charging speeds at the DC fast charger.

Really great information. When I took delivery of my truck a little over a week ago, they paired my phone and showed me where to plug it in for charging. That was it. No explanation of any of the systems or how they work. Was a fiasco. Thanks for your help and I appreciate you.

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[Firn]

If you are on the road travelling, this is what happens:
Yes, the Ford Lightning will pre-condition its battery when a DC fast charger is set as a destination or waypoint in Google Maps on Android Auto. This feature, known as En-Route Preconditioning, ensures the battery is at its optimal temperature for fast charging when you arrive.

Here's how it works:

• Using Google Maps:
  When you set a DC fast charger as a destination or waypoint in Google Maps (projected onto your in-vehicle display through Android Auto), the vehicle's system will automatically begin to cool or warm the battery as you approach the charger.
  
  
• Timing:
  The preconditioning starts a certain distance from the charger, allowing the battery to reach the optimal temperature before charging begins.
  
  
• No need to manually start:
  You don't need to manually trigger preconditioning; the system will automatically do it based on your navigation.
  
  
• Benefits:
  This ensures that you can achieve the fastest possible charging speeds at the DC fast charger.

Have you verified this is true for the Lightning? What yesr and Software version?

It has been said that the latest updates may have included this feature but it was confirmed that prior to that the Lightning did not actively precondition the battery for DCFC, and that has been validated by a few (myself included).

There was discussion that perhaps 10.2 did add this feature but there have been no confirmation that this is functional on the Lightning as of yet.

 

[earlyadopt]

Really great information. When I took delivery of my truck a little over a week ago, they paired my phone and showed me where to plug it in for charging. That was it. No explanation of any of the systems or how they work. Was a fiasco. Thanks for your help and I appreciate you.

You are welcome, I have two EV's and done lots of research on them. Google is also amazing. The challenge sometime on these forums is a bit of opinion comes into the mix and can cause confusion. I was watching the thread and the answers are not wrong, just that if charging at home, the pre-conditioning works to preserve your battery. En-route pre-conditioning is done to optimize the charge experience and reduce time at the DC charger. Two totally different objectives. Enjoy the truck, they are awesome and cheap to operate. No stock car can beat you off the start line. This truck is "lightning fast" LOL

 

[potato]

The word "precondition" is used for both the cabin and the battery, although they are completely separate things. I think that's the biggest confusion. I wish there was a better word used for preparing the cabin.

 

[RailroaderJ]

I'm curious if it cools the cabin\battery while plugged in at 240V

 

[TaxmanHog]

I'm curious if it cools the cabin\battery while plugged in at 240V

Yes, it does both, as observed in winter by my Emporia energy monitor.

 

[Red1hour]

Do we know for sure that the 2025 Lightning will optimize battery temps when plugged in to 240 (Level 2)? really curious about this one as Mine will be outside all the time.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Do we know for sure that the 2025 Lightning will optimize battery temps when plugged in to 240 (Level 2)? really curious about this one as Mine will be outside all the time.

I don't own a 2025, but I'm sure others have confirmed that it will warm the HVB when conditions are right, plugged in, ideally to 240v EVSE, departure timed event is set, the system will bring the HVB up to minimum operating temp's, if the heat pump can't handle the task, the PTC will kick in to boost the temperature.

EDIT:

It will also do spontaneous warming to the bare minimum in extreme cold even without a departure time, tested this a couple of time on my 2022.

Ford's Important Tip For Driving Your Lightning in the Cold: Preconditioning / Pre-Heat Your Battery

Tips to Maximize Your F-150 Lightning Electric Range (Preconditioning, Hauling/Towing, Driving Tools)

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Do we know for sure that the 2025 Lightning will optimize battery temps when plugged in to 240 (Level 2)? really curious about this one as Mine will be outside all the time.

2025 Job 1 Flash owner. Can confirm it preconditions as well as keeps the pack above freezing on Level 2.

 

[Astrotrain00]

2025 Job 1 Flash owner. Can confirm it preconditions as well as keeps the pack above freezing on Level 2.

Same here. 2025 Job 1 Flash owner in southeast Michigan. Truck always parked outside and plugged in when not in use.

 

[doggod]

my observation is the battery temp gauge never moves it is always in the middle. my temps are from 40-110 winter to summer. once in a while we get below 40 and see some snow but it will melt within a day or two. most of the year we are 50-70. Ukiah where we shop and it gets hot there summer is 90-110.

 

[K6CCC]

my observation is the battery temp gauge never moves it is always in the middle. my temps are from 40-110 winter to summer. once in a while we get below 40 and see some snow but it will melt within a day or two. most of the year we are 50-70. Ukiah where we shop and it gets hot there summer is 90-110.

Other than a boot up, I have NEVER seen the battery gauge below the middle line. I have seen it a little above the middle line quite a few times. Mostly after DCFC in hot (above 105 degree) weather. Only once when it was not right after a DCFC session - and it was close to 110 and of course the AC was working like crazy.

As for preconditioning, never have as far as I know. Since you can't directly control it nor have any indication that it is happening, I really don't know for sure.

 

[doggod]

Other than a boot up, I have NEVER seen the battery gauge below the middle line. I have seen it a little above the middle line quite a few times. Mostly after DCFC in hot (above 105 degree) weather. Only once when it was not right after a DCFC session - and it was close to 110 and of course the AC was working like crazy.

As for preconditioning, never have as far as I know. Since you can't directly control it nor have any indication that it is happening, I really don't know for sure.

I agree it does not precondition the battery from my experience. It only preconditions the cabin. My best guess is once you start the truck it adjusts the battery temp to keep it in the middle. But I do not see or hear it working to change temperature when the destination is a charger. All the manual talks about is cabin temp preconditioning.

 

[DavidS]

I can report that, if scheduled, the Lightning will attempt to precondition the cabin and battery even if only plugged into 120V power. Of course at -10F, it might take awhile.

 

[doggod]

I can report that, if scheduled, the Lightning will attempt to precondition the cabin and battery even if only plugged into 120V power. Of course at -10F, it might take awhile.

Have you seen the temp gauge move from -10 to the middle? Which I am guessing is around 70-80. Have you noticed it warming the battery when destination is a charger?

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