Precondition While Unplugged?

[VictorM]

Who does this? What actually occurs when you flip this on?

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[Runaway Tractor]

Preconditioning while plugged in preconditions the battery and also uses the heat/ac to condition the cabin for your desired comfort level. That switch gives you the option to not waste battery power conditioning the cabin if you're not plugged in. It would only do the battery.

 

[Amps]

It allows the truck's High Voltage Battery to prepare itself and the cabin for your departure time without being plugged into shore power. The reason it's an option is that it uses power from the HVB and can negatively impact overall range.

 

[Maxx]

If I was designing that screen/function, I would have set that switch to say “precondition the battery while unplugged” and have if off by default. My assumption is most people more often than not want the cabin warm but won’t see the benefit from heating the battery for their short daily drive to the office.

The only concern I would have with driving with a cold battery is that it seems like Ford does not reduce regen when battery is cold and I am not sure how much damage that does long term.

 

[Pioneer74]

This is what Ford used to call "Scheduled Start". Throwing the word "precondition" in really makes no sense.

This function is just like remote starting your truck. You can just schedule it in advance. It warms or cools your cabin, and does nothing for the battery.

 

[duncanmaio]

This function is just like remote starting your truck. You can just schedule it in advance. It warms or cools your cabin, and does nothing for the battery.

. . . . if the truck is unplugged. If the truck is plugged in when a scheduled departure time approches, the truck will use shore power to precondition the battery - and warm/cool the cabin or not, depending on that switch setting. It also may or may not warm the steering wheel, which may or may not work for the duration of your next drive.

 

[luebri]

It allows the truck's High Voltage Battery to prepare itself and the cabin for your departure time without being plugged into shore power. The reason it's an option is that it uses power from the HVB and can negatively impact overall range.

Incorrect. Precondition while unplugged "only preconditions the cabin'. Using battery energy to "prepare itself" to thus be more efficient would be the proverbial dog chasing its tail. Its Pointless.

I 100% agree with @Pioneer74 that Ford's terminology here causes unneccesary confusion .

 

[Pioneer74]

. . . . if the truck is unplugged.

Yes. That is what OP is asking about.

 

[Amps]

Using battery energy to "prepare itself" to thus be more efficient would be the proverbial dog chasing its tail. Its Pointless.

edited it

 

[VictorM]

This is what Ford used to call "Scheduled Start". Throwing the word "precondition" in really makes no sense.

This function is just like remote starting your truck. You can just schedule it in advance. It warms or cools your cabin, and does nothing for the battery.

This is the correct answer. The only thing this setting does is allow you to schedule a departure time to warm the truck without being plugged in (and not using the FordPass app).

 

[Stalemate]

I use this so the cabin is warm when I leave for work in the morning. My commute is short so I don't plug in every night.
My eventual plan is to do most of my charging AT work, but I need to sneak in a 240v outlet somewhere

 

[Danface]

If I was designing that screen/function, I would have set that switch to say “precondition the battery while unplugged” and have if off by default. My assumption is most people more often than not want the cabin warm but won’t see the benefit from heating the battery for their short daily drive to the office.

The only concern I would have with driving with a cold battery is that it seems like Ford does not reduce regen when battery is cold and I am not sure how much damage that does long term.

I can warm the battery quickly by over accelerating and coasting for 10 -15 minutes (without one-pedal). Works great!

 

[Maxx]

I can warm the battery quickly by over accelerating and coasting for 10 -15 minutes (without one-pedal). Works great!

Kyle Conner from Out of Specs did that too. I know high Power coming out of cold battery is safer than going in but I am not sure if I want to put tires and other components of the truck through that repeatedly to get a little energy back. if it is beginning of a long trip, may be. There is a reason Fisker Ocean limits it’s boost mode to only 500 times for the life of the vehicle.

 

[Danface]

Kyle Conner from Out of Specs did that too. I know high Power coming out of cold battery is safer than going in but I am not sure if I want to put tires and other components of the truck through that repeatedly to get a little energy back. if it is beginning of a long trip, may be. There is a reason Fisker Ocean limits it’s boost mode to only 500 times for the life of the vehicle.

I do it at low speed between. 35 and 45 depending on the road and take advantage of small hills for coasting. Just small surges in speed followed by a short coast so it's similar to normal driving.

 

[Mmiketa]

There is a reason Fisker Ocean limits it’s boost mode to only 500 times for the life of the vehicle.

Because they made a shitty car. Your truck isn’t going to fall apart because you were heavy on the accelerator. People have been taking these to drag strips.

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