starting remotely vs. preparing the cabin temp remotely

[samskeys]

I'm trying to figure out the real difference between warming up the cabin (or cooling) vs. "starting" the Lightning remotely.. I suppose starting would turn on the dash features to operate if someone was inside? Is either more healthy for the vehicle? Thanks!

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[Maquis]

I'm trying to figure out the real difference between warming up the cabin (or cooling) vs. "starting" the Lightning remotely.. I suppose starting would turn on the dash features to operate if someone was inside? Is either more healthy for the vehicle? Thanks!

It’s the same thing. The latest version of FordPass is simply labeled “Climate”, there is no “remote start.”

 

[Rtashiro]

Setting departure times pre condition battery when plugged in vs remote start just conditions cabin temp.

 

[topher10]

Are the following statement correct?

1. If unplugged, there is no difference between a departure time and manually hitting climate in the app. Both activate cabin climate.

2. If plugged in, a departure time prepares the battery using shore power, which improves range, while hitting climate in the app does not impact battery.

3. if extremely cold, having truck plugged in allows truck to maintain battery temp, while if unplugged it will not. Thus possibly better for battery health over long term if plug during extreme temps.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Are the following statement correct?

1. If unplugged, there is no difference between a departure time and manually hitting climate in the app. Both activate cabin climate.

2. If plugged in, a departure time prepares the battery using shore power, which improves range, while hitting climate in the app does not impact battery.

3. if extremely cold, having truck plugged in allows truck to maintain battery temp, while if unplugged it will not. Thus possibly better for battery health over long term if plug during extreme temps.

All true.

 

[Henry Ford]

1. If unplugged, there is no difference between a departure time and manually hitting climate in the app. Both activate cabin climate.

If the truck is unplugged and a departure time is set nothing will happen unless "Prepare Cabin Off Plug" is selected in the Departure Times menu. If it's selected, the HVAC will condition the cabin based on the outside temperature.

2. If plugged in, a departure time prepares the battery using shore power, which improves range, while hitting climate in the app does not impact battery.

This is more questions than you realize. I'll try to break it down.

My Departure Times are set up as illustrated in the screenshot above. Additionally, "Prepare Cabin Off Plug" is selected off.

At 8:15 on weekdays if my truck is plugged in the battery is conditioned (warmed) and the cabin is warm. If it's not plugged in, nothing happens.

At any time if I select Climate On in the app the HVAC will adjust cabin temperature to the desired settings. Selecting Climate On doesn't do anything for battery conditioning.

3. if extremely cold, having truck plugged in allows truck to maintain battery temp, while if unplugged it will not. Thus possibly better for battery health over long term if plug during extreme temps.

The BMS will protect your battery in all conditions. Plugged in, not plugged in, hot, cold, etc. I don't know much more about how it works, it just works.

If you drive in cold weather the BMS will warm the battery up. If you set a Departure Time the battery will be warm before you start driving. If you don't set a departure time the battery will use its own energy to warm itself.

The difference between being plugged in or not is the source of heating energy. If you want to maximize range you want the heating energy to come from the grid, not the battery.

If you want to maximize range in cold weather you want to set a Departure Time... except sometimes you don't know when you are going to leave and you might want to maximize range. You can hack a Departure Time by selecting the Start charge button in the upper right corner of the home screen of FordPass. Assuming the SOC is something less than 100%, charging will warm the battery. It's not clear to me if the heating is a result of charging or a BMS function to optimize charging but the result is the same; heat into the battery from shore power NOT battery power and more range.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I believe @topher10 was merely asking if the 3 bullet items were true without extraordinary steps or hacks taken. Obviously the switch to allow departure timed activities to occur off plug needs to be on, and configured for appropriate cabin conditions based on the season

The majority of my DT events have run successfully, but there have been failures, even while off-plug or on-plug, I'm attributing these periodic failures to other system glitches.

 

[topher10]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate answers and sorry for somewhat hijacking the thread. I am still trying to understand how to manage things, mostly for battery longevity but a little for efficiency. .

For instance, tonight truck is at 80%, not planning to drive it much tomorrow, but it’s getting down to 33F tonight. I didn’t plug it in but thought about it just for protection against cold. I’m assuming 33F actually isn’t that cold, and if BMS still protects them definately no worries.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate answers and sorry for somewhat hijacking the thread. I am still trying to understand how to manage things, mostly for battery longevity but a little for efficiency. .

For instance, tonight truck is at 80%, not planning to drive it much tomorrow, but it’s getting down to 33F tonight. I didn’t plug it in but thought about it just for protection against cold. I’m assuming 33F actually isn’t that cold, and if BMS still protects them definitely no worries.

If it were doing off the plug battery conditioning overnight, we would see a gradual reduction of SOC, I haven't seen that happen at all.

 

[Henry Ford]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate answers and sorry for somewhat hijacking the thread. I am still trying to understand how to manage things, mostly for battery longevity but a little for efficiency. .

For instance, tonight truck is at 80%, not planning to drive it much tomorrow, but it’s getting down to 33F tonight. I didn’t plug it in but thought about it just for protection against cold. I’m assuming 33F actually isn’t that cold, and if BMS still protects them definately no worries.

When it's cold sometimes you'll see a message that says something to the effect of, "plug me in, it's cold." Based on that I assume plugging in is better than not plugging in.

If it were doing off the plug battery conditioning overnight, we would see a gradual reduction of SOC, I haven't seen that happen at all.

I agree. The BMS doesn't know when it will next be plugged in. If it uses a small amount of energy to keep itself warm eventually it will be dead and no longer able to keep itself warm. I'm no expert but I think a dead battery is worse than a cold battery.

 

[RickLightning]

I'm trying to figure out the real difference between warming up the cabin (or cooling) vs. "starting" the Lightning remotely.. I suppose starting would turn on the dash features to operate if someone was inside? Is either more healthy for the vehicle? Thanks!

Remote starting does not turn on dash features, all buttons are inoperative.

Remote starting is exclusively to turn on climate. There is no other reason to turn it on.

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