Why can't Ford get it right?

[grange]

I have shared my frustration with being sold a truck that advertised 320 miles on full charge. I have never come close to that on full charge. Oh wait - charging to Full Capcity is bad ...right? Last Night I left on a 95% charge with my battery conditioned for departure. It i was 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a headwind. I have a level 2 charger that is 20 miles from my destination that I thought I could use if needed (I also have a Tesla high capacity charger half way but my adapter that was supposed to be delivered in March 2024 - is now pushed again to December - so never mind that). I got to the level 2 with 18% charge and 40 miles in the GOM but the charger was non-functional. Not trusting the GOM I figured 18% at 1.3 I have 24 miles left. 20 miles to go. talk about pucker factor. I made with 4% after shutting off cabin temperature (keeping in mind it was now closer to 6 degrees).

My point (and yes I am bitching cause I hate the anxiety of driving this truck) I am performing on the fly math looking at the last 30 miles KWPh usage (I use all three trip calculators to track). I am ranging between 1.4 and 1.5. Why can't Ford computer calculator computer my range dynamically and adjust for the long haul. At mid point - I was going finish with 70 miles left. Then 50 miles. Then 40 miles by the time I hit the level 2 charger with 18% - my math said i'd arrive 4 miles - I arrived with 6 miles (not 40).

Long story short - if @Ford Motor Company is reading this please figure out how to improve the mileage and estimates. And future buyers -start adding disclaimers that 320 miles on a full charge will NEVER Happen unless it is 61 degrees; tail wind and you drive 34MPH on a slight decline. And for those that live where temps drop below 10 degrees F - cut everything in half and still worry.

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[RickLightning]

Why didn't you leave with 100%? With a headwind, slow down.

 

[Maxx]

This is tough. I had a case of remaining range dropping when I was cutting it close and understand the anxiety.

As far as advertised range, in absence of a good commonly used standards, pessimist manufacturers may lose sales to the optimist ones due to lower range numbers. My overall average in two years is slightly better than what Ford has advertised but everyone's numbers would be much worse on a trip like yours.

You are right, Ford can and should do better. They have the info. But things being as they are, on tricky trips, we have to do our own math. On iffy trips I look at how much energy my battery has on start of the trip (with OBDII), How much it drops in the first 10 mile and do the math for range. Of course if elevation change, heading, battery temp, is expected to be significantly different in the rest of the trip than it is in the first 10 miles, I will adjust my guesstimate.

Even though I have a smaller battery pack than yours, I have a luxury of having a TESLA adapter and the option to use an ICE in winter for long trips. Yours was definitely a nail biter. Once you get your TESLA adapter, things will be better.

 

[jetfixr1]

EPA range is a mix of 55% highway and 45% city. You can absolutely get 320 miles to a full charge. Ive actually gotten 360 miles before. Always charge to 100% for a roadtrip. If you have range anxiety, dont do on the fly math. Use plugshare and ABRP and plan appropriately.

 

[dww]

10 degrees and a headwind is a puck factor right there. I look at the given range and assume it’s using 2.3 mi/kwh and do the percentage in my head based on what my trip mi/kwh is showing. Definitely not new user friendly but works for me.

 

[TMND]

10 degrees and a headwind is a puck factor right there. I look at the given range and assume it’s using 2.3 mi/kwh and do the percentage in my head based on what my trip mi/kwh is showing. Definitely not new user friendly but works for me.

You’re lucky. in the winter when it’s been below 10° everything being flat where I am I get 1.1 to 1.2 with 6 to 7% going into cabin. 75 and beautiful I’ll maybe get 2.1 usually 1.9

 

[Maxx]

If you have range anxiety, dont do on the fly math. Use plugshare and ABRP and plan appropriately.

He absolutely should do the on the fly math. Not as a replacement for advance planning but as an added layer of accuracy. What I suggested above will have the actual use of your heating system, your tire conditions, the wind, .... all built in to your on the fly math. ABRP can not possibly know all the actual conditions ahead of time.

 

[jetfixr1]

He absolutely should do the on the fly math. Not as a replacement for advance planning but as an added layer of accuracy. What I suggested above will have the actual use of your heating system, your tire conditions, the wind, .... all built in to your on the fly math. ABRP can not possibly know all the actual conditions ahead of time.

Im just saying I would not be cutting it that close. If I knew there was some sort of DCFC enroute, I would have planned a short stop. Atleast enough of a stop to pad my arrival SOC.

 

[Tony Burgh]

YMMV-every vehicle ever.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

Once you get your TESLA adapter, things will be better.

This. Having abundant, fast, reliable, well positioned chargers along your route is a huge game changer.

 

[grange]

Im just saying I would not be cutting it that close. If I knew there was some sort of DCFC enroute, I would have planned a short stop. Atleast enough of a stop to pad my arrival SOC.

Once I pass the halfway point there is only one charging option and that was out of service. Trust me I was thinking through 110 options if needed. Hopefully my adapter comes in the next few weeks. I keep telling myself to just go buy one....

 

[Jseis]

I regularly get 300 miles of range in winter, 320+ in summer for two simple reasons. I‘m on rural 2-lane blacktop and do not drive 70:70 (mph:cabin temp). My best was a 296 mile RT with 50+ miles left. And if I think I’m going 270+ I’ll charge 95%-100%. Speed & headwinds are biggest impact.

 

[pullinggs]

I have shared my frustration with being sold a truck that advertised 320 miles on full charge.

Just to be clear, that "320 mile range" is not some kind of an advertisement from Ford; it's an EPA estimate based on the EPA's required test method.

 

[Ventorum94]

320 miles on a full charge will NEVER Happen unless it is 61 degrees; tail wind and you drive 34MPH on a slight decline.

Wrong. Under the conditions you state, I’d expect full range of 440+ miles (3.4 mi/kWh driving 34mph, no decline necessary). All you have to do to get 320mi is average 2.4mi/kWh on a 100% to 0% trip - but in the real world most people run on less than the whole battery pack (charge to 90%, run down to 20%, =70% of your battery). 2.4mi/kWh average isn‘t difficult to achieve, but you’re not going to see that much at a steady 75mph. Reduce speed and monitor your “Trip 1” mi/kWh, resetting it often to display your real-time efficiency, and drive easy enough that your efficiency stays at 2.4 or higher.
Or, drive as fast as you like and plan more charge stops.

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