[Donrim]

CrazyJim,

you are interpreting Ford’s guidance incorrectly.

Do not plug-in and charge the Li-Ion battery at all until the vehicle is returned to the dealer for the recall.

Especially, do not let the battery charge to 100% since charging the battery to high charge states creates the greatest stress on the battery. If the battery insulator is damaged. A battery failure is most likely to occur at a high charge level.

 

[Donrim]

So here is what I don't understand about the "don't charge the HVB" dictum... the vehicle doesn't have an "ICE only" mode, so when I'm in "normal" (i.e., hybrid) mode, the HVB is getting charged by the alternator, whether I like it or not. Presumably, to maximize gas mileage, the maximum SOC when the battery is charged by the alternator has to be pretty similar to the maximum SOC when charged via the plug, right? So, if I'm right about that, the only difference between alternator charging and "plug it in" charging should be the rate of charge. The alternator's rate of charge may well be less than 220v charging, but can it really be less than 110v charging? If not, what safety benefit, exactly, is achieved by not using the 110v charger but only using alternator charging?

In the normal “Auto EV” mode, the battery will discharge to the lower limit of battery charge and stay close to that low charge state if the vehicle continues to be driven without plugging it in for a charge.

Only the “EV Charge” mode increases the average battery charge level while driving but doesn’t allow the battery to get close to 100% charge level.

 

[Donrim]

I get this everytime I end a drive when the battery has not bee charged for a couple days. Basically driving in HEV and not plugging in regularly. I've received them since I bought it almost 2 year ago, but they were less prevalent before as I would charge every couple of days. Now, it knows I haven't plugged in for weeks so after every so gle drive I get this notification.

Your 12 volt battery automatically charges as needed whenever the vehicle is on and also when it is plugged-in. The 12 volt battery receives its charge from the Li-Ion battery.

If you are getting these “plug-in to maintain your 12 volt battery” messages, you may be making only very short trips in your Escape each day that are not long enough to ever completely charge the 12 volt battery.

Is your Escape always driven less than 10-20 minutes per day?

 

[Donrim]

In my Ford phone app, I received a message to charge my car due to low battery (I'm assuming the 12V???). Doesn't this kind of fly in the face of the alert stating that plugging in should be avoided due to a potential thermal event of the Samsung drive battery? I had been plugging in for 2 years prior to the alert, & now this notice?!? I think I'll continue to plug in to 80% after each time that the charge depletes to 0 rather than risk having a car that won't start.
Thoughts?

Do not charge the Li-ion battery. Just drive the car regularly and the 12 volt battery will charge up for the duration that the car’s ignition is “on”.

This way, the 12 volt battery stays charged while the Li-ion battery will stay at minimum charge for the lowest risk of a severe thermal event.]

The 12 volt battery should not deplete unless the car is driven for very short distances infrequently or remains off in storage for extended periods.

My 2021 can be off for at least a few weeks with no 12v battery depletion problem.

I did pay the dealer to replace the tiny downsized AGM 12v battery when the car was brand new with the much larger capacity BAGM-48H6-760 12v battery the vehicle was originally designed for.

 

[Donrim]

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[Donrim]

I just checked also and the dealer confirmed the recall software is now available. They are ordering a part - software download?? for the recall and will schedule my service as soon as it comes in. I will let them drive to my house to install, 20 miles away.

 

[Donrim]

The Dealer installed the software update to my Escape today and the diagnostic software did not detect a battery problem so I can now recommence charging the Li-Ion battery without any restrictions.