{"id":8978,"date":"2021-10-26T00:05:34","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T04:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/auto\/?p=8978"},"modified":"2021-10-26T00:05:34","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T04:05:34","slug":"mustang-mache-battery-slow-overheating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=8978","title":{"rendered":"Mustang\u00a0Mach-E\u00a0Battery Charges Slowly, Overheats Quickly: Why?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>&#8220;A bottleneck is\u00a0any resource whose capacity is equal to or less than the demand placed upon it.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> &#8220;A non-bottleneck is any resource whose capacity is greater than the demand placed on it.&#8221;\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>From \u201cThe Goal\u201d by Eliyahu Goldratt<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Eli Goldratt revolutionized manufacturing production analysis with his \u201cTheory of Constraints\u201d view of prioritizing attention on the production \u201cbottleneck\u201d when production capacity cannot meet demand. Goldratt\u2019s constraint theory can also help isolate an under-performing thermal system\u2019s capacity limits.<\/p>\n<p>Take the <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/ford\/mach-e\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22ford%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mach-e%22%7D\">Ford Mustang Mach-E<\/a> fully electric crossover. Recent <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/533899\/ford-mache-harging-update-coming\/\">fast-charging tests<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/reviews\/539744\/ford-mustang-mache-gt-review\/\">performance driving experiences<\/a> have shown mediocre fast-charging speeds and early-onset thermal-related reduced-propulsion issues during aggressive track-style driving. There\u2019s a thermal bottleneck somewhere in that pack.<\/p>\n<p>Finding a pack\u2019s thermal bottleneck requires diving into its battery &amp; module construction. A good starting point: the conductive thermal path from the cell to the cooling plate. I consulted Munro and Associates\u2019 YouTube video detailing the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4vRjo0gaG1g\">Mach-E battery and module case<\/a> on its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MunroLive\/featured\">Munro Live Channel<\/a>. It provided details illustrating how the Mach-E\u2019s cells insert into the module carrier frames and thermally connect to the bottom cooling plates.<\/p>\n<p>Video images revealed the prime thermal bottleneck suspect: The plastic cell carriers.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/first-image.JPG\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<p>I reverse-engineered the cell-to-plate construction and cell heat generation, then calculated the Mach-E\u2019s \u201cthermal bottleneck score.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/picture2.JPG\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/mach-e-module-section.JPG\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<p>LG designed both The Mach-E\u2019s and<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/chevrolet\/bolt\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22chevrolet%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22bolt%22%7D\"> Chevy Bolt<\/a>\u2019s packs and used the same conceptual architecture. The Munro video shows just how conceptually similar both the Mach-E\u2019s and Chevy Bolt\u2019s module construction is, right down to the cell geometry, two-cell plastic carriers, and shared passive thermal fins. The Bolt\u2019s thermal bottleneck characteristics therefore closely match the Mach-Ee and have a similar thermal bottleneck score.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/picture4.jpg\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<p>As the Mach-E module section detail above illustrates, the Mach-E\u2019s module architecture apparently contains a significant thermal design weakness\u00a0\u2013 the plastic carrier bottoms. They block direct cell-to-plate heat conduction \u2013 the primary thermal path used in most other manufacturers\u2019 current-generation pouch-cell-based packs. The only thermal path is through a long, thin passive aluminum thermal fin. With two cells heating it, this is too much heat for the skinny fin to efficiently conduct down to the cooling plate. It is literally a narrow thermal bottleneck.<\/p>\n<p>The Mach-E\u2019s conductive-path thermal resistance model showed that at a 1-C rate charging\/discharging current, it scored a next-to-last 0.23 bottleneck score and had a 4\u2070C temperature difference between the cell hot spot and cell cold-spot near the cooling plate.<\/p>\n<p>This temperature difference is extremely stressful to the cell and can contribute to reduced cell energy storage capacity. This charge rate or higher can only be sustained while the cell internally \u201cwarms itself up\u201d to its maximum <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/category\/charging\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"8\" data-params=\"%7B%22section_route%22%3A%22news%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22charging%22%7D\">charging<\/a> temperature early in the charge session. Once at maximum, the cooling system engages to keep the cell hot spot below the cell\u2019s maximum temperature.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/picture5.JPG\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<p>The Mach-E pack\u2019s thermal bottleneck also explains its overheating problem when driven \u201cunbridled.\u201d Track-style performance driving involves repeated hard acceleration and heavy braking, including regenerative braking. If those driving cycles repeatedly push or pull over 100 kW into or out of the pack (and with the GT\u2019s 480 HP of motor power and a lead foot, that is easy to do), the cell internal resistance heat will exceed the conductive heat path\u2019s ability to remove it. Cells will quickly heat up beyond their high-temperature limits &amp; the pack will go into reduced propulsion mode. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/volkswagen\/id-4\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22volkswagen%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22id-4%22%7D\">VW ID.4<\/a>, which uses VW\u2019s MEB-platform battery, is frequently cross-shopped with the Mach-E and therefore worthy of comparison. The typical VW MEB-platform battery uses pouch cells in \u201cshoebox\u201d style aluminum module cases. The cells sit on the case bottom, which then sits on an aluminum glycol-cooling plate. Thin conductive gap-filling materials at the interfaces eliminate air gaps and improve thermal conduction. This is a simple and cost-effective thermal cooling design concept and installed in many current-generation EVs by numerous manufacturers.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/picture6.JPG\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<p>The ID.4\u2019s thermal path from the cell hot-spot to the cooling plate is both significantly shorter and more conductive than the Mach-E\u2019s, giving the ID.4 and other MEB-based vehicles a wider bottleneck and much higher bottleneck score. This is proven out with the<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/tag\/fast-charging-analysis\/\"> MEB pack\u2019s significantly higher tested average 10%-80% C-rate fast charging speed than either the Bolt or Mach-E.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/tesla\/model-y\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22tesla%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22model-y%22%7D\">Model Y<\/a> is another popular Mach-E competitor. With the recently released \u201crefreshed\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/tesla\/model-s\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22tesla%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22model-s%22%7D\">Model S<\/a> and X, now both the S\/X and Model 3\/Y battery modules share similar thermal paths, using side-snake cooling plates direct-glued to the cell cans. Ample photos and <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/338452\/new-tesla-model-3-battery-details-images-amp-video-released\/\">articles <\/a>are available on the 2170-cell module construction. We based our refreshed S\/X pack assumptions on an <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/540380\/tesla-models-plaid-battery-open\/\">article\/video on a recently-opened Plaid pack<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The cell-to-snake plate thermal bottlenecks for both <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/tesla\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"2\" data-params=\"%7B%22alias%22%3A%22tesla%22%7D\">Tesla<\/a> variations are so wide that they become a \u201cnon-bottleneck\u201d. Other charging capacity bottleneck factors, such as AC cooling system capacity and cell chemistry become the critical thermal bottlenecks. The smaller-diameter-18650 cell module\u2019s 1.6 score was slightly higher than the 2170-cell Y\u2019s 1.5 score thanks to its slightly shorter and more effective conductive path. \u00a0<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<section contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"special_image\" data-align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"spi_wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.motor1.com\/images\/custom\/picture7.JPG\" alt=\"external_image\"\/><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr\/>\n<p>To its credit, <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/ford\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"2\" data-params=\"%7B%22alias%22%3A%22ford%22%7D\">Ford<\/a> is exploring the various slow-charging\/over-heating issues and seeking improvements. It&#8217;s promised a software update that will <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/533899\/ford-mache-harging-update-coming\/\">extend the higher-speed charging rates beyond 80% SOC<\/a>, and possibly bump up the maximum initial kW charge rate.<\/p>\n<p>Also, Ford is exploring \u201cunbridled\u201d drivetrain power-management software tweaks to modulate repeated hard-acceleration power demands, thereby reducing pack heating and extending track-style driving times. But software tweaks treat symptoms and do not resolve the root cause: The current Mach-E pack\u2019s hardware-based thermal bottleneck \u2013 the plastic-carrier\/passive-fin based module design \u2013 is baked in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What about the amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/porsche\/taycan\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22porsche%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22taycan%22%7D\">Porsche Taycan<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/audi\/e-tron-gt\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22audi%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22e-tron-gt%22%7D\">Audi e-tron GT<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/hyundai\/ioniq-5\/\" data-inline-widget=\"internal-links\" data-type-id=\"1\" data-params=\"%7B%22make_alias%22%3A%22hyundai%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ioniq-5%22%7D\">Hyundai Ioniq 5<\/a> fast-charging speeds? I don\u2019t have a solid explanation on this charging magic yet. Their thermal path \u201cconductance\u201d values aren\u2019t sufficiently higher than the EVs modeled in this article to justify the speeds. They must have lower cell-heat-generation rates than the others at these high C-rates. Research continues. I suspect a low-resistance cell chemistry or cell-construction recipe, perhaps shared and linked to something else they share in common. Could it be\u2026<a href=\"https:\/\/www.motor1.com\/news\/518766\/who-is-mate-rimac-bugatti\/\">Rimac<\/a>?<\/p>\n<section class=\"relatedContent-new\" contenteditable=\"false\" draggable=\"true\" data-widget=\"related-content\" data-widget-size=\"content\" data-params=\"%7B%22type_id%22%3A0%2C%22title_id%22%3A%22%22%2C%22items%22%3A%5B%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22503880%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Watch%20How%20Long%20It%20Takes%20To%20Charge%20A%20Mustang%20Mach-E%20From%200%20To%20100%25%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22mustang-mach-e-dc-fast-charge-test%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22is_video%22%3A%221%22%2C%22images%22%3A%7B%22s5%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.motor1.com%2Fimages%2Fmgl%2FER4gR%2Fs5%2Fmach-e-dc-fast-charging.jpg%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22article_edition_id%22%3A%22533899%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Exclusive%3A%20Ford%20Mustang%20Mach-E%20Fast%20Charging%20Update%20Coming%22%2C%22alias%22%3A%22ford-mache-harging-update-coming%22%2C%22section%22%3A%221%22%2C%22is_video%22%3A%220%22%2C%22images%22%3A%7B%22s5%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.motor1.com%2Fimages%2Fmgl%2FzOXgL%2Fs5%2F2021-mustang-mach-e-gt-performance-edition.jpg%22%7D%7D%5D%7D\">   <\/section>\n<p><em><strong>Footnote:<\/strong> When adjusting the thermal bottleneck modeling spreadsheet to estimate charging C-rates required to create on a fixed hot-spot-to-cooling-plate temperature difference, the C-rates in most cases closely matched the 10%-80% SOC average C-rates reported in many of Mark Kane\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/search\/?q=fast+charging+analysis\"><em>fast-charging analysis articles<\/em><\/a><em>. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Many EV\u2019s start out for the first couple of minutes with extremely high kW charging rates to quickly warm up the cells to the maximum charging temperature, but then thermal reality sets in. By 80% SOC charging or after 15 minutes of performance driving, a pack\u2019s true power and thermal management capabilities are revealed.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Keith Ritter is a registered mechanical engineer, member SAE, Life Member ASHRAE. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Contact: engineeredcompliance@gmail.com <\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;A bottleneck is\u00a0any resource whose capacity is equal to or less than the demand placed upon it.&#8221; &#8220;A non-bottleneck is any resource whose capacity is greater than the demand placed on it.&#8221;\u00a0 From \u201cThe Goal\u201d by Eliyahu Goldratt Eli Goldratt revolutionized manufacturing production analysis with his \u201cTheory of Constraints\u201d view of prioritizing attention on the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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