2027 Ford electric truck replaces 12V with 48V zonal architecture

[WXman]

The more I read, the more I dislike this vehicle. On the F-150 Lightning (and other EVs as well from what I’ve seen across the Web) one of the common issues is that the system will drain the 12V battery in about a week. That’s why it’s so important to totally disconnect 12V power if you plan to store the truck for a while. And it’s also why 12V batteries don’t last long on these EVs. So now they are going to replace the job the 12V battery used to do with a 48V battery? A 48V battery that certainly is not going to be stocked at every Walmart and auto parts store in America like 12V batteries are.

This is more and more starting to sound like a vehicle that Ford is building to save money at time of sale, but as the years pass the owner will shell it out in dealership repairs instead.

 

[metroshot]

The more I read, the more I dislike this vehicle. On the F-150 Lightning (and other EVs as well from what I’ve seen across the Web) one of the common issues is that the system will drain the 12V battery in about a week. That’s why it’s so important to totally disconnect 12V power if you plan to store the truck for a while. And it’s also why 12V batteries don’t last long on these EVs. So now they are going to replace the job the 12V battery used to do with a 48V battery? A 48V battery that certainly is not going to be stocked at every Walmart and auto parts store in America like 12V batteries are.

This is more and more starting to sound like a vehicle that Ford is building to save money at time of sale, but as the years pass the owner will shell it out in dealership repairs instead.

What rumors have you been reading ?

My EV's 12V battery has never given me an issue - 3 + years & 50,000 miles.

I have left my Mach E at the airport parking lot for a month recently while away in Europe and never an issue upon return. The HV battery was still at the same charge level and TCU modem worked well with connectivity via the Ford Pass app even from halfway around the world.

My wife's PHEV original OEM 12V battery was recently replaced after 7 + years and 80,000 miles.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

The more I read, the more I dislike this vehicle. On the F-150 Lightning (and other EVs as well from what I’ve seen across the Web) one of the common issues is that the system will drain the 12V battery in about a week. That’s why it’s so important to totally disconnect 12V power if you plan to store the truck for a while. And it’s also why 12V batteries don’t last long on these EVs. So now they are going to replace the job the 12V battery used to do with a 48V battery? A 48V battery that certainly is not going to be stocked at every Walmart and auto parts store in America like 12V batteries are.

This is more and more starting to sound like a vehicle that Ford is building to save money at time of sale, but as the years pass the owner will shell it out in dealership repairs instead.

You're aware UEV vehicles don't have a low voltage battery, right? They use a DC to DC converter (generally a highly reliable component if properly specified and cooled) to supply low voltage directly from the high voltage battery.

You're not wrong about some vehicles having battery drain issues. Heck, Maverick hybrids were dying for that reason in the early days. But it's completely irrelevant to the UEV platform.

I don't think there's any data out there suggesting the UEV will be a glorious source of wealth to dealerships. In general, BEVs are extremely low maintenance, and dealerships hate selling them for that reason (most dealer profit originates from service). And also, the UEV platform can be updated OTA for software issues - unlike my Maverick, which has been flashed four times in four years for recalls.

I think generally people start disliking a vehicle, and then they come up with reasons to explain why they dislike it. The same is true in reverse. Over on the Slate forum, you should see the total baloney people put out just to justify totally nutty narratives about how the Slate walks on water.

Another narrative out there is that "stealerships" will charge $5,000 over list. Let them. Just buy from one of the national volume dealerships at a discount and have them ship it to your door. You don't have to use your legs. Click the mouse a few times. Click a few keyboard keys. You've got a discounted Fathom in two minutes. Maverick owners have been doing this for years (not me, because Asheville Ford ROCKS).

 

[metroshot]

...... Over on the Slate forum, you should see the total baloney people put out just to justify totally nutty narratives about how the Slate walks on water.

Another narrative out there is that "stealerships" will charge $5,000 over list. Let them. Just buy from one of the national volume dealerships at a discount and have them ship it to your door. You don't have to use your legs. Click the mouse a few times. Click a few keyboard keys. You've got a discounted Fathom in two minutes. Maverick owners have been doing this for years (not me, because Asheville Ford ROCKS).

Oh, aren't you so correct about the Slate forum - they are talking like it's the best EV since sliced bread...
Anything negative or comparing to the Fathom will bring on jeers and hate speech by the Slate forum members.

As for ADM and dealer add-on BS - it's worth calling around or emailing the dealerships about their ADM and add ons.

When I got the '22 Lightning and '23 Mach E - had to call around many dealers to find ones that would not mark up nor add on silly things like $600 plastic door edge guards ($10 from Amazon), $1200 alarm system (same dinky ones used for lot security), and $400 for nitrogen in tires.

For my Fathom order since I just retired, I am looking at flying into Wichita, KS and picking up the Fathom at a discount from Long McArthur Ford in Salina, KS and driving her back to So Calif.

 

[paneubert]

For my Fathom order since I just retired, I am looking at flying into Wichita, KS and picking up the Fathom at a discount from Long McArthur Ford in Salina, KS and driving her back to So Calif.

Do it. 100%. I have done the drive back to Seattle from Salina twice with my Maverick(s). They will pick you up from the airport, drive you to the dealership, and take care of you. For me, one time I did all the paperwork once I was there, the other time I did all the financing a day or two before I flew in. For that second time, they pretty much handed me the keys, a stack of already signed papers, and said I had nothing to sign and could head out as soon as I wanted to. They will put a Kansas temporary plate on it that is valid for something like 60 days. In WA State, I think we only get a 30 day plate. Either way, you have a long time to tax/title/license it once you get back to California. You can drive around on the Kansas plate for a long time if needed.

 

[metroshot]

Do it. 100%. I have done the drive back to Seattle from Salina twice with my Maverick(s). They will pick you up from the airport, drive you to the dealership, and take care of you. For me, one time I did all the paperwork once I was there, the other time I did all the financing a day or two before I flew in. For that second time, they pretty much handed me the keys, a stack of already signed papers, and said I had nothing to sign and could head out as soon as I wanted to. They will put a Kansas temporary plate on it that is valid for something like 60 days. In WA State, I think we only get a 30 day plate. Either way, you have a long time to tax/title/license it once you get back to California. You can drive around on the Kansas plate for a long time if needed.

DM sent

 

[paneubert]

DM sent

Replied. Let me know if you have any other questions! They are a well oiled machine over there when it comes to out of state sales, so there is probably no scenario with an out of state buyer they have not seen before.

 

[Snakebitten]

Switching to 48V is one of the most convincing pieces of evidence that Ford is actually serious about NOT building a dressed up to LOOK like a modern (non legacy) electric vehicle.

You can't fake what it takes to go to 48V

 

[RonTCat]

You're aware UEV vehicles don't have a low voltage battery, right? They use a DC to DC converter (generally a highly reliable component if properly specified and cooled) to supply low voltage directly from the high voltage battery.

You're not wrong about some vehicles having battery drain issues. Heck, Maverick hybrids were dying for that reason in the early days. But it's completely irrelevant to the UEV platform.

I don't think there's any data out there suggesting the UEV will be a glorious source of wealth to dealerships. In general, BEVs are extremely low maintenance, and dealerships hate selling them for that reason (most dealer profit originates from service). And also, the UEV platform can be updated OTA for software issues - unlike my Maverick, which has been flashed four times in four years for recalls.

I think generally people start disliking a vehicle, and then they come up with reasons to explain why they dislike it. The same is true in reverse. Over on the Slate forum, you should see the total baloney people put out just to justify totally nutty narratives about how the Slate walks on water.

Another narrative out there is that "stealerships" will charge $5,000 over list. Let them. Just buy from one of the national volume dealerships at a discount and have them ship it to your door. You don't have to use your legs. Click the mouse a few times. Click a few keyboard keys. You've got a discounted Fathom in two minutes. Maverick owners have been doing this for years (not me, because Asheville Ford ROCKS).

Normally you need a low voltage battery of some sort. You want the high voltage battery disconnected completely for various situations, but you want the rest of the vehicle electronics live to do troubleshooting, etc.

Most battery drain comes from some sort of software issue prohibiting a module from sleeping (going into low power mode). This module keeps talking, keeping everything on the same CANbus awake, and sometimes the whole vehicle awake. This causes high "Key Off Load", and drains most low voltage batteries fairly quickly. ICE or HEV or EV all have this issue.

The Fathom architecture should overcome some of this, as the design is intended to not let one rogue module ruin everyone else's sleep.

 

[Maverstang]

Same process with Granger Ford in Iowa.

Both Granger and Long-McArthur are the best way to buy a popular Ford without any of the dealer drama. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

>> Normally you need a low voltage battery of some sort.

Normally yes, with the UEV no. I wish I could recall where I read that the UEV does not have any low voltage battery. But I just can't recall where I read that. So I can't produce a citation. So I don't blame anybody for thinking I'm totally full of it.

Anybody recall that source? Have I been hallucinating this "fact"?

 

[WXman]

What rumors have you been reading ?

My EV's 12V battery has never given me an issue - 3 + years & 50,000 miles.

I have left my Mach E at the airport parking lot for a month recently while away in Europe and never an issue upon return. The HV battery was still at the same charge level and TCU modem worked well with connectivity via the Ford Pass app even from halfway around the world.

My wife's PHEV original OEM 12V battery was recently replaced after 7 + years and 80,000 miles.

Rumors? I experienced it first hand. And, all a guy has to do is browse the Web for 3 minutes and find LOTS of examples of this being a problem.

You're aware UEV vehicles don't have a low voltage battery, right? They use a DC to DC converter (generally a highly reliable component if properly specified and cooled) to supply low voltage directly from the high voltage battery.

You're not wrong about some vehicles having battery drain issues. Heck, Maverick hybrids were dying for that reason in the early days. But it's completely irrelevant to the UEV platform.

I don't think there's any data out there suggesting the UEV will be a glorious source of wealth to dealerships. In general, BEVs are extremely low maintenance, and dealerships hate selling them for that reason (most dealer profit originates from service). And also, the UEV platform can be updated OTA for software issues - unlike my Maverick, which has been flashed four times in four years for recalls.

I think generally people start disliking a vehicle, and then they come up with reasons to explain why they dislike it. The same is true in reverse. Over on the Slate forum, you should see the total baloney people put out just to justify totally nutty narratives about how the Slate walks on water.

Another narrative out there is that "stealerships" will charge $5,000 over list. Let them. Just buy from one of the national volume dealerships at a discount and have them ship it to your door. You don't have to use your legs. Click the mouse a few times. Click a few keyboard keys. You've got a discounted Fathom in two minutes. Maverick owners have been doing this for years (not me, because Asheville Ford ROCKS).

You described the same thing that was described on page 1. That doesn't answer the question. Let's try again.

So if EV's have known issues with draining the 12V battery, how is Ford going to prevent battery drainage with this 48V system knowing that the owner cannot handle it themselves at home? Will they use software to ensure that ALL electrical load is shut down when the vehicle has sat for a period of time? And if so, how will memory functions work for the radio, settings, key fobs, etc?

This sounds like a poor way to do things, relying on one source of energy for all of these functions.