Yesim-Mike said:
...I came across with a posting talking about the importance of conditioning your battery, be it in the winter, be it in the summer. Here is the link to the posting
http://fordcmaxenergiforum.com/topic/2610-older-sae-article-on-the-battery-technology-in-the-energi/
I'm far from a battery expert on this forum, but warming up a battery sounds like a good idea to allow peak performance. From what I know, running on a cold battery has no effect on longevity, however.
As to cooling down a FFE battery, it really doesn't need "conditioning". The importance of keeping the battery cool in climates over 100 degrees F is important. As the car will remind you, it should be plugged in when temperatures are hot, if possible. For instance, my home is set for value charging after 2 a.m. Today, I ran a 72 mile freeway jaunt in 97 degree weather. I got home, near the coast, and it was 85 degrees. There was no warning to plug in, but I was curious what would happen, since it wouldn't be charging. When I plugged in, the cooling system immediately started, with the fans initially on high. After about 10 minutes, the system shut down and turned off the EVSE.
The point of the story is that you don't need to use your A/C in the FFE because the cooling system is independent of the interior cooling, unlike most plug-in hybrids that have no active cooling. There is no need to "condition" the FFE because the cooling system won't turn on unless it is hot outside. Some have suggested in extreme heat, the FFE might enjoy some cooling by turning the car on remotely without the A/C running. This may be a good idea.
