Electric Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions

EV stands for Electrified Vehicle, which is the overall category name for any vehicle that has a high-voltage battery that assists with powering the vehicle or completely powers the vehicle on its own.

A Hybrid has a gas-powered engine with a battery-powered electric motor that assists the engine. PHEV batteries can be recharged by plugging in, but Mild Hybrid and Full Hybrid batteries cannot be recharged by plugging in.

PHEV stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, which can be plugged in and operated on battery power alone, but also has a gas-powered engine.

 BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle, also known as an All-Electric Vehicle, which operates only on electricity. It has no internal combustion engine and needs no gasoline.

All-electric vehicles:

* Have nearly immediate torque, so stepping on the accelerator provides an immediate response
* Are cleaner for the environment with no tailpipe emissions
* Do not require oil changes
* Generally require less scheduled maintenance than internal combustion engine vehicles
* May create less noise than internal combustion engines
* Are less expensive to operate due to savings accrued while charging at home
* Are subject to the same rigorous safety tests as internal combustion engine vehicles

Incentives are always changing, so it’s best to do the research at the time it's needed. Go to https://afdc.energy.gov and select the LAWS & INCENTIVES tab.

* Click on the “Federal” button and then the link entitled "Electric Vehicle (EV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Tax Credit" to see the current credits and incentives
* Navigate back to the “State” button and select your state. Check for both State Incentives and Utility/ Private Incentives
An incentive search function may also be found on the Ford.com website.

Yes. Ford has a battery disposal and recycling process, and has established a long-term partnership with Redwood Materials as our recycling source. The lithium-ion batteries in Ford EVs can and will be recycled. The materials within the battery are valuable, so we will not dispose of them in a landfill. Ford can track the life cycle of the battery from production to the end of its time in the vehicle. As of today, there are not many recycling centers because owners are still driving on their EV batteries.

Under the Unique Component Warranty, Ford provides coverage of the high-voltage battery for 8 years or 100,000 miles (whichever occurs first).
Refer to the Vehicle Warranty Guide for a complete list of all of the parts covered.

Yes, as a battery gets older, it may deliver fewer miles. Ford EV batteries are covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first) and the battery may be replaced if its capacity drops below 70%. Many Ford EV batteries have met this standard. In fact, many Escape Hybrid models operating as taxis still have their original batteries and have logged over 100,000 miles of service.
If an EV-Certified Ford dealership determines that the battery capacity is less than 70% of the high-voltage battery’s beginning-of-life capacity, Ford will cover the necessary component repair or replacement to correct this capacity loss. The work has to be performed by an EV-Certified Ford dealership.

It depends on the type of EV in question:

• A Mild or Full Hybrid cannot be charged. No extra equipment is needed.
• A PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) requires:
  • A charging cord — usually supplied by the manufacturer
  • An electrical wall outlet of either Level 1 (120-volt) or Level 2 (240-volt) capacity
  • An optional wall-mounted charging unit providing 240-volt charging capacity
• An All-Electric (BEV) requires:
  • A charging cord — usually supplied by the manufacturer
  • An electrical wall outlet (240-volt suggested)
  • A recommended wall-mounted charging unit (240-volt)

See the vehicle section within eSourceBook for specifics on the charging equipment supplied by Ford, as well as which equipment may require additional purchase and installation.

The cost to fully charge an EV depends upon a number of factors:

• The capacity (size) of the vehicle’s high-voltage battery
• The utility company’s charge per kilowatt hour
• The public charging company’s price per kilowatt hour
• The voltage and amperage of the charging method used (this affects how long it takes to achieve a full charge)

Example: The national average residential electricity rate is $0.14 per kilowatt hour.(1) Multiply the kWh you need by the electricity rate per kWh to determine the approximate cost. A 70 kWh battery pack multiplied by $0.14 per hour equals $9.80 for a full charge, using a home charger. Your charges may vary.

Owners can set their preferred charging times through the in-vehicle touchscreen (under Settings) or through their FordPass App. Ford EVs even allow owners to schedule separate weekday and weekend charge times.

When charging at home with AC chargers, Ford recommends that owners with a Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) battery set the charge limit to 90% for routine daily driving or 100% only for longer trips. Vehicles with NCM batteries include F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, and Mustang Mach-E models built before mid-model year 2023. Mustang Mach-E standard-range models built after mid-model year 2023 are equipped with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and can be charged to 100% at any time when using a 120-volt or 240-volt AC charger at home. Owners with LFP batteries should charge to 100% at least once per month to maintain their vehicle's battery health and estimated range accuracy.

Follow this link for the details.

All-Electric Vehicle owners can use the FordPass app’s “Power My Trip” function to find any charging stations. Owners of PHEV vehicles can use MyFord Mobile or FordPass to search for charging stations. All-Electric and PHEV drivers can also use the in-vehicle navigation system, searching in “Points of Interest” or “Nearby Chargers.”

Ford All-Electric Vehicle drivers can pay for public charging with their smartphone, using a credit card that’s linked to the FordPass App, as long as they are using a charging station that’s part of the BlueOval Charge Network. For PHEV and All-Electric drivers using out-of-network charging stations, both RFID (“chip”) cards and credit card payment are usually accepted. (This may require an additional app download for that charging company and adding a payment method.)

Yes to both. In the snow, owners should remove any snow in the port or the connector before connecting the charge cord to the charge port.

Yes. Ford EV batteries have been tested to temperatures of -40° F.

Preconditioning has at least two benefits. With the vehicle plugged in, owners can preheat or precool the lithium-ion battery for optimal vehicle operation, and they can set a comfortable temperature inside the cabin. Owners can schedule preconditioning from their FordPass App or on their in-vehicle touchscreen using the “Departure and Comfort” control. As an added bonus, preconditioning uses power from the home (or business) outlet and preserves the vehicle’s battery power for driving. Remote starting an EV can warm or cool the cabin to the owner's preset temperature preference. But remote starting does not precondition the battery.

Yes — owners can charge with the garage door closed because the vehicle is not producing emissions.

Yes. The vehicle’s accessories can be used, but it cannot be shifted out of Park.

Drivers know that electricity is flowing when the charge cord “clicks” when connected to the charge port and the charge status indicator light illuminates. Drivers should never use equipment that looks broken or has a frayed cord.

1-Pedal Drive in the Mustang Mach-E — or Trail 1-Pedal Drive in the F-150 Lightning — allows the driver to operate the vehicle using only the accelerator pedal. Activating 1-Pedal Drive increases deceleration when the accelerator is released and can even slow the vehicle to a stop. 1PD has the following benefits:

• Eliminates the need to use the brake pedal in most driving situations
• Allows the driver to control the vehicle with just the accelerator in stop-and-go traffic
• Increases regenerative braking, which helps add power to the battery and may result in longer range
• The brake pedal still functions when the driver needs to stop quickly

In the event that a Ford All-Electric vehicle runs out of charge, Roadside Assistance can be summoned using the FordPass App. The driver can then decide to have the vehicle towed for free to one of three locations within a 35-mile radius:

• To their home
• To the nearest public charger
• To an EV Certified Ford Dealership

Complimentary for up to 5 years/60,000 miles, whichever comes first, through the Electric Vehicle Roadside Assistance Program. Additional benefits apply in certain situations. See owner's manual for details. Owners can reach Roadside Assistance at (800) 241-3673 (FORD).

The vehicle may continue to operate while showing 0 distance-to-empty for a short distance (1-3 miles) with reduced power and on-screen alerts. But the vehicle must be recharged immediately. The battery will shut down when it can no longer propel the vehicle. At that point, the EV needs to be recharged before it can be restarted.

No, but it is highly recommended. The FordPass App provides a wide variety of critical functions, including:

• Quick access to the public BlueOval Charge Network and payment options
• Planning your road trip while optimizing charging

There are a number of methods drivers can use to enhance the range they get from a single charge (many of which are similar to methods for saving gas in an internal combustion vehicle):

• Precondition the vehicle (preheat or precool the cabin and battery) while it’s still plugged in, saving battery power for the upcoming drive. You can even schedule times using the FordPass App
• Remove any snow or ice from the vehicle, which adds extra weight and increases aerodynamic drag
• While driving, use heated accessories such as a heated steering wheel or heated seats that are more power efficient than the conventional climate control system to heat the whole cabin (in extreme conditions)
• Practice battery-saving driving, including:
  • Maintain constant speed: Accelerate and brake slowly. Use cruise control when appropriate. Minimize stop-and-go driving
  • Brake slow and steady: Make the most of regenerative braking to recharge the high-voltage battery. Anticipate stops and, when traffic conditions permit, apply smooth braking throughout the entire stop
  • Park smart: Park in the shade when it’s over 80°F. Use a protected area like a garage when it’s under 50°F

On Ford All-Electric Vehicles such as Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit, drivers may notice the cooling fan operating while charging and/or when the vehicle is switched off. This is perfectly normal for all-electric vehicles and is no cause for concern. All vehicles – EVs and those with gasoline engines – use the cooling fan when the air conditioning is operating as part of the climate control system. On gasoline vehicles, the sound of the cooling fan is often lost in the sound of the engine operating. On all-electric vehicles, there is no engine sound to drown out the sound of the cooling fan, thus making the fan much more noticeable. On Ford All-Electric Vehicles, the cooling fan may also run while the vehicle is charging at 120 volts, 240 volts, or DC Fast-Charging. The EV’s cooling system helps keep the battery and on-board charging components at their optimal temperatures for maximum charge rates. The fan speed and loudness may vary, based on factors such as the ambient temperature, battery temperature, and during extended range charging. The cooling fan may run during cabin pre-conditioning, during a remote start, while charging the vehicle, while the air conditioning is running, or during a combination of these factors. The more items that require simultaneous cooling, the louder the cooling fan may be.