The reason is the use of an advanced active liquid-cooling and heating system for the lithium-ion battery, keeping its performances to the usual levels even when the temperatures drop to a very uncomfortable level.
As you already know, Nissan and Chevrolet launched their EVs in region with hot or moderate climate, in an attempt to both test the cars in those regions and cleverly disguise the poorer-than-expected performances in cold regions.
Ford, on the other hand, seems to have no such plans. The liquid used to cool or heat the battery operates under a range of ambient temperatures, giving the unit an extra touch of power, increased range and a preconditioned state.
“A liquid-heated battery can accept a charge faster from the regenerative braking that recaptures kinetic energy and sends it back to the battery, essentially providing longer range for the customer in real world cold weather conditions,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford director of Electrification Programs and Engineering.
“Additionally, since acceleration in an electric vehicle comes from the power available in the battery, the customer will have more power available if the battery is warmer.”
The liquid cooling system works in a pretty straightforward fashion: during cold days, it warms the battery, and during hot days, it does the opposite. What Ford is not saying, for now, is how much cold the system can handle. We'll probably learn that later in the year.
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