Testing range efficiency of the 2025 heat pump

[davegram]

Does the heat pump in the 2025 make a difference in range during winter months? Is the difference notable or negligible? Let's find out!

I have a 2025 extended range premium MME. I'm going to collect data to track the impact seasonal temperatures have on range for a MME with a heat pump. Here's the plan:

I drive the same 62 mile loop to and from work each day. Very predictable speeds. Each day I will log the daily high and low temperature. I will also track the starting and ending battery percentage. I think those should be enough datapoints to see how range is affected by outside temperature, but if anyone thinks I should be tracking something else as well, let me know.

I live in New York, so my climate varies greatly throughout the year. I'll log data from September into spring.

For comparison, it would be great to find someone with a similar climate who has a 2024 or earlier MME to log the same datapoints.

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[GlennMacC]

Does the heat pump in the 2025 make a difference in range during winter months? Is the difference notable or negligible? Let's find out!

I have a 2025 extended range premium MME. I'm going to collect data to track the impact seasonal temperatures have on range for a MME with a heat pump. Here's the plan:

I drive the same 62 mile loop to and from work each day. Very predictable speeds. Each day I will log the daily high and low temperature. I will also track the starting and ending battery percentage. I think those should be enough datapoints to see how range is affected by outside temperature, but if anyone thinks I should be tracking something else as well, let me know.

I live in New York, so my climate varies greatly throughout the year. I'll log data from September into spring.

For comparison, it would be great to find someone with a similar climate who has a 2024 or earlier MME to log the same datapoints.

I recently traded my '21 MME Premium AWD for a '25 MME Premium AWD. I do not drive as regularly as you do, but I did track the miles/kwh closely in my '21 and am doing so in my '25. My usual drives are a mix of highway and local roads, mostly say "Blue Highways". So I have "pretty good" data for the winter vs. summer numbers for the '21 here in the Washington, DC area and for the summer this year with the '25. My data is not as precise as yours will be as I just recorded the miles/kwh over the course of each week and averaged them, resetting Trip 1 each week. I classified the results into winter/shoulder/summer season results. I'll be curious to see how my set of winter numbers pan out vs. the '21 and will be eager to see your results also.

Glenn

 

[davegram]

I recently traded my '21 MME Premium AWD for a '25 MME Premium AWD. I do not drive as regularly as you do, but I did track the miles/kwh closely in my '21 and am doing so in my '25. My usual drives are a mix of highway and local roads, mostly say "Blue Highways". So I have "pretty good" data for the winter vs. summer numbers for the '21 here in the Washington, DC area and for the summer this year with the '25. My data is not as precise as yours will be as I just recorded the miles/kwh over the course of each week and averaged them, resetting Trip 1 each week. I classified the results into winter/shoulder/summer season results. I'll be curious to see how my set of winter numbers pan out vs. the '21 and will be eager to see your results also.

Glenn

Oh that's great. I'll be curious to see how your data compares as well.

 

[Space_Pony]

I recently traded my '21 MME Premium AWD for a '25 MME Premium AWD. I do not drive as regularly as you do, but I did track the miles/kwh closely in my '21 and am doing so in my '25. My usual drives are a mix of highway and local roads, mostly say "Blue Highways". So I have "pretty good" data for the winter vs. summer numbers for the '21 here in the Washington, DC area and for the summer this year with the '25. My data is not as precise as yours will be as I just recorded the miles/kwh over the course of each week and averaged them, resetting Trip 1 each week. I classified the results into winter/shoulder/summer season results. I'll be curious to see how my set of winter numbers pan out vs. the '21 and will be eager to see your results also.

Glenn

Your new car has a different type of HVB unless you're talking about extended range cars. Your data won't compare accurately.

 

[Coffs]

Well, 21 SR AWD, pre-conditioned Summer & pre-condiioned Winter, same journey, same speed just temperature difference of 80F vs 25F.
Summer = 230 mile range, Winter <150 (would have been even less if I hadn't turned cabin heat off, was getting 1 mile per kWh. Inside temp was approaching 25F).

 

[GlennMacC]

Your new car has a different type of HVB unless you're talking about extended range cars. Your data won't compare accurately.

The '25 is extended range so both are NMC. I should have included that detail.

 

[RickMachE]

I would love to see actual results of a heat pump, vs. non-heat pump vehicle in the winter, identical otherwise. I don't recall ever seeing the actual proof that a heat pump is better, and if so in what measurements, on the Mach-E. I have seen that it takes longer to get the cabin warm.

 

[Space_Pony]

The '25 is extended range so both are NMC. I should have included that detail.

Thank you for pointing out that crucial detail.

 

[davegram]

I would love to see actual results of a heat pump, vs. non-heat pump vehicle in the winter, identical otherwise. I don't recall ever seeing the actual proof that a heat pump is better, and if so in what measurements, on the Mach-E. I have seen that it takes longer to get the cabin warm.

Same here Rick. I should get a big enough data set to help the cause.

 

[watchdoc]

Does the heat pump in the 2025 make a difference in range during winter months? Is the difference notable or negligible? Let's find out!

I have a 2025 extended range premium MME. I'm going to collect data to track the impact seasonal temperatures have on range for a MME with a heat pump. Here's the plan:

I drive the same 62 mile loop to and from work each day. Very predictable speeds. Each day I will log the daily high and low temperature. I will also track the starting and ending battery percentage. I think those should be enough datapoints to see how range is affected by outside temperature, but if anyone thinks I should be tracking something else as well, let me know.

I live in New York, so my climate varies greatly throughout the year. I'll log data from September into spring.

For comparison, it would be great to find someone with a similar climate who has a 2024 or earlier MME to log the same datapoints.

Is your Mach E RWD or AWD?

Have you done much DCFC to learn much about the charge curve?

 

[davegram]

Is your Mach E RWD or AWD?

Have you done much DCFC to learn much about the charge curve?

It's AWD.

As much as I drive, I've had the car since May and I've only needed to DCFC once. Just charged to about 75% or so and finished my journey. So not much to report there...

 

[Billyk24]

I would love to see actual results of a heat pump, vs. non-heat pump vehicle in the winter, identical otherwise. I don't recall ever seeing the actual proof that a heat pump is better, and if so in what measurements, on the Mach-E. I have seen that it takes longer to get the cabin warm.

So far, the OP and others have failed to mention an important item: battery temperature. Furthermore, battery temperature changes while driving effecting that miles/kWh numbers. I have seen a drop in battery temperature even after "pre-conditioning" during the winter months. Then there is the question on what the battery temperature is after pre-conditioning at the start of the drive/test. Good luck for the testers as multiple numbers need to be crunched.

 

[Mach1E]

I feel like people are trying to do the math the “hard way,” when there is a MUCH easier way:

Instead of trying to adjust based on constantly moving targets like wind speed, exterior temperature, battery temp, car speed/acceleration/braking etc etc and trying to compare efficiency……

Just figure out the specs on energy usage of the heat pump and compare that to the electric heat.

That’s it. These are electric vehicles after all. The energy usage should be a simple calculation.

And then use that based on your speed. If driving higher speeds, the impact is less in terms of range loss (because heat usage is based on time).

 

[davegram]

So far, the OP and others have failed to mention an important item: battery temperature. Furthermore, battery temperature changes while driving effecting that miles/kWh numbers. I have seen a drop in battery temperature even after "pre-conditioning" during the winter months. Then there is the question on what the battery temperature is after pre-conditioning at the start of the drive/test. Good luck for the testers as multiple numbers need to be crunched.

Is there an easy way to find out battery temperature? That would certainly be a precise way to measure the impact of cold weather on battery performance, but I don't know how I would find out the battery temp. Tracking daily hi and low temp is an easy and practical way to collect daily data.

 

[RickMachE]

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