Range anxiety after two days of driving

[timbop]

No worries, just wasn’t sure if I was being dense! The Y is a nice vehicle. It doesn’t drive on water like some proclaim. I think Ford hit the deficiencies of the Y pretty well. Looking forward to seeing a Mach E at my dealer in a few weeks.

I have no doubt the model Y is more efficient, and overall a very good car. I think the MME is less efficient, but not as far behind as the EPA numbers and Guess-o-meter numbers suggest. Tesla overstates their capabilities, and Ford tries to be conservative.

Unfortunately many people accept Musks's continuous exaggerations without digging deeper. And then some of them troll forums.

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[Teledatageek]

I have no doubt the model Y is more efficient, and overall a very good car. I think the MME is less efficient, but not as far behind as the EPA numbers and Guess-o-meter numbers suggest. Tesla overstates their capabilities, and Ford tries to be conservative.

Unfortunately many people accept Musks's continuous exaggerations without digging deeper. And then some of them troll forums.

Agree 100%. Elon has cult like status on the Tesla forums. A little tiring...

 

[phidauex]

Since the MMEs software only permits you to use 90% of capacity, 100 = 90, then 0 = 10% remaining? Theoretically ~20 more miles of range. I doubt they would prohibit that energy from being used. Or?

The allowable range is probably something like 2% to 92% of the chemical SoC of the battery. They want to keep a little gap on the bottom to keep the batteries from disconnecting due to undervoltage, and a bigger gap on the top, because high SoCs are much more damaging to batteries. On our grid scale systems the first thing the manufacturers want to know when assessing battery degradation is "how many cycles, at what average temperature, and how many hours did it spend over 90%".

Also, at very high SoCs, like 97%+, the charger has to switch from constant current charging to constant voltage charging, which slows down considerably. I'm not even 100% if EV chargers actually support CV charging, or if they all just intend to work on systems where some of the battery capacity is held back.

But the overbuild is basically a good thing - you don't want to access the entire battery range. We hold back up to 40% of battery capacity in large systems if we are shooting for 20 or 25 year lifespans.

 

[mr_raider]

A unheated garage may be no better than outside in the sun. That was one question I had and I put it to my dealer. If it is plugged in it will maintain itself or just freeze up? If it sits for days plugged in in the cold should we set it up on a schedule? What is recommended. It appears the Bolt take care of preserving the batteries if let sitting in the cold as long as it is plugged in? Ford not mentioning it in the manual makes me think it will be the same? I know I bring all my power batteries in the house for the winter but my wife says the MME is not getting under the blanket's with us asked not happening.

As long it is plugged in the battery should condition itself by cooling in summer and heating in winter. I can hear my Volt running the fan or make weird noises in teh garage.

 

[buffasnow]

Wrong it does help, not as much but still helps. You can drive 200 miles on a model y before it fully dies in these temps.

Since you state this as fact, I eagerly await your post on the specific trim of the Tesla MY you took on your 200 mile trip "in these temps", as well as general location and weather details.

Really torn on whether to feed the under-bridge dwellers, but....?

 

[timbop]

Really torn on whether to feed the under-bridge dwellers, but....?

Unfortunately you're wasting your time; he is only here to make himself feel better by trolling and trying to evoke a reaction. It's sad, actually.

 

[KAustin]

Unfortunately you're wasting your time; he is only here to make himself feel better by trolling and trying to evoke a reaction. It's sad, actually.

Don't entertain him. Obviously, too much time on his hands. All he wants to do is talk about the heat pump. It's not going to dissuade us from getting the MME. At least it will be well built. He's acting like the brand is at the BOTTOM of quality for any car brand. I'm not a hater. I've driven every Tesla model and like them, generally. Go away...

I understand there is going to be range issues at different times and conditions. One reason why I went with the extended range battery.

 

[IL_Vet]

Anxiety Justified? California route one, rear wheel drive, EPA 305 miles. I am a very ‘light footed’ driver. Have not pressed the brake once and over 50 miles of driving.

BTW, regenerative braking better than any discs (gave up 2016 Jag for this)

Hello,
Do not panic, yet. I am in IL too. I just asked someone else from IL about her MME energy stats. Her stats were slightly better than mine, but she was south of me and the weather was ten degrees warmer. It is the cold weather.

We also spend more money to fuel ICE vehicles during winter because it takes more energy to keep the energy and us warm. I have experienced the decreased range issue in a Tesla and two hybrids. Climate controls (heating) and the vehicle's response to frigid temperatures subtract energy. Once the weather warms, you will see increased range. Look at the stats from your specific trips, you will likely see that nearly fifty percent of the energy used is dedicated response to the sub-zero weather. Try warming the MME while it's still plugged in; consider decreasing tire pressure to ~38-39 psi; decrease the thermostat for heat to the lowest setting that's tolerable for you. The range of the MME (like most EVs and hybrids) will improve when warm weather returns.


p.s. Just wanted to say thanks to each of you who take the time to help others (like me) gain information. I'm a dork = this is what makes the country (World) a great place when strangers come together to help one another. Thanks, again, to everyone who has contributed to my knowledge about and desire to obtain a Mustang Mach E.

 

[Billyk24]

If you get half the EPA range at -10, I think you’re doing fine.

40% hit in range during true winter weather is correct.

 

[Billyk24]

Everyone needs to calm down ? the range estimator is far from correct on a newly delivered car. Remember, it learns from whatever history it has - and if that history is sitting idling for a month, occasionally being turned on for diagnostics or testing, well, guess what - the range estimate is going to appear really low.

In reality, I'd expect a 300 mile range to drop by around 30% at -10 F. A bit more if it's highway driving, possibly as much as half.

This is the norm for all electric cars right now, Teslas included.

40% less is what Tesla owners obtain in this winter weather.

 

[Woeo]

I'm enjoying this talk on the frigid conditions in the lower 48. We are forecasting -33F the next two nights. Sounds like I'll be lucky to have the range to get to the end of the driveway in my ER (when I get it).

Actually, I'm planning on at least a 50% drop in range - and that is with a heated garage at home and a Grizzl-E EVSE at work.

Sounds like your plan to have an EVSE at either end of your work commute is a clever way to double your range.

 

[stroszek]

Probably not at -10F, no.

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