Winter Driving - Not All Doom and Gloom

[BadgerGreg]

After reading so many posts about reduced winter range, I offer a less pessimistic view of winter travel in a MME.

Coldest day of the new winter season in Michigan. Left home at 19 degrees (F) to drop off my kids and headed to Detroit (about 45 miles total, most of the miles on the highway traveling 75+ mph). I preconditioned the car in my garage while plugged in, so I left with a warm cabin. I set the cabin temp to 66 degrees and relied on the seat and steering wheel heaters (I'm perfectly comfortable with those settings). Despite the cold temps and high travel speeds, I still ended up with 2.8 mi/kWh. This is only 10% less than my warm weather commuting efficiency.

I can completely live with this. I don't get a full 270 mile range, but I'm also not dealing with an alarming reduction in efficiency. Although it can get colder than this in Southeast Michigan, this is pretty typical weather for the depths of winter.

Lessons learned:

• Always pre-condition when you can; when out and about, always plug in (ABC, right?)
• Set the cabin temp for 66-68...make up for it with seat and steering wheel heat (if you have it)
• Don't worry - you're going to be just fine and you'll still have the range you need

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[sotek2345]

Wow - pretty good performance. We could likely even do better - I would think heat set at 58 or 60 would be fine if you are using the seat heater and steer wheel heater. I usually use 65 or 66 without those.

 

[JamieGeek]

Yeah if I precondition I can still get about 3 miles/kWh in my CA Route 1 in the Detroit area for my 20 mile commute.

If I don't precondition (e.g. on the way home when the car has sat for hours in the cold) its more like 2.5 miles/kWh for the reverse 20 miles.

In the summer months I see more like 3.5 miles/kWh... HVAC set for 72F.

In my old Focus Electric I would frequently arrive home with less than 10 miles on the GOM for the same commute in January/February. That was going to extreme's as well (preconditioning and then not using HVAC at all).

 

[JGuske23]

I would bet your 75+ mph is more detrimental than the few degrees you lowered your climate. Good stuff regardless!

I've been putting a lot of highway miles on my Mach E and am getting 2.5 to 2.7 kwh with climate set to 73 and steering wheel heat on and I'm totally fine with it. I do set Cruise control to no more than 73 ever though. Seems like 65mph is the most efficient for highway but what's the fun in that

 

[sotek2345]

When we ordered ours, I figured the minimum range / battery size to purchase assuming ~1.5mi per kWhr in the winter. Sounds like we should be good to go.

 

[RickMachE]

I would bet your 75+ mph is more detrimental than the few degrees you lowered your climate. Good stuff regardless!

I've been putting a lot of highway miles on my Mach E and am getting 2.5 to 2.7 kwh with climate set to 73 and steering wheel heat on and I'm totally fine with it. I do set Cruise control to no more than 73 ever though. Seems like 65mph is the most efficient for highway but what's the fun in that

Actually, you'd probably find that 55 is more efficient than 65. But in a 70mph zone, that's not practical.

 

[Thor2j]

I have a GT. Live in mountains of Colorado and it was 8 degrees out the other day. I drive 75-80mph most of the time. I still get ranges around 210-220 miles. Always pre-condition at home. Heat set at 68 with seat heat on low. Not sure why everybody is so hung up on mileage unless you are trying to make a long trip. For daily driving set your heat at what your comfortable and drive it like you want. This wear extra jackets, heavier socks , drive 55mph is absurd. Just drive the damn thing.

 

[BadgerGreg]

Wow - pretty good performance. We could likely even do better - I would think heat set at 58 or 60 would be fine if you are using the seat heater and steer wheel heater. I usually use 65 or 66 without those.

It's when you go to 70+ degrees that you really begin to suck extra electricity from the battery to power e-heat. However, I find that temp range a bit too warm; especially when I already have a vest or light jacket on.

 

[Tampamike]

I would bet your 75+ mph is more detrimental than the few degrees you lowered your climate. Good stuff regardless!

I've been putting a lot of highway miles on my Mach E and am getting 2.5 to 2.7 kwh with climate set to 73 and steering wheel heat on and I'm totally fine with it. I do set Cruise control to no more than 73 ever though. Seems like 65mph is the most efficient for highway but what's the fun in that

Or, “73.” What’s the fun in that?

Where the speed limit here in the South is 70, nobody goes 73. Sometimes at 80 I feel like I’m the slowest guy on the road.

 

[JGuske23]

Or, “73.” What’s the fun in that?

Where the speed limit here in the South is 70, nobody goes 73. Sometimes at 80 I feel like I’m the slowest guy on the road.

I hear ya loud and clear, my biggest battery usage is me smashing the pedal for said fun, but I'm putting 1600+ miles per month on this thing, too many opportunities for tickets just having fun.

I definitely do not drive the car for the most available battery remaining to get back in my garage.

 

[Socalsp3]

you can preheat your cabin to say 75+F. you'd have more heat, and change it to 60 when driving.

 

[MachEGTSY]

I precondition my GT at 71F cabin temp. With mid 40s temperature outside, GOM shows ~215 miles consistently for past 1 week with average 2.8 to 3 miles per KWH. Not bad...

 

[ChargedCheese]

I have a GT. Live in mountains of Colorado and it was 8 degrees out the other day. I drive 75-80mph most of the time. I still get ranges around 210-220 miles. Always pre-condition at home. Heat set at 68 with seat heat on low. Not sure why everybody is so hung up on mileage unless you are trying to make a long trip. For daily driving set your heat at what your comfortable and drive it like you want. This wear extra jackets, heavier socks , drive 55mph is absurd. Just drive the damn thing.

Agreed. I live in the front range, and got 2.6 m/kw on that cold day, but that was with no pre-conditioning, the heat at 72. That works out to a 230 mile range which is a 15% loss compared to the estimated EPA range of 270 - all without trying. I'm perfectly happy with that.

 

[Chargernc]

I have a GT. Live in mountains of Colorado and it was 8 degrees out the other day. I drive 75-80mph most of the time. I still get ranges around 210-220 miles. Always pre-condition at home. Heat set at 68 with seat heat on low. Not sure why everybody is so hung up on mileage unless you are trying to make a long trip. For daily driving set your heat at what your comfortable and drive it like you want. This wear extra jackets, heavier socks , drive 55mph is absurd. Just drive the damn thing.

My thoughts exactly!!!

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