CR report on EV range tests

[B25Nut]

Owners at the Tesla forum repot on 30 to 40 percent range losses with single digit f temperatures and below. Charging is also slower.

One poster a while back stated he wouldn't even consider the Mach-E since it didn't have a heat pump. The CR figures show the exact same drop in range (32%) for the MY and MME in cold weather. I'm sure that Ford engineers knew this. They took a lot of flak for making the correct decision.

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[dbsb3233]

In fairness, the Mach E has a usable 88/91Kwh battery, the hyundai 74kwh (heat pump) the ID4 a 77kw and Y a 75 kW (Heat pump). So the Mach E is still the electricity “ hog“ but it does it in such a good fun way….lol. What’s 13 kWh among friends…… That’s where the heat pumps show their benefit in the cold weather ranges for sure.

To put it another way, if the model y had an 88 kw battery it would have gone 218 miles winter/321 Summer, the ID.4 194 W/293 S and the Hyundai 300 S.

True. Just depends on what means more to each person: range or efficiency.

Personally I care more about actual range, which allows me to go more places (because there's long gaps on many routes), and reduces my odds of getting stranded.

 

[BigMach-E]

Do you think extrapolation is valid here for other trim levels? Being that 188 miles is 69 percent of 270 on ER, that 2021 SR AWD with 211 miles EPA should see about 145 miles in cold temp?

If so, that's fine with me.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I probably won’t ever do a 100% to 0% range test but I was pretty impressed in my longest road trip to date yesterday, going from Boston to Burlington,VT and getting 3.4 miles/kWh over 230 miles at 65-75mph for most of the whole way (with hands-free Bluecruise). I think that translates to over 300 miles of range in this Premium AWD ER.

And, wow, I knew Tesla’s EPA numbers were known to be a bit on the optimistic side, but those MY ranges….crazy

I'm in NH so I know the drive you took. A lot of uphill climbs if you were on I-89 North. I drove from the NH coast up to Concord, VT up 93. Loaded car, AC, 70 mph mostly. I averaged over 3 mi/kW as well. Under 50 and this car seems to sip power.

 

[awp0]

I'm in NH so I know the drive you took. A lot of uphill climbs if you were on I-89 North. I drove from the NH coast up to Concord, VT up 93. Loaded car, AC, 70 mph mostly. I averaged over 3 mi/kW as well. Under 50 and this car seems to sip power.

Yup, that’s the one. I head up I-93N to I-89N and the 89 portion gets pretty hilly. It seems the car does pretty well though in staying over 3 even in the mountains if you’re not going too much above 70, which is great.

 

[Blue highway]

So much for that vaunted heat pump.

Heat pumps are used because they are more efficient than resistive heating above really cold temperatures. 16 degrees is too cold. In the 40's and 50's they shine.

 

[Blue highway]

Don’t all of these models have heat pumps except the MME? The range drop from warm to cold on the MY and ID.4 is really surprising. In fact, it looks like the MME actually does slightly better (percentage wise).

The ID4 does not have a heat pump in the US.

 

[Blue highway]

One poster a while back stated he wouldn't even consider the Mach-E since it didn't have a heat pump. The CR figures show the exact same drop in range (32%) for the MY and MME in cold weather. I'm sure that Ford engineers knew this. They took a lot of flak for making the correct decision.

Or maybe they left it out using the same reasoning that resulted in no tow hooks in the rear

 

[Maquis]

Heat pumps are used because they are more efficient than resistive heating above really cold temperatures. 16 degrees is too cold. In the 40's and 50's they shine.

Exactly. And at 40+, I can pretty much get by with the heated seats. I don’t feel a heat pump offers enough advantage to offset the cost and complexity.

 

[Blue highway]

Exactly. And at 40+, I can pretty much get by with the heated seats. I don’t feel a heat pump offers enough advantage to offset the cost and complexity.

I guess we see this differently, maybe because of where we live. In the PNW, it's 45 degrees all winter. Too cold for heated seats only, and really inefficient for resistive cabin heat.

In Illinois, where winter is in the mid 20's or lower, then it's too cold for a heat pump to be very efficient.

Although I really like the MME, I'll never buy another EV without a heat pump... at least as long as I live in this climate... and I've had my fill of midwestern winters and would like better "winter" range.

 

[Mach1E]

Heat pumps are used because they are more efficient than resistive heating above really cold temperatures. 16 degrees is too cold. In the 40's and 50's they shine.

So how do you explain that this test was run at 50 degrees and Tesla didn’t do any better?

Sure we do know they can be more efficient, but it doesn’t seem like that shows up much in real world testing.

 

[Rabidsquirrel22]

Heat pumps are used because they are more efficient than resistive heating above really cold temperatures. 16 degrees is too cold. In the 40's and 50's they shine.

Then why did the Tesla see the exact same percentage range loss as the Mach-E in mild temps? That implies 50-60 degree range where some cabin heating is required.

 

[Maquis]

I guess we see this differently, maybe because of where we live. In the PNW, it's 45 degrees all winter. Too cold for heated seats only, and really inefficient for resistive cabin heat.

In Illinois, where winter is in the mid 20's or lower, then it's too cold for a heat pump to be very efficient.

Although I really like the MME, I'll never buy another EV without a heat pump... at least as long as I live in this climate... and I've had my fill of midwestern winters and would like better "winter" range.

Personal preference enters the picture, for sure. If my wife is in the passenger seat, the E-heat is needed at 50!

 

[Nklem]

Do you think extrapolation is valid here for other trim levels? Being that 188 miles is 69 percent of 270 on ER, that 2021 SR AWD with 211 miles EPA should see about 145 miles in cold temp?

If so, that's fine with me.

Spot on. I have a good friend what averaged 135-140 on a brutally cold last winter in Maine With their SR AWD

 

[Nklem]

Heat pumps are used because they are more efficient than resistive heating above really cold temperatures. 16 degrees is too cold. In the 40's and 50's they shine.

Actually the current super efficient HP units are a 2:1 heating COP efficiency above 0F, 3:1 above 25, 3.5:1 above 35. and 4:1 above 40. Of course this depends on which unit. The one EVs use may not be that good, as this test shows.

I plan on testing this winter with the Ioniq 5.

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