Estimated Range really does adjust to driving data

[Machotone]

Have had MachE 2023 CA Route 1 for a little under 4 months now.

When we got it from the dealership estimated range shown on the dash at 100% charge was around 270 miles, quite a bit below the EPA estimated 312 for this trim (as well as real world driving test reports). I did some nervous searching on the forums, read that the estimate was a bit conservative, reset the driving data tracker in settings, and waited to see what happened.

This past weekend I charged to 100% for a road trip, and right when the charge ticked over from 99 to 100%, estimated range showed 298m. My long-term trip average is 3.3mi / kilowatt, which with the 91kw extended range battery is almost exactly 300m. So it now seems pretty spot on.

(I also noticed, on a drive back from Vegas to LA, that the range estimate dynamically adjusted with the miles/kw of the trip at any given point. This is also really helpful, though it can be a little nerve-racking when going over a mountain pass.)

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[Mike_1234]

I don't think you can assume, though, that your 91 kWh battery is actually capable of 91 kWh.

Doing math on the odometer miles, the battery percentage used for those miles, and the miles/kWh, I calculated my 2022 extended range at only 73 kWh actual usable capacity.

Checking my math ...

145 miles
66% battery (from 100% down to 34% in those 145 miles)
3.0 miles/kWh

145 / 3 = 48.33 kWh used
48.33 / 0.66 = 73.2 kW actual usable capacity if I'd driven it to 0%

 

[mkhuffman]

I don't think you can assume, though, that your 91 kWh battery is actually capable of 91 kWh.

Doing math on the odometer miles, the battery percentage used for those miles, and the miles/kWh, I calculated my 2022 extended range at only 73 kWh actual usable capacity.

Checking my math ...

145 miles
66% battery (from 100% down to 34% in those 145 miles)
3.0 miles/kWh

145 / 3 = 48.33 kWh used
48.33 / 0.66 = 73.2 kW actual usable capacity if I'd driven it to 0%

It depends on the SoH of your battery. When new, I did have 100% of the 88 kwH (raised to 91 kWh with an update) but since then my battery has degraded. Now I have around 84 kWh at 100% SoCD.

There is a buffer at the bottom (and top) of the battery, do you can keep driving after the car hits 0% SoCD. I have not done it myself, but others have.

 

[RickMachE]

It also depends on the temperature of the battery. If the battery is too cold (or very hot), it can't hold as much. So 100% may be less than 91kWh.

Of note, the range is supposed to adjust if you put a destination in the navigation, then it takes into account things like weather, altitude, incline up or down to get to your destination.

So, if it said 300, and then you put in a destination that was 100 miles and gaining altitude of 10,000 feet, you would see a markedly lower range. Consequently, if you put in a destination that was 10,000 feet lower, you would see a markedly higher range.

 

[mkhuffman]

It also depends on the temperature of the battery. If the battery is too cold (or very hot), it can't hold as much. So 100% may be less than 91kWh.

Of note, the range is supposed to adjust if you put a destination in the navigation, then it takes into account things like weather, altitude, incline up or down to get to your destination.

So, if it said 300, and then you put in a destination that was 100 miles and gaining altitude of 10,000 feet, you would see a markedly lower range. Consequently, if you put in a destination that was 10,000 feet lower, you would see a markedly higher range.

I have not noticed this behavior yet. Have you seen the range number change after entering in a destination? I did a couple 140 mile drives this week and used the navigation - the range didn't change.

That said, it appears that since this update the range is taking driving history into account again. However, it is not like it used to be, when range was heavily based on driving history. It seems like they are putting less weight on driving history.

A few weeks prior to the update, 100% SoCD was giving me 262 ish miles of range. After the update, 100% SoCD is now giving me 252 ish miles of range.

Last summer, before they stopped using driving history, I was getting 242 miles of range at 100%. And that was when my battery had much more capacity than it does now.

It appears that driving history does matter again, just not as much as it used to.

 

[Maquis]

I just stopped looking at the DTE.
At home, I plug in around 30%. On a trip, I put the next charger in as destination and I have a pretty good idea of the SoC I’ll have when I get there. I can easily check how I’m doing it at various intervals.

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