GTPE Battery in winter and cold - how much decreased performance range?

[ashul2]

Wondering how much decreased battery performance people have in a GTPE when it's cold out. Just got my mine and the range is terrible. Fully charge it was estimating 200 miles. Live in DC and the weather here has been in the low 30/upper 20 and we got some snow recently. I know EVs have less range in the cold but 25% decrease is a lot. Anyone in the Northeast or mountain states see the same issue?

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[generaltso]

The GOM showing a decrease of up to 40% is not uncommon. There are a lot of reasons for this. Search around the forum and you'll find dozens of threads listing them.

 

[tbets]

If you just got it then it hasn’t had a chance to learn your driving habits yet. Also keep in mind that the estimates are EXTREMELY conservative. I live in Northern NJ and have a standard range select AWD, the GOM in the temps you listed is about 170-180 miles on a full charge

 

[0t60-3.5]

In state of Iowa, my GT PE with 88kWh battery was getting 265-280 miles range during warm weather late August through September. When it was getting colder, it started dropping. I have not driven it more than 20 miles since Thanksgiving, but it's sitting in the garage, stored for the winter, at 50% state of charge (SOC) and the GOM (range Guess O Meter) is saying 76 miles. That correlates to 150 miles at 100%. That is probably a very low estimate and incorrect, actual is probably closer to 180-190.

It's been brutally cold this week - reaching below zero and even down to negative 12 this morning with high about zero. But... I'm keeping this baby in storage to avoid any salt. It hasn't been driven in rain either.

 

[agoldman]

Running a GT with only heated seats and steering wheel in 20-40 temps, I am still able to eek in the 250's. 40-50 closer to 270. So not horrible at all. If temps stayed in the 20's or less, I would expect further drops though.

 

[breeves002]

25% reduction in range in the winter for any EV is not a crazy figure.

Here's a generic post written by @Mach-Lee about winter range:
Hello, it looks like you are new and might be complaining about your cold-weather range decrease without having referenced the numerous threads on this subject. Due to high volume of questions, this is a pre-written response to help alleviate your concerns. Remember to use the search function before creating a new thread, as forum members are fatigued with new users asking this same question over and over again almost daily.

TL;DR - Range decreases due to cold weather, the range display is a highly pessimistic guess not to be taken literally, and you might update your software if you want to see a higher number.

First, understand that some range loss in cold weather is normal due to the laws of physics. Chemical reactions in the battery are more sluggish, the air is more dense to push through causing more drag, and your heater takes more electricity to run than A/C. The colder it is, the less your range will be because of these factors.

Second, know that the range you see on your display is just a guess. It can be off 40% or more from reality on some software versions. Do not take the number literally or you will be upset, nothing is wrong with your car, it is not the true range. Unlike other brands like Tesla, Ford has made the reading extremely conservative and sensitive to cold temperatures on purpose, so that you don’t strand yourself in cold weather. Expect a sharp decrease in the reading below about 50ºF/10ºC that is greater than reality.

Third, be aware that software updates have been released that increase the accuracy of the range display in cold weather significantly. If you haven’t had software updates done at your dealer yet, you should consider doing so because you are missing out on a lot of improvements (CSP 21P22 released Nov 22, 2021). After the update, you may see up to 30% more range displayed even though your actual range is unchanged.

You can calculate your actual range yourself by simply noting the battery percentage before and after a trip greater than 20 miles. For example, if a 25 mile trip took 12% battery, 25/.12 = 208 mile range at full charge. Another method is to multiply your mi/kWh efficiency by your battery capacity, either 88 kWh for extended range or 68 kWh for standard range. For example, if you are getting 2.6 mi/kWh in an extended range, 2.6*88 = 229 miles of range. Please note that in cold weather, the actual capacity of the pack will temporarily decrease some, so 80/62 kWh may be a better capacity figure to use for an estimate in cold weather. Full capacity will return next summer with warmer temps.

The amount of actual range loss may vary due to many factors, but to provide a generic reference, a loss of 35% at 20ºF/-7ºC would be typical in average driving. This would equate to a range of approximately 176 mi / 137 mi for extended/standard packs. The percentage range drop compared to summer is also inversely proportional to the speed you drive due to the heater’s percentage of total energy use. If you drive in a city you may see a 40% drop in range, vs. a 25% drop driving on the interstate.

In summary, remember the range display is always a pessimistic guess, and your actual range will be greater than indicated. Remember to get those dealer updates done to increase your satisfaction. Parking in a garage, plugging in, and using departure times will help keep the battery warm and increase your actual range. Enjoy driving your electric car after gaining an understanding of normal cold weather range loss and the pessimistic guessing of the range display, affectionally called the GOM (Guess-O-Meter).

 

[breeves002]

Running a GT with only heated seats and steering wheel in 20-40 temps, I am still able to eek in the 250's. 40-50 closer to 270. So not horrible at all. If temps stayed in the 20's or less, I would expect further drops though.

You sir are a better man than me. I was able to do that in my Focus Electric because I had to out of necessity, but in this car I have plenty of battery power to run the heat so I just let it run and get the horrible mi/kWh.

 

[ashul2]

This is great feedback. Thanks everyone! I wish they would also tell you how long your car will stay on in hours if not actively driving. Gotta be prepared for getting stuck on I-95 for 24hours nowadays

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