ER Lightning- Cannot Charge Past 265 Miles?

[RickLightning]

I appreciate your detailed thoughts in this thread.
We run our small business on a principle of total transparency.
Manufacturers of EVs would be well-served to adopt a similar principle. All we seem to see is the maximum advertised range, without a peep about how range will decline significantly in cold weather and with towing. The latter is an obvious impact, but it would not hurt (and maybe I have missed it) if in their advertising, there was at least footnote information on "expected" range in cold temperatures and towing certain loads.

With all that said, I am mildly disappointed but still thrilled with my Lightning. I am nowhere close to even thinking about turning in my Lightning. I was just a bit shocked earlier this week. The sting has worn off, and with the discussion here, it is easier to accept.

The manufacturers have some notes that you can find, in very small print, along some lines that you mention. Keep in mind that the numbers they do post are via an EPA formula, so they can't be sued for misstating things since they're doing it the way the government says to do it.

One of the challenges is how you explain things to the general population (anything, not just EVs) when a good portion doesn't care about details, and a good portion lacks the intelligence to understand. As a college student, I taught for the Red Cross, CPR classes. All materials were geared to a lower ability to understand (I think it was 7th grade / 13 years old) because anything more weighty got lost on the masses.

The other day on another forum someone complained about their vehicle getting lower winter mileage, and said a vehicle in 2013 also did that (8 years ago). They still haven't figured out, in 8 years, that cold weather and winter gas combined cut MPG. Sometimes you just can't fix people's brains.

It should be, but isn't, common sense that if you pull a big box trailer behind you you'll get lower MPG than if you pull a nice bolt, which will get lower MPG than if you pull a small open trailer (without tilted up tailgate). But keep in mind that it's not common sense to most to ensure they tow under capacity, they balance their load, etc. One reason Ford put in the scales was because people are too stupid to know when they're over capacity, or just don't give a crap.

For the small percentage of EV buyers that are outraged and give up, Ford and others will simply resell the EV to someone that isn't upset. Perhaps, eventually, EV knowledge will become common to everyone, but that's a long way off.

Sponsored

 

[VTbuckeye]

As a not-first-time EV owner living in the northeast the range hit from cold weather and battery best practices is nothing new to me. If asked how much range I have I usually respond with "it depends." January vs September... 140 miles vs 300 miles (bolt EV). 0 to 50mph or 65mph to 75mph. EVs get their best range at lower speeds. ICE may do best at 60ish mph but not 80mph. The manufacturers are only allowed to say their consumption figures from the window sticker. They can't advertise a car as getting 50mpg (it might under the right conditions) if the test says that it only averages 40mpg. There should be more transparency in the your mileage may varry statement. Doing some independent research is important. The published 70mph range tests are a great example. As for temperature and range someone should do the tests at multiple temperatures ranging from hot (100+) moderate (60-70), cool (30-40), cold (10-20), very cold (-20-0). The blog community could come up with this faster than an epa/government test, but people have little excuse in 2022 not knowing that EVs can be incredibly good and incredibly bad depending on your individual circumstances and driving habits. The guy at the dealership is trying to turn their car into money and as much as we want to them to be forthright and honest about the particulars of EV ownership in general and a specific EV in particular if it is not going to make the sale easier then they will probably not say anything about it. I highly doubt there will ever be any law conferring a fiduciary responsibility on the guys selling you a car.

 

[ivan256]

Does anyone have ACTUAL range numbers in the cold versus the GoM numbers? I suspect that someone who actually uses 80-90% of the battery to get somewhere will actually get better numbers than the GoM states. Something closer to a 25% loss in range compared to their normal summer range. We need more data!

I would do the experiment, but it doesn't get cold enough where I am.

I've taken 3 cold weather road trips of near or above full battery capacity in the last two weeks.

My take is that the "guess-o-meter" is almost spot on. If it says your ER has 217 miles range at 90% and you drive how you typically drive, you have about 217 miles range. If you speed up or slow down, you'll get more or less range from the same charge. But it takes temperature into account pretty damned well.

That said, I haven't tried to keep going past single digits. So maybe I have dozens of miles left when it says I have 9? I'm not going to find out.

 

[Pioneer74]

I had 186 miles at 90% this morning. Been cold and windy here lately.

 

[lightspeed]

I've taken 3 cold weather road trips of near or above full battery capacity in the last two weeks.

My take is that the "guess-o-meter" is almost spot on. If it says your ER has 217 miles range at 90% and you drive how you typically drive, you have about 217 miles range. If you speed up or slow down, you'll get more or less range from the same charge. But it takes temperature into account pretty damned well.

That said, I haven't tried to keep going past single digits. So maybe I have dozens of miles left when it says I have 9? I'm not going to find out.

Yeah I wouldn't push it either.

Out of curiosity, do you turn on recirculate when it's cold? I noticed recently when it was in the 30s that the heating is MUCH more efficient with recirculate on which is what we'd expect of course.

 

[jimfigler]

The preconditioning is totally useless for people who don't have a set schedule. The app should let hit a precondition button 15-30 minutes prior to departure.

 

[ivan256]

Yeah I wouldn't push it either.

Out of curiosity, do you turn on recirculate when it's cold? I noticed recently when it was in the 30s that the heating is MUCH more efficient with recirculate on which is what we'd expect of course.

Unless the windows start fogging up, yeah.

I'm waiting to see what temps near or below zero do to climate usage. I might consider installing an auxiliary heater in the coolant loop if it's going to take more than 10% of my range to stay comfortable. I decided up front that if I needed to alter my usage significantly then this truck wasn't for me. So I'm going to drive 80, and turn the heat up if I'm cold. If I can't make it work for my lifestyle I'll change trucks, not lifestyles. So far so good, though.

 

[jmfinney]

Have had my Lightning for about a month now.

Last 2 days, have not been able to charge my Extended Range Lightning past 265 miles.

Range was down to 140 miles, plugged into FCSP at home, and charging stopped at 265 miles of range.

Unplugged FCSP. Went into vehicle, changed settings to 100% maximum charge. Started and stopped vehicle. Plugged in FCSP. Will not charge further. My maximum charge was previously set at 90%, which should reach 288 miles of range.

Any advice?

I have the same issue with my Platinum with the extended range battery, and at 100% only goes to 265 miles.

 

[Pioneer74]

I have the same issue with my Platinum with the extended range battery, and at 100% only goes to 265 miles.

It's not an issue. It's what happens when it gets cold out. My ER Lariat only showed 186 miles of range at 90% this morning. It's cold and windy outside.

 

[LightningShow]

It helps having owned an EV before. I'm seeing about 20-25% range degradation right now, very similar to what I saw with my Bolt this time of year. I had been getting around 2.3-2.4mpk and it's dropped to 1.9mpk the last few weeks. If I went on a road trip it would probably be a bit better since a lot of the degradation this time of year is due to preheating the cabin prior to short trips.

This is why I bought an ER. I know that during January and February in New England I could see under 200 miles of range and I wanted enough to be able to get to my preferred ski hill and back on one charge, about 160 miles RT. Even in single digit morning temps I should be able to make that trip and get home on one charge.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Unless the windows start fogging up, yeah.

I'm waiting to see what temps near or below zero do to climate usage. I might consider installing an auxiliary heater in the coolant loop if it's going to take more than 10% of my range to stay comfortable. I decided up front that if I needed to alter my usage significantly then this truck wasn't for me. So I'm going to drive 80, and turn the heat up if I'm cold. If I can't make it work for my lifestyle I'll change trucks, not lifestyles. So far so good, though.

The HVAC systems humistat should cause the AC loop to activate pulling out some of the moisture in the cabin air, if you don't see the AC show as active, tap it on for the duration to clear the window fogging.

 

[THX1138]

With.

Preconditioning warms the batter which is helpful for the FIRST LEG of the drive. As you drive, the battery will COOL, not warm (at least in 20 degree temps). My Mach-E dropped to 40 to 45 degrees. When you DC charge, it will warm up, I noted around 95 degrees. Then, as you drive, it will drop back to 40 to 45.

Anything below low 70s results in a drop in efficiency. How much depends on temps, speed you drive at, whether you're going up inclines or down, length of leg, etc.

I get 3.0 on the highway. I plan my trips at 2.8. In the winter, I got 2.3, so a 23% drop (only winter trip). I plan my winter driving at 2.1.

Then, as you drive, you see what reality is. Put that big resistance heater on set to 72, and you will noticeably cut your range. Set it on 68 and Auto (1), and use your seat and steering wheel heaters.

All of this is irrelevant if you're driving locally and don't need the range.

Is it mostly flat where you live?

 

[bydabeach]

Is it mostly flat where you live?

Rick is an expert at this stuff, but I have yet to see 2.3 on any trip, even in the summer time. Even driving at 55 mph on the highway. 1.8-2.0 is the norm for me. In the cold, 1.6-1.8.

 

[LightningShow]

Rick is an expert at this stuff, but I have yet to see 2.3 on any trip, even in the summer time. Even driving at 55 mph on the highway. 1.8-2.0 is the norm for me. In the cold, 1.6-1.8.

Do you have aggressive tires? Or, anything else installed that might affect wind resistance? I regularly see 2.5-2.6 on my commute, which is mostly highway.

 

[LightningShow]

The preconditioning is totally useless for people who don't have a set schedule. The app should let hit a precondition button 15-30 minutes prior to departure.

I know this is resurrecting an old post but I can't believe they haven't added on demand preconditioning.

Sponsored