Charge Percent Indicated is Wrong

[jrp]

My Lightning is supposedly capable of being charged to a range of 220 miles. This works as intended. The other day, as a test, I charged to 100% and the range estimate was 218 miles…pretty close to the spec. However, as I drive the percent does not match the range estimate…not even close. For example, you’d expect to have 50% charge remaining when the range estimate is about 110 miles, or so. However, my current range estimate (parked) is 88 miles and the charge level percent says 63%. It should be well under 50%. Is this normal? Is it a bug with the software that matches range to charge level?

Related to this is the charge log in the Ford app. It can show charge level increases that are far above the range miles added. I’ve attached an image that shows 35% added when the range added was 106 miles!

Seems like the percent is almost random. This is not simply on the app…the charge level indicated in the truck is the same as the app…i.e., wrong. Any thoughts would be appreciated. If no one else is seeing this, perhaps my truck needs service?? Thx in advance…

 

[Maquis]

Many factors affect range, especially cold weather. Forget the GOM and just pay attention to the MPK and SoC.

 

[ctuan13]

The "range" number is referred to as the GOM (Guess-O-Meter) for a reason, it is rarely accurate and is the truck's trip computer guess at best. A variety of factors affect this number, including but not limited to: external temperature, battery temperature, driving style, driving speed, highway vs city driving, wind/weather.

We get posts seemingly weekly about people not realizing this distinction.

Focus on your actual battery percentage and your efficiency value (Mi/kWh)

 

[luebri]

Here you go. I put this together for my own amusement. Laminate and put on your dash.

The SR MPK might be a little more efficient (less weight) but this is a good guideline. Im sure the MPK numbers could be debated a bit, but it's definitely better than the GOM.

 

[Pioneer74]

Baby, it's cold outside.

 

[3121]

Range is just an estimate based on your recent driving behavior, temperature and other factors.

Best thing you can do on an EV is ignore the range estimate. Just use the state of change like you use your gas tank indicator on an ICE vehicle. Plug it in every night and charge to 80-90% and if you are driving and you get low SoC find a DCFC.

If you have an ODBII scan tool you can see what the battery health is. I track mine and it fluctuates between 99% and 103% depending on the day - which is a very healthy battery. This fluctuation may cause some slight movement in the estimated range.

 

[RickLightning]

The percent number is totally accurate. 63% of the available potential of the battery, as it exists at that moment. As the battery warms, more energy is available, and the range would go up. As it cools, less energy is available, and the range will go down. But that percentage - that's right on the money.

Cold weather = drop in range.
New EV drivers ==> cold weather ==> high number of trade-ins of EVs.

 

[jrp]

Here you go. I put this together for my own amusement. Laminate and put on your dash.

The SR MPK might be a little more efficient (less weight) but this is a good guideline. Im sure the MPK numbers could be debated a bit, but it's definitely better than the GOM.

Thanks. Very helpful.

 

[mme_and_lightning]

The GOM does not know if you are going to do only slow or city driving (likely get your estimated miles or better) or mostly highway driving (that's where you eat up battery at 65+). The Lightning does know the outdoor temperature and does adjust for that pretty well.

For longer trips, I use Apple Maps in my Lightning and the Lightning and Apple Maps know temperature and driving route and does a great job at estimating milage if you have "Share Information" on in Apple Maps.

I do find that because I'm a slower driver and not fast off the line I get a decent increase in milage to what the Lightning and Apple Maps predicts.


Also, I like to precondition. For longer trips it just makes sense to save the battery for travelling, not conditioning.





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[mb0220]

Efficiency can vary WIDELY frome one mile to the next in any vehicle, but particularly in an EV where downhill miles often add power to your battery. The GoM uses an average based on some data, but even with an accurate average you will see individual miles that end up very far on either side of that average.

So many people flip out when they drive 15 miles but see 27 subtracted from their range. But they don't realize that this is how estimating works. You are bound to see actuals that are different from the average, especially with a small sample size.

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