Pushed charge too close on road trip

[ILikeBigMutts]

Rarely take the Lightning on longer trips. Went on a 175-ish interstate mile trip (round trip) and underestimated effect of pulling a trailer. Small, aluminum 4x8 trailer, but it decreased mileage noticably. Florida, nice day in the 80s.

Starting home with 900lbs or so on the trailer, it seemed that all would be OK. I know chargers are plentiful, but I've only done home charging and didn't really want to go through the hassle of public charging. As the miles ticked by, the "miles available" kept trending downward toward the "miles to destination" (home), meeting at 25 miles.

I then began throwing cargo overboard. Turned off AC and fan, even turned off the radio. Reduced speed to around 55-60 (insanely slow on I-95 in south Florida). It worked! A gap started--slowly--opening up with battery miles remaining inching above miles to destination.

Knew there was a charger just off interstate about 3 miles from my house, but I'm feeling lucky (and sweaty).

Finally home, with 5 miles remaining!

How accurate is the mileage calculator? I really have no idea since I didn't run out of juice. However, my sense is that it was very close. I could actually watch the calculations move slightly in my favor in 1/10th of a mile increments when I turned off AC, lowered speed, etc.

I was a little surprised at how much of a difference it made when I turned off AC and lowered speed. I think lowering speed resulted in the most improvement.

It was a good thing my wife wasn't with me. She would NOT have appreciated my experiment.

The Lightning is my first EV, and I've for many years driven ICE F150s. Honestly, it's the best vehicle I've ever owned even with range restrictions. It would have been simple to plan for charging that didn't leave me white knuckled. I was just stubborn and curious.

 

[Discwizard70]

Good information here.... Thank you for your experiment!

 

[K6CCC]

The reduced speed was likely the bigger contributing factor to eeking out a little more range.

Strong suggestion, even if you don't NEED to, try out a couple different public charging stations of different types. That way you will learn the good, the bad, and the ugly to using public charging. If you have a NACS adapter so you can use Tesla SuperCharger locations, make sure to include one of those. Some networks are totally plug and charge (including Tesla), and some require either using a credit card or being part of some other network. Learn how to check for availability at stations using either the FordPass app or an app for that network.

 

[B177y]

Rarely take the Lightning on longer trips. Went on a 175-ish interstate mile trip (round trip) and underestimated effect of pulling a trailer. Small, aluminum 4x8 trailer, but it decreased mileage noticably. Florida, nice day in the 80s.

Starting home with 900lbs or so on the trailer, it seemed that all would be OK. I know chargers are plentiful, but I've only done home charging and didn't really want to go through the hassle of public charging. As the miles ticked by, the "miles available" kept trending downward toward the "miles to destination" (home), meeting at 25 miles.

I then began throwing cargo overboard. Turned off AC and fan, even turned off the radio. Reduced speed to around 55-60 (insanely slow on I-95 in south Florida). It worked! A gap started--slowly--opening up with battery miles remaining inching above miles to destination.

Knew there was a charger just off interstate about 3 miles from my house, but I'm feeling lucky (and sweaty).

Finally home, with 5 miles remaining!

How accurate is the mileage calculator? I really have no idea since I didn't run out of juice. However, my sense is that it was very close. I could actually watch the calculations move slightly in my favor in 1/10th of a mile increments when I turned off AC, lowered speed, etc.

I was a little surprised at how much of a difference it made when I turned off AC and lowered speed. I think lowering speed resulted in the most improvement.

It was a good thing my wife wasn't with me. She would NOT have appreciated my experiment.

The Lightning is my first EV, and I've for many years driven ICE F150s. Honestly, it's the best vehicle I've ever owned even with range restrictions. It would have been simple to plan for charging that didn't leave me white knuckled. I was just stubborn and curious.

I basically did the same thing as you on my first road trip in my Mach-e. I pulled in to a DCFC with 1% left after ignoring the navigation suggestion to stop earlier. I thought that I was going to make it with 10%, but then I hit some unexpected cold and sleet. I quickly learned to trust the navigation and stop where it told me to stop to DCFC. Now that I have done lots of road trips in both my Mach-e and now the Lightning, DCFC is no hassle at all, and I trust ABRP, Google Maps, and all of the other navigation aids.

 

[Henry Ford]

I did that shortly after buying my truck.

 

[gbuydos]

Good experience and thanks for sharing. I don't take mine on road trips, I am driving mostly backcountry roads. I rent a F150 ICE if I have to pull my trailer go outside a safety range. An F150 ICE has a 26 gallon tank and good for up to 500 plus miles.

 

[Firn]

Nice writeup.

I have to pick on you though, one bathroom stop at a DCFC and you could have driven with the AC on and at a normal speed.

I suggest just trying it (DCFC). There have been instances where I had to charge when I had no expectations that on that day I would need to. White knucking it just isn't worth it when all that anxiety goes away with one decently timed stop to grab a snack, go to the bathroom, eat lunch, etc. It's actually much nicer than getting gas, it's just the apps (if needed) that are annoying.

 

[ILikeBigMutts]

I'm going to take the good advice offered and do a couple of public charges just for the experience of it. While I've only ever needed to charge at home, I'm sure there will be a need at some point. Solid thoughts on not wanting to "learn" about charging, apps, etc. when I'm in a bind. Thank you all!

 

[keith.springer]

Similar experience here on my first road trip. Nav took me to a charger that I couldn't get to work (Francis Energy) and the next charger (Electrify America) was right at the edge of my range. I turned off the AC and slowed down to about 65. Made it there with 9% remaining. I tend to make more stops than necessary now. I get more rest and no white knuckling.

 

[F150guy]

I'm going to take the good advice offered and do a couple of public charges just for the experience of it. While I've only ever needed to charge at home, I'm sure there will be a need at some point. Solid thoughts on not wanting to "learn" about charging, apps, etc. when I'm in a bind. Thank you all!

Yes. Do it. Any combination of stretching your legs, throw away garbage, get a coffee, clean windshield, bathroom stop, takes 15 mins and you get a charge boost and peace of mind while doing it. 15 mins is nothing in the grand scheme. It's healthier for your circulation/limbs too if that matters to you. I also find it's sometimes nice to see some town area you've never seen before as chargers are often a road or two off of your route.

 

[Wendy]

How many alligators did you have to toss out of the trailer to lighten your load enough?

 

[richl025]

Rarely take the Lightning on longer trips. Went on a 175-ish interstate mile trip (round trip) and underestimated effect of pulling a trailer. Small, aluminum 4x8 trailer, but it decreased mileage noticably. Florida, nice day in the 80s.

Starting home with 900lbs or so on the trailer, it seemed that all would be OK. I know chargers are plentiful, but I've only done home charging and didn't really want to go through the hassle of public charging. As the miles ticked by, the "miles available" kept trending downward toward the "miles to destination" (home), meeting at 25 miles.

I then began throwing cargo overboard. Turned off AC and fan, even turned off the radio. Reduced speed to around 55-60 (insanely slow on I-95 in south Florida). It worked! A gap started--slowly--opening up with battery miles remaining inching above miles to destination.

Knew there was a charger just off interstate about 3 miles from my house, but I'm feeling lucky (and sweaty).

Finally home, with 5 miles remaining!

How accurate is the mileage calculator? I really have no idea since I didn't run out of juice. However, my sense is that it was very close. I could actually watch the calculations move slightly in my favor in 1/10th of a mile increments when I turned off AC, lowered speed, etc.

I was a little surprised at how much of a difference it made when I turned off AC and lowered speed. I think lowering speed resulted in the most improvement.

It was a good thing my wife wasn't with me. She would NOT have appreciated my experiment.

The Lightning is my first EV, and I've for many years driven ICE F150s. Honestly, it's the best vehicle I've ever owned even with range restrictions. It would have been simple to plan for charging that didn't leave me white knuckled. I was just stubborn and curious.

Suggestion: stop trusting the GoM and start practicing math.

Reset one of your trip odometers when you are at a steady-state at your desired speed.

After a few miles it will tell you what your efficiency is (in miles per kilowatt-hour) - for example, 1.2 mi/kWH (worst I've had not when towing, but cold weather mountain driving)

Multiple your SoC by 131 to get your actual charge (hey, @ford this would be a great screen disply option!) For example, if your battery is at 65% SOC, then you have 85 kWH of energy. (0.65 x 131)

WHat kind of efficiency are you getting? If (like my example) it's 1.2, then you can drive 102 more miles before you have to start pushing (85 kWH x 1.2 mi/kWH)

Does all that sound intimidating? It might be at first, but if you remember your HS algebra*, you can set up the equation properly to get your desired answer in miles... and it will be much better than the GoM which might not realize that your upcoming driving condition do not match your previous ones....


* and to think, they said we would never need this stuff in real life!

 

[USA EV]

Suggestion: stop trusting the GoM and start practicing math.

Reset one of your trip odometers when you are at a steady-state at your desired speed.

After a few miles it will tell you what your efficiency is (in miles per kilowatt-hour) - for example, 1.2 mi/kWH (worst I've had not when towing, but cold weather mountain driving)

Multiple your SoC by 131 to get your actual charge (hey, @ford this would be a great screen disply option!) For example, if your battery is at 65% SOC, then you have 85 kWH of energy. (0.65 x 131)

WHat kind of efficiency are you getting? If (like my example) it's 1.2, then you can drive 102 more miles before you have to start pushing (85 kWH x 1.2 mi/kWH)

Does all that sound intimidating? It might be at first, but if you remember your HS algebra*, you can set up the equation properly to get your desired answer in miles... and it will be much better than the GoM which might not realize that your upcoming driving condition do not match your previous ones....


* and to think, they said we would never need this stuff in real life!

Even simpler on SR as the SOC is essentially the KWH, so just SOC x efficiency.

 

[Newton]

The problem is that the SOC indicated by the truck is not accurate. I really wouldn’t trust it below 10% - people on the internet have reported running out in the 5% range or so. This is different than other EVs and might vary depending on the level of software that you have. Once it starts limiting power, I’d start looking around unless I was really close to home.

If you want to play the game get an OBDII dongle and start monitoring the voltage. It is not really worth it, though, fast charges are pretty easy and it isn’t that expensive or time consuming to put in 50 miles.

When you start pushing the limits you will see that we are a second generation EV, rather than the fourth or fifth generations available from other companies. There is nothing wrong with that but it is what it is.

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