Road Trip, how low is too low (SOC remaining)

[deltalightning]

About to do my 2nd road trip in the Lightning, this one is a little trickier, mainly because of lack of charging stations between start/finish.

Several of the routes get me there quicker, but arrival is 5-9% SOC. These are the routes I've historically taken, but obviously never had to worry about EV charging in the past.

My question is...how much faith to I put in the built in and app based (Apple, ABRP) range estimates? 5-9% feels very risky to me...

Any experience here?

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[jetfixr1]

Range estimates are what you make of it. I can play with ABRP all day to get the end result I want. IMO, I go with a conservative mi/kwh burn on ABRP so I never arrive at a DCFC with less than 15%.

 

[B177y]

The accuracy of the navigation apps depends on how many variables there are in weather, speed, and terrain. I have found ABRP to be pretty accurate with its predictions, but unusually cold temps, winds, or if you tend to drive faster can all create inaccuracies. You may need to slow down if you your SOC starts decreasing faster than the prediction. On the flip side, warm temps, tailwind, or unanticipated slow traffic will get you there with higher SOC.

More info about when and where you are traveling may help others here give better advice.

 

[Maquis]

It’s only too low if you don’t make it to the next charger!

 

[deltalightning]

Looks like it'll be 70 degrees and sunny my whole trip, and roads will be mostly rural. So probably 60mph driving...

 

[B177y]

Looks like it'll be 70 degrees and sunny my whole trip, and roads will be mostly rural. So probably 60mph driving...

I'd be comfortable with an ABRP prediction with that info. Charge a little bit higher than what ABRP suggests if possible at the charging stops before you hit the difficult legs of your trip.

 

[deltalightning]

Awesome thanks. I plan on leaving at 100% SOC with a preconditioned battery also. And yes, on my one stop will probably just go all the way up to 80%

 

[B177y]

If you still are under warranty, Ford roadside assistance will tow you to the next charge stop if you don't make it. Not something I would want to test, but may give you peace of mind.

 

[deltalightning]

I am yes, but 100% want to avoid that!

 

[halfbakedenchilada]

In my experience, ABRP with the OBD dongle is very accurate, with some training. I've done thousands of miles using this approach, and the ABRP estimation of ending SoC is really accurate, usually spot on. The worts I've seen it be in terms of estimation is about 5% too ambitious in its prediction. But I leave it on when driving, and so you can see the predicted SoC falling (say, if the weather changes drastically), so in that case slowing down does the trick. But if your weather is going to be 70 degrees and you are driving 60 mph the stock ABRP prediction (or Apple Maps or Google Maps) is probably going to be fine.

 

[B177y]

For reference, on the first road trip I took with my Mach-e, I had a stop predicted to arrive with 30% charge, but I could make it to the next further charger with 10%. I decided to go to the further charger and I ended up hitting cold and sleet and pulled in to the charger at 1%. Everything still worked out, but that was my first time realizing I should follow the navigation suggestions all the way. I should have stopped at the originally planned charger.

 

[deltalightning]

That was one of my other questions...will it really go down to 0% before dying? I've seen lots of posts that say yes, but rare posts show actual experience doing it.

 

[Zprime29]

A few have reported the truck shutting down early under 10%. The belief is that the BMS gets confused after multiple DCFC sessions. I try my best to stay over 10%. Can always slow down to increase range if it looks like you need it.

Good weather and 60mph will yield good efficiency. I drove 60mph on the interstate after getting a flat and putting the spare on. I had 2.9mpk (flat terrain, warm, moderate traffic).

 

[MyJoule]

We travel 1650 miles from AZ to WA a few times a year- driving on I-10 and I-5, We usually shoot for 15% arrival at the next DC fast charger -(exclusively Tesla Superchargers now) We are somewhat successful doing that- usually we arrive a bit higher than that- One really important thing to do is set Abetterrouteplanner to your anticipated Miles/KWH- (WH/mile) we set up based on our experience to 1.9(526) which is what we see at 70MPH on flat roads with no wind. (22 Platinum on 22" OEM tires) Also, we look at Windy.com and if there is a strong headwind predicted at the time of day we're traveling through an area, we add a bit more charge for the next stop. So far worse arrival we've had is about 8% when we were loaded more than default (we were carrying a lot of stuff in the bed) and it was colder than we had run the plan so the cabin heater was running for that leg of the trip. ABR does take into account elevation changes, so that is one less worry.

 

[RickLightning]

If you still are under warranty, Ford roadside assistance will tow you to the next charge stop if you don't make it. Not something I would want to test, but may give you peace of mind.

Free roadside ISN'T TIED TO WARRANTY. 5 years, 60,000 miles.

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