Simple example of how temperature and heat usage affects range

[lakeguy55]

Yesterday I went into our local town about 8 miles away to run some errands. When I left, with no preconditioning, the temps were in the high 30's. We had the heat on, set to 70, both seat heaters set to max, fan on 3 bars, and the radio on. Upon arrival, this is what the trip report showed.

During the return trip, temps had risen into the high 40's, we had the heat off, seat heaters off, fan off, and no radio.

A pretty graphic example of the impact of temperatures and heater use on range over the same drive. Something to show those who don't understand why their range drops in the cold weather.

In doing this, I did come up with a few tangential questions.

What devices are included in the Accessories category? I didn't have anything on during the return trip that I'm aware of.​

Is the External Temperature category a measurement of the energy used to keep the batteries at the right temp? I was somewhat surprised to see relatively high usage here on the return as the batteries had already been warmed up on the initial trip and temps were now almost 50.​

Finally, a few miscellaneous questions that probably don't belong here but I haven't been able to locate answers elsewhere, primarily because I don't know what terms to use in a search.

On the left side of the trip display, what is the left-hand graphic that shows 82 telling me? Is this an indication of the percentage of battery available for driving as the remaining 18 percent is reserved for the other categories?​

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I just discovered yesterday (I'm a bit slow ;-) ), that the volume button ring can be pushed in and you can push on the any area of the ring. I assume this is used by some apps or functions of the truck. But I have yet to discover a use. Have I missed more or is it for future use?​

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[Maquis]

So the usage of heat only dropped you from 2.7 to 2.5 MPK. Not bad.
Or was the outbound uphill and the return downhill? What about wind speed/direction?

 

[lakeguy55]

So the usage of heat only dropped you from 2.7 to 2.5 MPK. Not bad.
Or was the outbound uphill and the return downhill? What about wind speed/direction?

There was no wind to speak of. The ride into town is somewhat more downhill, but overall the route is hilly and I'd guess the net rise/fall is roughly equal in each direction.

Here are the elevation changes along the route going into town.

 

[The Weatherman]

The 82% on the left hand side is the available power for output. This based on the low SOC of the battery at the time you took the shot.

 

[TaxmanHog]

On the left side of the trip display, what is the left-hand graphic that shows 82 telling me? Is this an indication of the percentage of battery available for driving as the remaining 18 percent is reserved for the other categories?

This is a limit on how much power you can send to the motors, because of lower SOC and cool 44 degrees it is derated, if you bring the SOC up higher, the limiter will go away.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I just discovered yesterday (I'm a bit slow ;-) ), that the volume button ring can be pushed in and you can push on the any area of the ring. I assume this is used by some apps or functions of the truck. But I have yet to discover a use. Have I missed more or is it for future use?

Push it in longer than you did, set's the Sync screen into Calm Mode.

10:35 Calm Screen

 

[RickLightning]

Accessories is everything except HVAC.

Lights, radio, heated seats, heated steering wheel, ...

As noted, you lost range coming home due to the climb. And optimum battery temp is mid 70s, not 50.

 

[lakeguy55]

Accessories is everything except HVAC.

Lights, radio, heated seats, heated steering wheel, ...

Which is why I'm still confused. None of those were on during the return trip. (Also surprised to hear that heated/cooled seats and heated wheel wouldn't be considered part of the HVAC system)

 

[Grumpy2]

When there are two HVAC units, as in "max towing", is one on accessories and one on HVAC? And do they run independent of each other, or both when either is required?

 

[RickLightning]

Which is why I'm still confused. None of those were on during the return trip. (Also surprised to hear that heated/cooled seats and heated wheel wouldn't be considered part of the HVAC system)

Return trip was 3%, about 90 watts. Trip there was twice that, around 214 watts... What's the huge screen powered by?

 

[TaxmanHog]

When there are two HVAC units, as in "max towing", is one on accessories and one on HVAC? And do they run independent of each other, or both when either is required?

One compressor is dedicated to cooling the battery & motors, it's energy consumption should be counted for [Exterior Temp], while the sole PTC and routing valve can account for either Inside Climate or Exterior Temp depending on mode of operation / blending when warming either is needed.

We only have a MME system schematic to refer to, so not 100% clear of the position of the MAX TOW compressor / chiller circuit in relation to the Lightnings single system which likely mimics the MME

 

[davehu]

Push it in longer than you did, set's the Sync screen into Calm Mode.

10:35 Calm Screen

seems like a dumb use of a capability. how about pushing it in to change the fan which happens virtually every trip I take ? (no one needs to answer this other than FMC)

 

[mb0220]

There was no wind to speak of. The ride into town is somewhat more downhill, but overall the route is hilly and I'd guess the net rise/fall is roughly equal in each direction.

Here are the elevation changes along the route going into town.

How did you generate that elevation analysis of your route? I have been looking for a way to do that...

 

[lakeguy55]

How did you generate that elevation analysis of your route? I have been looking for a way to do that...

Google Maps. Get driving directions for the route you want the graph for. Once it gives you the proposed route, select "Bike" as your mode of transportation. It will then display the elevation graph in the sidebar. It's used by cyclists to find routes with the least hills.

 

[mb0220]

Google Maps. Get driving directions for the route you want the graph for. Once it gives you the proposed route, select "Bike" as your mode of transportation. It will then display the elevation graph in the sidebar. It's used by cyclists to find routes with the least hills.

Thanks - I've done that, but often it changes the route when you switch to bike mode. However, I did find that PlugShare does a great job of this if you use their trip planner!

As you can see, elevation is going to be a big factor in this particular trip. I'm going to be carrying some gear on my roof racks too so wind drag is going to be significant as well.

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