Understanding my usage and capacity numbers in Wisconsin sub zero weather.

[Mike m]

I have owned my 2023 Platinum since September. 3000 miles on it with no issues. Yesterday it was 1 below Zero and needed to make a trip approximately 50 miles each way. I am still learning real ranges but have realistic expectations of the impact from high speed, temperature, towing etc.. I bumped my charge to 100% for the trip.

First leg of the trip:
100% charge , 292 mile range to start. Started the truck while it was plugged in to warm up before leaving.
Heated seats on 1st setting, heated steering wheel on, fan on 4 at 70 degrees. Speed to destination was 65 to 75 MPH mostly highway. My gauge said 1 Kw for most of the trip. Usually I run around 1.7 and lower in the cold. Tire pressure is good. No wind and a flat road.
Traveled almost 50 miles to destination.
Arrived with 75% battery and my miles indicating that that I had 153 left. I was at a event for 4 hours.

Return trip:
Started at 75% and 143 miles. 7 degrees above zero and traveled in more traffic, 55-65 MPH. My gauge said 1.7 KW which is more normal.
Got home and had 50% battery 90 miles left. Trip was the exact route of the first leg approximately 50 miles

My questions are:
1. Is the first leg normal? Trying to understand the numbers?
2. Why was the second trip so much better?
3. Does the truck loose mileage range normal sitting in cold weather for 4 hours?

Thank you all for your feedback.
Mike

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[The Weatherman]

I have owned my 2023 Platinum since September. 3000 miles on it with no issues. Yesterday it was 1 below Zero and needed to make a trip approximately 50 miles each way. I am still learning real ranges but have realistic expectations of the impact from high speed, temperature, towing etc.. I bumped my charge to 100% for the trip.

First leg of the trip:
100% charge , 292 mile range to start. Started the truck while it was plugged in to warm up before leaving.
Heated seats on 1st setting, heated steering wheel on, fan on 4 at 70 degrees. Speed to destination was 65 to 75 MPH mostly highway. My gauge said 1 Kw for most of the trip. Usually I run around 1.7 and lower in the cold. Tire pressure is good. No wind and a flat road.
Traveled almost 50 miles to destination.
Arrived with 75% battery and my miles indicating that that I had 153 left. I was at a event for 4 hours.

Return trip:
Started at 75% and 143 miles. 7 degrees above zero and traveled in more traffic, 55-65 MPH. My gauge said 1.7 KW which is more normal.
Got home and had 50% battery 90 miles left. Trip was the exact route of the first leg approximately 50 miles

My questions are:
1. Is the first leg normal? Trying to understand the numbers?
2. Why was the second trip so much better?
3. Does the truck loose mileage range normal sitting in cold weather for 4 hours?

Thank you all for your feedback.
Mike

1. Yes
2. speed
3. Yes.

That’s all I got.

 

[Mike m]

Thank you Dean.

 

[Adventureboy]

I would also add that for 2) Headwinds/Elevation differential. It may not seem much but if you have even a 5mph wind it is like driving 5mph faster one way and 5mph slower the other on your mileage. Also, it may seem like a flat road but elevation changes can have an impact over 50 miles and would show up as a differential one way vs the other. Combined with your speed difference it can add up to a fairly large differential if they all favour one way vs the other.

I have some common routes that I travel regularly and it is almost always this way - one way is always better than the other for the reasons above even if I keep my speed exactly the same. It is the same for ICE - just more front and center given the information available on EVs.

 

[TaxmanHog]

The trucks GOM is overly optimistic above 80% SOC

 

[TheWoo]

Your 10mph average speed difference is huge at highway speeds. 75 mph is significantly worse for efficiency than 65 mph.

Speed is probably the biggest adjustment I've made to my approach to road trips that has enhanced my enjoyment of the Lightning. I still drive fast enough - I just peg it at the speed limit (Kansas interstates are 75 mph, as an example, rather than running 5-ish over like I used to). Over a 150 mile road trip we're talking a difference of 5-10 minutes, but the efficiency difference between 75 and 80 seems to be about 0.2 mi/kWh. And getting 1.4 in the cold instead of 1.2 makes a big difference. Saves me stops - or at least shortens the ones I have to take - pretty significantly. Time ends up at worst a wash, and I've found that getting out of the rat race and cruising along (particularly with BlueCruise) is a great way to road trip.

 

[Refactoringdr]

I will second the speed/headwind. It is hard to overstate how much of an impact the direction and speed of the wind will have on your ultimate efficiency at highway speed. One of the things I love about ABRP for route planning is that it takes that into account. Also, I find the initial value on the GOM to be useless. The best estimate I've found is to use the trip mi/kwh times 125. I can almost do it in my head at this point. (Times 100 , add a quarter more)

 

[frautumn]

So you started the trip with 100%, had 75% at halfway point, and 50% at end of trip. Sounds to me like you used the exact same amount of battery on each leg of the trip, or am I missing something? Ignore the numbers the GOM gives you, the % is actual numbers not a guess.

 

[Henry Ford]

Treat the range number on the instrument display as a random number generator and you'll enjoy your truck much more.

 

[RickLightning]

Set a departure time while plugged in before your trip and that will improve that efficiency.

 

[Mike m]

Thank you all for your feedback. Very much appreciate.
Question. I am going to be in Florida for almost two months
what is the best approach or strategy for leaving truck? Garage stored and plugged in.

 

[RickLightning]

Thank you all for your feedback. Very much appreciate.
Question. I am going to be in Florida for almost two months
what is the best approach or strategy for leaving truck? Garage stored and plugged in.

As the manual tells you - 50% battery charge, disconnect 12v. Some people put the 12v on a battery tender and leave it connected.

 

[luebri]

Set a departure time while plugged in before your trip and that will improve that efficiency.

Yes this or just time your charging to be immediately prior to your typical departure time, as charging (especially on 240v) warms the battery.

@Mike m as other have stated. Ignore the GOM, it's ~useless. Monitor mi/kwh and calculate on your own. Here is a reference matrix sheet I put together that shows as estimated effect of Speed / Cold. I have 19,000 miles on my Lightning and this is my second Wisconsin winter with it. I knew exactly what to expect and how to minimize cold weather range loss based on research prior to purchase, so winter driving has been a pleasant experience for me.

 

[Vitornis]

Yes this or just time your charging to be immediately prior to your typical departure time, as charging (especially on 240v) warms the battery.

@Mike m as other have stated. Ignore the GOM, it's ~useless. Monitor mi/kwh and calculate on your own. Here is a reference matrix sheet I put together that shows as estimated effect of Speed / Cold. I have 19,000 miles on my Lightning and this is my second Wisconsin winter with it. I knew exactly what to expect and how to minimize cold weather range loss based on research prior to purchase, so winter driving has been a pleasant experience for me.

I love this chart!

 

[Mike m]

it is a great chart. People from Wisconsin can understand my comment. A few years ago my car said minus 32. I wonder if the lightning has ever been tested that low and is there a hardline on temperature. Best practice or voiding the warranty

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