MG4 Xpower times vs battery

[Blindin]

Hi guys, I feel like I'm having issues with my Xpower and don't feel the performance is living up to the expectations.
I've started to record some 0-60mph/100kph times and compare against battery levels.
My expectations was that I would start losing performance at maybe 20% battery, but it seems as though it drops off instantly below 100%.
Now I don't have all the fancy gear, only an app on my phone and GPS. I know its not going to be perfect, but I think for the purpose of this it'll be close enough to get a fair idea.
Obviously road surface varies and what not around the place, but if anyone else can chip in and we can start putting together an average pattern.
I regularly drive 100km each day and normally only charge to 80%, but I can really feel the car getting slow; to the point of watching the speed tick up until I get to the speed limit.

Anyway, a few runs I've done so far:
10% - 7 sec
24% - 5.9 sec
27% - 6 sec
34% - 5.7 sec
47% - 5.4 sec
98% - 3.9 sec

 

[tsedge]

Hi guys, I feel like I'm having issues with my X-P and don't feel the performance is living up to the expectations.
I've started to record some 0-60mph/100kph times and compare against battery levels.
My expectations was that I would start losing performance at maybe 20% battery, but it seems as though it drops off instantly below 100%.
Now I don't have all the fancy gear, only an app on my phone and GPS. I know its not going to be perfect, but I think for the purpose of this it'll be close enough to get a fair idea.
Obviously road surface varies and what not around the place, but if anyone else can chip in and we can start putting together an average pattern.
I regularly drive 100km each day and normally only charge to 80%, but I can really feel the car getting slow; to the point of watching the speed tick up until I get to the speed limit.

Anyway, a few runs I've done so far:
10% - 7 sec
24% - 5.9 sec
27% - 6 sec
34% - 5.7 sec
47% - 5.4 sec
98% - 3.9 sec

The XPower drive train makes extreme demands on the 64kWh battery which is unchanged from the standard car (presumably for cost reasons).

It can only output maximum power at high states of charge. As a battery drains the maximum power it can provide decreases. This is a pretty linear effect with the battery chemistry, it doesn't suddenly dive at 20%, so I am not sure why you think that's what should happen.

Other people have reported a similar drop off, this is considered normal.

It is a compromise, had they changed the battery (or indeed uprated the cooling system) the car would have cost significantly more.

Should it be better advertised? Probably. However most owners seem to cope fine with this without complaint.

 

[Blindin]

The XPower drive train makes extreme demands on the 64kWh battery which is unchanged from the standard car (presumably for cost reasons).

It can only output maximum power at high states of charge. As a battery drains the maximum power it can provide decreases. This is a pretty linear effect with the battery chemistry, it doesn't suddenly dive at 20%, so I am not sure why you think that's what should happen.

Other people have reported a similar drop off, this is considered normal.

It is a compromise, had they changed the battery (or indeed uprated the cooling system) the car would have cost significantly more.

Should it be better advertised? Probably. However most owners seem to cope fine with this without complaint.

I should've probably done more research before buying, but I would've thought that the battery wouldn't be working at 100%, so therefore the power delivery would be capped by the control systems. I'd also imagine that at a certain soc there would be limitations or restrictions at various stages. Obviously, you expect it to drop off at some point, but when it's no where in the ball park of what it's claimed to be under normal operating conditions then that is certainly misleading and not why I bought the car.
Regardless of that anyway. With a normal soc I'm no where near the claimed performance so was wondering what everyone is getting. It'd be good to have an idea of average performance across multiple vehicles and battery soc.

 

[Tuareg]

Plenty of YT videos using launch control giving MGs claimed 0-100kmh figures and sometimes even quicker.

 

[Deleted member 11291]

I should've probably done more research before buying, but I would've thought that the battery wouldn't be working at 100%, so therefore the power delivery would be capped by the control systems. I'd also imagine that at a certain soc there would be limitations or restrictions at various stages. Obviously, you expect it to drop off at some point, but when it's no where in the ball park of what it's claimed to be under normal operating conditions then that is certainly misleading and not why I bought the car.
Regardless of that anyway. With a normal soc I'm no where near the claimed performance so was wondering what everyone is getting. It'd be good to have an idea of average performance across multiple vehicles and battery soc.

Have you balanced the battery as recommended? This may or may not help your particular situation.
However the drop off is normal, as it is with any battery powered ‘device’.

 

[Blindin]

Plenty of YT videos using launch control giving MGs claimed 0-100kmh figures and sometimes even quicker.

Yep, I agree. But mine isn't getting close. It feels slow. I've either got a problem with my car or there's something else going on. The dealer here is useless and says there is no problem, but when my foots flat down and I'm waiting for the speed to hit 100KPH off the lights, it's really not what I was expecting when I bought the car. That's why I'm trying to get an average from others.

Plenty of YT videos using launch control giving MGs claimed 0-100kmh figures and sometimes even quicker.

Yes, it gets a full charge every few weeks and left on over night, it should be getting at least 6 hours to balance at a minimum. I need to do 300-400KM in a day so normally start that with 100% soc, all other charges are set at 80% soc.

It's also in custom with sport settings.
launch control will hit 66% power until the battery starts to drop below 30% soc or thereabouts.
It says it's pulling 100% power until the battery drops below maybe 45% soc (I can't remember exact, but its something like that)

I've only noticed it get slower in the last few weeks.
I have almost 10,000KM on the clock now.

 

[Tuareg]

Yep, I agree. But mine isn't getting close. It feels slow. I've either got a problem with my car or there's something else going on. The dealer here is useless and says there is no problem, but when my foots flat down and I'm waiting for the speed to hit 100KPH off the lights, it's really not what I was expecting when I bought the car. That's why I'm trying to get an average from others.

Any chance you can go drive one of the other 'non' Xpower cars to compare?

 

[Blindin]

Any chance you can go drive one of the other 'non' Xpower cars to compare?

I'd have to be via a dealer and none of them are really that convenient to get too. Even then, not sure how far I'd be able to take them as the dealers are all in built up areas. If I can put together a good set of results and it might start making more sense. I find it very misguided if the car will only do 0-100KPH in 5-6 seconds on a standard charge though and then drop even more while still within the standard operating soc.

 

[KGoogle]

YouTuber bjorn was getting a 0-100 of 4.6 at 32% SOC in cold weather so maybe your timing gear is off or maybe there is an issue somewhere

 

[Blindin]

YouTuber bjorn was getting a 0-100 of 4.6 at 32% SOC in cold weather so maybe your timing gear is off or maybe there is an issue somewhere

I'm no where near that. The car is slow at that soc. You can feel it and even count; I'd be around 6 seconds at a guess. I'm only using an app on the phone so I'm certainly not accurate, but as I mentioned, you can feel it. Hoping others will post up some figures that they have got for comparison. The more results, the more accurate the averages will be. If they are showing mine is slower I will have to have it tested properly, but trying to avoid the cost at the moment.

 

[Anon70]

Bjorn Nyland did some tests on the battery, not an XPower but you can see the results of stress testing the car and how its performance changes in different circumstances.

Have to say I have only really noticed a performance drop in my XPower when the SOC gets below 20%

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

That fact you said

"I've only noticed it get slower in the last few weeks"

says to me that you have something amiss.

In the nearly year, and 9000 miles I've owned mine, I've learnt to modify my expectations with the declining charge.

For example: I would not think of a "Traffic Light GP" encounter, with a decent performance car, and less than 30% battery, just in case.......

Not ideal in my case, as I would never knowingly resist a challenge in any previous ICE performance car I've previously owned. (Childish I Know)

You've just got to look like a grown up, and that you are not interested in waving your appendage about.

 

[Blindin]

The dealer has said there is nothing wrong, but I'm sure something has changed.
If I get put together with the help of others we can bench mark some times to be able to compare. I honestly don't expect to be 50% longer times within normal operating soc. I'm really hoping I can get to the bottom of it.

 

[tsedge]

I think user benchmarking is a good idea to answer the question of what is normal at different SOCs.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

If I remember (not guaranteed these days) I will be doing some 0 to 60's.

I get my vehicle back from service later today, but I imagine it will take all week to get the approximate figures.

X Power has a lap timer, but I've only used it briefly once before, so I can't remember if it will be any use in this endeavour. Edit: It wasn't.

 

[bedsev]

I'll do some too when I get a chance

 

[Anon70]

Was just having a look at the certificate of conformity and it has 2 power values for the electric motors
Maximum net power Front:150kW at 7000rpm Rear:170kW at 6000rpm
Maximum 30 minutes power Front:68kW at 8000rpm Rear:84kW at 8000rpm

No idea what this means in the real World, but interesting that the front and rear motors are giving max output at different rpm

 

[Chrisdriving]

I would personally be aware of the demands on a 64kWh pack with a drivetrain that can pull 320kW at maximum, thats over 5C discharge so i would not be too eager and often with putting the pack under that stress even if it is just bursts of that requirement.
At lower SOC at least you must be putting a big voltage drop on the pack.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

On the way back from my service today, I managed to find a bit of clear road and saw 4.6 to 60mph at both 60% and 50%

Edit: Forgot to turn off ESC

 

[powerfulx]

Mmm have we had a pack tear down yet? I am convinced the battery is different, i suspect its using bigger interconnects and relays etc. also on mass the batteries would have been matched to their operation , to then ask the battery to pull double the amps and then slap a warranty on it ? I suspect the may at the very least have picked a slightly diff chem , or cooling. Im yet to have cooling issues slow the car down. im talking some hard driving too. Im leaning on some differences without doubt. Capacity, same yes, uprated interconnects yes, different chem , or cream of crop cells.