MG 5 Battery Pre Heat ?

[StevieM]

Hello Everyone

In cold weather, many people say you should preheat the battery before driving it.
I have a brand-new MG5 trophyand I am unable to find out how to do this if it is in fact possible?
I noticed the MG4 has a page for this on the infotainment but the MG5 does not have the corresponding page on it.
could anyone help me please?
Much appreciated, Steve

 

[Pebblefeline]

The pfl has a manual preheat but I believe the bms will automatically use the heater in cold weather. It will also limit regen when the weather is cold to protect the battery before it is warmed up.

 

[kevin ellard]

Hello Everyone

In cold weather, many people say you should preheat the battery before driving it.
I have a brand-new MG5 trophyand I am unable to find out how to do this if it is in fact possible?
I noticed the MG4 has a page for this on the infotainment but the MG5 does not have the corresponding page on it.
could anyone help me please?
Much appreciated, Steve

It doesn't have it on the app and although there is a battery heating option in the car settings, people say it only does anything when the car is below 10degrees and it seems to be designed for use before charging.

 

[StevieM]

Thank you for answering Pebblefeline and Kevin

I may have come across this in the infotainment under tab vehicle - “Pre Heat Battery When Driving” I think it said from memory would this be the switch I need to activate?
Should I do it in this very cold weather we’re having and just leave it on until the weather warms up?
Cheers Steve

 

[MickeySw]

Thank you for answering Pebblefeline and Kevin

I may have come across this in the infotainment under tab vehicle - “Pre Heat Battery When Driving” I think it said from memory would this be the switch I need to activate?
Should I do it in this very cold weather we’re having and just leave it on until the weather warms up?
Cheers Steve

As others have already commented this function is intended to bring the battery temperature to around 30deg just as you start a rapid DC charge (CCS).

For various reasons it’s almost impossible to get the timing right, but no need to worry, the BMS will turn on the heater automatically once plugged in, however your charge rates won’t be as good as with a pre-heated battery.

It’s not required to use this function for ‘normal’ operation. As said, the BMS will activate the heater automatically when required, i.e. to warm the batteries before while AC charging in freezing temperatures.

 

[StevieM]

Thank you Mickey

I think I’m getting there now with this sorry only had the car for three days.
So should I slide the - Prepare battery while driving - across to show blue (on) or leave it switched off?
In cold weather especially.
Cheers Steve

 

[MickeySw]

Thank you Mickey

I think I’m getting there now with this sorry only had the car for three days.
So should I slide the - Prepare battery while driving - across to show blue (on) or leave it switched off?
In cold weather especially.
Cheers Steve

Leave it off and enjoy the new toy…

 

[StevieM]

Will do and sounds like a good idea.
Cheers

 

[Jto]

Below is MG take on the use of preheat the HV battey


Good afternoon,
Thank you for contacting MG Motors UK.

I believe you are regarding about the battery pre heating feature.
This can be turned on through the app or the FICM however, it would only work if the temperature were below freezing.
Christmas period would be a great time to utilize this feature.
If you want to turn this feature on, it will stay on.

You will have to manually switch it off or it will stay on but not heating until its cold enough.



I hope this helps.

 

[5teep]

Below is MG take on the use of preheat the HV battey


Good afternoon,
Thank you for contacting MG Motors UK.

I believe you are regarding about the battery pre heating feature.
This can be turned on through the app or the FICM however, it would only work if the temperature were below freezing.
Christmas period would be a great time to utilize this feature.
If you want to turn this feature on, it will stay on.

You will have to manually switch it off or it will stay on but not heating until its cold enough.



I hope this helps.

That's just weird. Why would they set it so it won't come on unless it's below zero and then have it not switch off when the temperature rises?

 

[MickeySw]

That's just weird. Why would they set it so it won't come on unless it's below zero and then have it not switch off when the temperature rises?

I would not take anything for face value coming from MG.

The BMS will turn on battery heating automatically if required. No need for manual intervention, ‘Preheat while driving’ can be used to increase charging rates ahead of a rapid (CCS) DC charge.

 

[Jto]

I would not take anything for face value coming from MG.

The BMS will turn on battery heating automatically if required. No need for manual intervention, ‘Preheat while driving’ can be used to increase charging rates ahead of a rapid (CCS) DC charge.

Well I was sat in the car and it was about 5 degrees and with the main heating off and volts out put at 0 I turned on the battery heating and you could see the voltage rise to 12 volt, the battery was cold as overnight it was -1 degrees so the battery got cold but had no time to warm up. It also say in the user manual it’s good to preheat the battery before driving, using the car on a cold morning I have noticed that the miles per kWh is 2.1 and as I drive and get near to work it will go up to 2.5 per kWh.

 

[Jto]

That's just weird. Why would they set it so it won't come on unless it's below zero and then have it not switch off when the temperature rises?

When the battery gets up to temperature it will turn off,when you have a cold battery have no heating running eg and with car in ready have the screen up showing volts in use and and then turn on battery heating you will see it rise in volts been used then when you used the car driving do the same and you see it say at 0

 

[5teep]

When the battery gets up to temperature it will turn off,when you have a cold battery have no heating running eg and with car in ready have the screen up showing volts in use and and then turn on battery heating you will see it rise in volts been used then when you used the car driving do the same and you see it say at 0

Reading what they wrote you cannot activate the preheat feature until the temperature drops below zero but after that it stays on (heating automatically when needed) until you turn it off manually. Just thinking why not just let it be switched on at any temperature if it's automatic afterwards.

 

[MickeySw]

Well I was sat in the car and it was about 5 degrees and with the main heating off and volts out put at 0 I turned on the battery heating and you could see the voltage rise to 12 volt, the battery was cold as overnight it was -1 degrees so the battery got cold but had no time to warm up.

You mean current/Amps?

It also say in the user manual it’s good to preheat the battery before driving,

I haven’t come across that page, where exactly is that written?

using the car on a cold morning I have noticed that the kWh is 2.1 and as I drive and get near to work it will go up to 2.5 per kWh.

By design the battery are kept @ min 10 deg or ambient temperature when driving therefore it will take a few minutes for the cells to warm up ‘naturally’

When the battery gets up to temperature it will turn off,when you have a cold battery have no heating running eg and with car in ready have the screen up showing volts in use and and then turn on battery heating you will see it rise in volts been used then when you used the car driving do the same and you see it say at 0

Again current/Amps. You’re correct, if you turn on the manual battery heater in standstill (and cell temp is below 10deg) you will see an increase in HV current.

However this is minor in comparison to the motor current used while driving and therefore when the heater turns off automatically, the display won’t go to 0.

 

[MickeySw]

Reading what they wrote you cannot activate the preheat feature until the temperature drops below zero but after that it stays on (heating automatically when needed) until you turn it off manually. Just thinking why not just let it be switched on at any temperature if it's automatic afterwards.

I’m starting to believe that what MG is referring to is ‘intelligent battery heating’ for MG4s, this feature does not exist on an MG5.

 

[5teep]

I’m starting to believe that what MG is referring to is ‘intelligent battery heating’ for MG4s, this feature does not exist on an MG5.

The feature exists in the settings on my preFL but it's never done anything. After reading MGs message I'm waiting for the temperature to drop below zero to try it again lol. If it works it will speed up cold day recharge times a lot.

 

[StevieM]

I too will be looking extremely closely at what happens when I enable - battery heating during driving- switch.

 

[MickeySw]

The feature exists in the settings on my preFL but it's never done anything. After reading MGs message I'm waiting for the temperature to drop below zero to try it again lol. If it works it will speed up cold day recharge times a lot.

Correct, (all?) MG5 have a manual battery heating option but its function differs to MG4 (and ZS?)

On the MG5 (Trophy) it’s called ‘Battery Heating While Driving’ and its purpose is to increase rapid charging rates. You have to time it exactly so the temperature is at max just before you start DC charging.
For best results use an OBD dongle/app to monitor battery temperature.

See also

Pre heating and Tesla charger

I drove to Leeds and back in the last few days and thought I'd give the Tesla charger at Trumpington (Cambridge) a go. On the way up I only seemed to get 30-35 kW on the way back down I thought I'd give the battery pre-heating a try and put it on 30 mins before the stop and charged at 70-75kW...

www.mgevs.com

MG4’ s ‘Intelligent Battery Heating’ is used to pre-heat the battery before driving.

 

[StevieM]

Okay, thanks. So would I be correct in saying -battery heating while driving- if the car has been stationary all night and cold, it wouldn’t warm up the battery?