Figuring out the bars for battery

[mgzsev20]

Hi we have recently just bought a mg zs ev 20 plate with 43,000 on the clock. I am just wondering I have a 55mile round trip to work five days a week, will I be able to get two days of commuting out of a single charge so 110miles total.
For a bit of context I charge to 100%
I drive in eco and kers 3.
Mostly back roads and country roads
A few bypasses but I stay at 60mph
And I run the heater on low fan. Mid heat setting.

The reason I am asking is because I find I am getting range anxiety because the battery percentage is shown in bars and not by a %. Today on my way to work it took two bars to get to work from full but I didn't have the heater on full time, was having to switch it off and on when needed.

 

[Spinynorman]

Your available mileage (from the ‘guessometer’) should be shown in miles on the bottom left corner of your digital display between the two dials.
I have a 2020 ZSEV and never needed to use the meters for mileage…
Depending on time of year a full charge should give you between 140-160 miles range.

 

[mgzsev20]

Your available mileage (from the ‘guessometer’) should be shown in miles on the bottom left corner of your digital display between the two dials.
I have a 2020 ZSEV and never needed to use the meters for mileage…
Depending on time of year a full charge should give you between 140-160 miles range.

Thank you for your reply, I've seen the available mileage on the screen but always found that very confusing it seems to lose miles and gain miles very strangely.
I do understand that having ac/heater on takes off around 10miles.
Is it better to keep the heater on low for the journey or turn off and on as needed.
I was worried about losing two bars of battery by just getting to work 25miles.
But do you think it's better to look at the milage left.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Thank you for your reply, I've seen the available mileage on the screen but always found that very confusing it seems to lose miles and gain miles very strangely.
I do understand that having ac/heater on takes off around 10miles.
Is it better to keep the heater on low for the journey or turn off and on as needed.
I was worried about losing two bars of battery by just getting to work 25miles.
But do you think it's better to look at the milage left.

Always look at how many miles are remaining. It will change during your journey, depending on terrain, weather, the amount of stop-start driving etc.

I tend to use the heater as and when I need it. If it's got the cabin up to temperature and I'm warm enough, I can't see the sense in leaving it on.

 

[Lovemyev]

As you are running in Eco mode, you have by default reduced the heat output from the cabin heater.
Your Regen strength is also reduced as a result I believe.
Using the heater blower speed on low has very minimum effect on reducing your range really, because the heater blower motor energy is taken from the 12 volt battery under the bonnet.
Yes this drain is back filled from the HV traction battery, but it requirements is extremely small in comparison to the energy taken to power the heater element itself from the HV pack.
I owed a Gen1 ZS EV model for about two years and 20,000 miles before upgrading to the facelift Gen2 model.
I found the GOM to be pretty accurate in predicting your remaining range TBH.
Personally, I never found using Eco range over Normal mode, to be very different myself.
Yes - It will predicted a greater range after charging of course, but this IS a prediction regardless.
Winter weather conditions has a HUGE effect on reducing your actual achievable range.
EV’s are like us, they like a bit of sun on there backs ?.
I some friends who maybe considering moving to their first EV ask me the same question, “What should I go for ?”.
Answer:- Only consider an EV that will satisfy your winter requirements easily, and then in the summer you will have more than enough spare capacity”.
Oh ….. P.S. Don’t forget to include a bit of battery degradation into your figures as well ?.

 

[Rob24]

Thank you for your reply, I've seen the available mileage on the screen but always found that very confusing it seems to lose miles and gain miles very strangely.
I do understand that having ac/heater on takes off around 10miles.
Is it better to keep the heater on low for the journey or turn off and on as needed.
I was worried about losing two bars of battery by just getting to work 25miles.
But do you think it's better to look at the milage left.

.

I'm still newish to my car and I'm still in the finding out the best way to use it, stage.

But most in car heating - cooling, tend to work until the set point is reached so if you have it set to 22DegC it will warm the car until the temp is reached and then shut down only coming on as required.

My daily drive is similar in distance to you at just over 50 miles a day round trip but at weekends I tend to drive over to my daughters to pick up - drop off the grandkids and this is about 70 miles round trip.

I have learnt not to worry about the miles, it seems counterintuitive I know but if you have the ability to charge each night then you should always have enough to drive and not worry.

More than one person on here has said to me "don't worry about the miles and just enjoy the drive"

And I think that is the hardest thing I am learning with the car, enjoy it because you can fill it up anytime just like any other car, so don't worry.

Regards
Rob

.

 

[Ruislip Resident]

Would one of the OBD2 Dongles and a suitable smartphone app eg Car Scanner show battery % state of charge. Maybe use an old (now 'spare' ) smartphone entirely for just this.

 

[fred12345]

Would one of the OBD2 Dongles and a suitable smartphone app eg Car Scanner show battery % state of charge. Maybe use an old (now 'spare' ) smartphone entirely for just this.

It should, but ...

I wouldn't drive or park with ODB2 dongle plugged in - it might be OK but not in my mind - I can see it melt and start the fire ?

 

[fred12345]

The reason I am asking is because I find I am getting range anxiety because the battery percentage is shown in bars and not by a %. Today on my way to work it took two bars to get to work from full but I didn't have the heater on full time, was having to switch it off and on when needed.

You'll be fine, don't worry about it. If it happens that you are down to 20 miles range, just stop somewhere for 20 min to top it up and that's it ....