Has MG set themselves up for a customer backlash with how they display range?

[Cocijo]

As you may know the predicted range on the MG uses an algorithm based on a few parameters to predict the expected range. One of these is your historic use of the car and average miles/Kwhr achieved.

Overall this gives a much more accurate prediction of what in the real world the car can achieve. For example in winter on a car that typically achieves around 3miles/Kwhr the predicted range might be around 135miles (ZS) when fully charged.

There are lots of posts from owners who feel hard done by and complain to MG that their cars don’t show anywhere near the 163miles (ZS) that they expected. They judge their cars range based on what is shown as the predicted range, which is a fair comment to make.

Tesla for example, on the other hand chose to display range based on the certified range of the car, less any battery losses. So for example when fully charged a Model 3 might show around 310miles range.

If MG did this, most of the time the predicted range would just show around 163miles when fully charged.

Now whilst this might give owners initially a little more comfort, the reality is that as in the Tesla, during normal real world driving this drops considerably as you drive and the actual range has little or no bearing on the predicted, unless conditions are perfect and match those when tests were carried out.

Which would you rather have?

Is it fair to show an inaccurate prediction?

Has MG set up the predictive range in a way that invites owners dissatisfaction by being too accurate?

 

[Marcad]

Is this really any different to the 71mpg of the Honda HR-V, which is then quoted as actually 54.2 combined. Which in real terms, the car won't achieve.
Or the Renault Clio which claims 91.1MPG but real world figures post it around the 80 mark.
This sort of marketing isn't new and with so many different measures of range out there it is what we have to live with. Yes there are additional issues with BEV vehicles that affect the range more that an an ICE vehicle the only positive I can find is sites likes this and questions like yours that actively encourage debate. The more it is out there the more sense and understanding it will make to us.

 

[Iain]

Seems like dammed if you do...........
Personally I would rather have a displayed range based on previous data rather than published figures.
I can also see owner’s objections to not getting what it says on the tin.

 

[Cocijo]

I guess the root cause is publishing range figures that are not real world - just like ICE mpg ratings. Some manufacturer websites are starting to contain useful EV range calculators now though.

https://www.jaguar.co.uk/electric-cars/range.html

 

[Jeps]

People who foolisly think they can get 163 miles in winter time has to wake up till reality. Expect a drop of range to be 25-30%.
For me the guessed range has started to be more accurate in winter then ever before. I saw someone mention to reset the accumulated drive in the display. And wupti, now it displays something I can relate to, after the two last charges it has displayed 186 kilometers, that is on par what is realistic to drive for me.
The car makers can offcause produce a car that does what it says on the Tin. Just put in a huge heavy battery, and set a pretty low estimate off range so no matter what weather conditions are, strong head wind, uphill of Mount Everest...in sport mode with full blowing heater. They set the claimed range to be 250km. Then the range drop 1 km for 1 driven kilometers. After 250 kilometers the car stops .
Do I want that!!!! NO, I live in flat Denmark.

 

[macd2401]

I've always been of the opinion that comparing economies is a good way to judge which vehicle is best in an ideal world. But anyone that buys a vehicle expecting to get the claimed economy, and not a mile less should probably, in my opinion, be relinquished of their car keys, and sent back for some remedial classes in how the real world works ?‍

 

[AbuG]

Before purchasing the my first EV, the ZS, a month ago, I did NOT know the mileage would be 30% less in the winter... Why should I have known?
ICE MPG does not vary by that much due to UK weather.
Also some people in the forum's were claiming 180 miles with regeneration... Again that looked favourably compared to the 163miles WLTP ...

I didn't know rapid charge would NOT be under 40minutes in the winter and probably struggle in the summer too... Again why should we have known this.

Those were the biggest disappointments for me.

 

[Jeps]

Before purchasing the my first EV, the ZS, a month ago, I did NOT know the mileage would be 30% less in the winter... Why should I have known?
ICE MPG does not vary by that much due to UK weather.

I didn't know rapid charge would NOT be under 40minutes in the winter and probably struggle in the summer too... Again why should we have known this.

Those were the biggest disappointments for me.

If you compare an EV and a ICE car. An ICE car is actually always having the heater running. The heat that is building up in the engine block is what is used in winter time to heat up the cabin, but the rest of the year all that heat is just waste, that is not being used for anything good. It's wasted energy.
Battery do not work their best in low temperature, think of an 12 volt battery, I guess you know they also not work their best in winter cold.

 

[AbuG]

Battery do not work their best in low temperature, think of an 12 volt battery, I guess you know they also not work their best in winter cold.

This is not true for all batteries...
The lithium ferrous phosphate ones have this issue but not the lithium cobalt type... As Tesla found out when they switched their Chinese production from the latter to the former and then shipped to Europe.

 

[Jeps]

This is not true for all batteries...
The lithium ferrous phosphate ones have this issue but not the lithium cobalt type... As Tesla found out when they switched their Chinese production from the latter to the former and then shipped to Europe.

Sorry I don't know that much about battery chemistry, but I think the must will agree that the wast majority of battery don't perform the best in cold temperatures.

 

[Mark Holmes]

Before purchasing the my first EV, the ZS, a month ago, I did NOT know the mileage would be 30% less in the winter... Why should I have known?
ICE MPG does not vary by that much due to UK weather.
Also some people in the forum's were claiming 180 miles with regeneration... Again that looked favourably compared to the 163miles WLTP ...

I didn't know rapid charge would NOT be under 40minutes in the winter and probably struggle in the summer too... Again why should we have known this.

Those were the biggest disappointments for me.

Same here, but I know about them now for my next purchase....

 

[Deleted member 823]

Yes, as one of our Ameican friends might say, there are a lot of unknown unkowns when going into EV ownership, and some known unknowns too!