Keeping track of my MG4 (efficiency)

[MG4JP]

Indeed, some people take pleasure in doing things that will never make sense to others. Happens to everyone and all the time. Expensive hobbies are another good source of examples of this.

But actually, in this case, I can tell you of at least one reason as to "why" doing this:

When planning longer trips on my EVs, I do want to know in advance what mileage to expect from the car. Keeping track of these mileages (including specific trips in specific conditions from which I record the data as well) help me immensely in knowing what to expect.

 

[wattmatters]

Collecting the data is not hard and compiling it isn't either. It helps to inform others curious to understand the nature of one owner's experience of charging an EV as well as dispel the usual bingo which inevitably populates social media.

 

[MG4JP]

Updated the first post, with January's data:

Period	Distance (km)	Efficiency (kWh/100km)	Average Speed (km/h)	Up Time
January 2025	1656	16.9 (3.68 mi/kWh)	33	49:42

Overall combined efficiency (so far): 15.1 kWh/100km (4.11 mi/kWh)



It is very clear to me now that heating takes a huge toll on mileage.

I mean, we all know cold temperatures (per se), rain, having the AC on, etc. all contribute to this, and we also know that heating, in particular, will always have a strong, direct impact on electricity consumption on EVs.
But here in the MG4, I'm having this feeling that this is taken to a whole new level. A quick estimation tells me that I'll have an up to +5 kWh/100km increment when turning the heating on, which is insane and more than what I was used to (have been dealing with EVs for the last 8 years or so).

 

[Aupa]

Updated the first post, with January's data:

Period	Distance (km)	Efficiency (kWh/100km)	Average Speed (km/h)	Up Time
January 2025	1656	16.9 (3.68 mi/kWh)	33	49:42

Overall combined efficiency (so far): 15.1 kWh/100km (4.11 mi/kWh)



It is very clear to me now that heating takes a huge toll on mileage.

I mean, we all know cold temperatures (per se), rain, having the AC on, etc. all contribute to this, and we also know that heating, in particular, will always have a strong, direct impact on electricity consumption on EVs.
But here in the MG4, I'm having this feeling that this is taken to a whole new level. A quick estimation tells me that I'll have an up to +5 kWh/100km increment when turning the heating on, which is insane and more than what I was used to (have been dealing with EVs for the last 8 years or so).

Your January consumption figure looks respectable to me. Is it not the case that your trips are quite short? That will increase the heater use, as opposed to longer steady-state trips.
Drive on, drive warm, enjoy!

 

[DBedford]

Yep, because my mind boggles at all the data. And I do always say each to there own. And I mean that. If that's your thing, totally fair enough. But I can't help thinking to myself, why? Some of the spreadsheets, on here, which you are correct I don't understand, still look very impressive.

Why?... Self justification, that you got a good deal by buying a MG4 I guess..

 

[salty]

Why?... Self justification, that you got a good deal by buying a MG4 I guess..

Don't need self justification. It's a motor l really fancied. So i bought it, simple's. And it hasn't, disappointed.

 

[MG4JP]

Your January consumption figure looks respectable to me. Is it not the case that your trips are quite short? That will increase the heater use, as opposed to longer steady-state trips.
Drive on, drive warm, enjoy!

That's a good, valid point. Yes, my main drives are mostly short ones (15km) and that increases the heater use.

Having said that, the pattern of my driving is the same as with my previous cars and that's what I'm finding strange.

And while I did not hold back in keeping myself warm, I did turn off AC/heating whenever I could. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure I'd be closer to 20 kWh/100km (~3.10 mi/kWh) this month.

 

[NLMGSAN]

Updated the first post, with January's data:

Period	Distance (km)	Efficiency (kWh/100km)	Average Speed (km/h)	Up Time
January 2025	1656	16.9 (3.68 mi/kWh)	33	49:42

Overall combined efficiency (so far): 15.1 kWh/100km (4.11 mi/kWh)



It is very clear to me now that heating takes a huge toll on mileage.

How much petrol per 100km did you need with your ice car ?

 

[wattmatters]

Equivalent fuel cost for our previous car ~$2,300.

 

[MG4JP]

How much petrol 100/km did you need with your ice car ?

It has been long since I've used an ICE car on these conditions and that wasn't really the point of my comment.

I'm strictly commenting on how much more impact heating seems to have on this car vs other electrics I've used in the past.

 

[fshuk1]

The cold doesn't just affect the m/kwh because you use the heater. The actual battery will perform worse. I have LFP battery and I can see the m/kwh change with each temperature drop below 8 degrees. I do the same run nearly everyday and if I don't use the heater I know what to expect. 10 months of the year it is similar but with the Jan and Feb we are having I am seeing considerable drop (without heater). Each degree drop, increases the usage.

 

[MG4JP]

The cold doesn't just affect the m/kwh because you use the heater. The actual battery will perform worse.

I understand that. In fact, that's exactly where I started:

I mean, we all know cold temperatures (per se), (...) contribute (...)

What I'm getting at is that the heating part is what affects the mileage the most... by a landslide.

 

[NLMGSAN]

The cold doesn't just affect the m/kwh because you use the heater. The actual battery will perform worse. I have LFP battery and I can see the m/kwh change with each temperature drop below 8 degrees. I do the same run nearly everyday and if I don't use the heater I know what to expect. 10 months of the year it is similar but with the Jan and Feb we are having I am seeing considerable drop (without heater). Each degree drop, increases the usage.

Agree. Normally, i can do two trips to my work and back easily with 90% charge. But in the cold I have to reduce speed to make it home the second day. Although I must say it isn't just the temperature. The battery is clearly performing less. And that is happening after one year....

 

[fshuk1]

Interesting enough, I was seeing 2.0 m/kwh for around 5 miles this morning. Then later, we had to charge the car because of some emergency. We fast charged the car from 30 to 80 using a 150kw charger. We then went on trip of 60 miles on motorway. The car at the end show 4.2m/kwh on a journey that usually is 3.7m/kwh.

So, your task should you wish to accept it Mr Hunt is, in these cold days is it better/more-efficient to warm the battery everyday before you even start?

 

[Ian Key]

So, your task should you wish to accept it Mr Hunt is, in these cold days is it better/more-efficient to warm the battery everyday before you even start?

In my day it was Mr Phelps. Oops! showing my age again

 

[MG4JP]

Yesterday, I had to make an unexpected journey to my home in the middle of the day, so I left work in a hurry and did both journeys as quickly as possible.

Luckily, I have a motorway available near me that covers 90% of the journey between home and work, which I use when I'm very late or in urgent cases like this.

For anyone curious, the result of the journey (both ways) was this:

Distance (km)	Efficiency (kWh/100km)	Average Speed (km/h)	Up Time
37.9	27.3 (2.28 mi/kWh)	89	00:25

Heating, AC and ventilation were all off.
Air temperature was 17ºC.
Wind was weak/negligible and roads were dry.
ACC was set to 140km/h (87mph) on the motorway.

Spoiler: From Start shot

 

[fshuk1]

Interesting enough, I was seeing 2.0 m/kwh for around 5 miles this morning. Then later, we had to charge the car because of some emergency. We fast charged the car from 30 to 80 using a 150kw charger. We then went on trip of 60 miles on motorway. The car at the end show 4.2m/kwh on a journey that usually is 3.7m/kwh.

So, your task should you wish to accept it Mr Hunt is, in these cold days is it better/more-efficient to warm the battery everyday before you even start?

Geez where are the gurus?

So I will answer my own question. It is more efficient to heat your battery before going if you are doing anything more than 10 miles.

You can do this from your Ismart. (I am sure I have seen it on the car's main screen too but now I cannot find it).

 

[wattmatters]

Updated with February data:

 

[MG4JP]

Updated the first post, with February's data:

Period	Distance (km)	Efficiency (kWh/100km)	Average Speed (km/h)	Up Time
February 2025	1611	15.8 (3.93 mi/kWh)	33	47:44

Current overall combined efficiency (12,120km): 15.2 kWh/100km (4.09 mi/kWh)

 

[Griffian]

We got our Trophy ER at the end of February 2024. In the year that's passed, we did 7,600 miles using 2,452 kWh at a cost of £180.15. That's an average of just over 3 miles per kWh and at a cost of 2.37 pence per mile.

I just thought, since the first week in Jan we've also been charging our daughter's Fiat 500e and her consumption will be mixed up in there too.