Preheat battery - Which time?

[Rambutan]

In the app it says "start time". Is this the time I start to drive or the time for the heating to start? I noticed that the set time always is one hour ahead, so my guess is that it's the time I start to drive?

 

[Pinnelli]

Shame no one answered I have same query, with some chilly mornings this week I thought to use it, I assume irs time heating starts but unlike charging, the app never displays any in progress status and looking at car it’s silent and no activity as far as I can see, also I never loose on charge so believe doesn’t work,

 

[Rambutan]

I have tried to read and search in the manual, but can't find any information. Haven't had time to investigate any further.

 

[Jamesrr]

Where in the app does it let you start to pre-heat the battery?
I don't see any such setting in the ismart app here in Australia.

 

[Rambutan]

Where in the app does it let you start to pre-heat the battery?
I don't see any such setting in the ismart app here in Australia.

I have it at the same place you can adjust charge percentage and set up scheduled charging.

 

[Jamesrr]

I have it at the same place you can adjust charge percentage and set up scheduled charging.

Ah. Doesn't appear there for me. Sounds like different versions of the app for different regions.
Not that we get the same cold weather as you do here in Australia. Not such a big deal, but if I was up in the snow for a skiing trip it may be useful.
Such is life

 

[fred12345]

I'm not sure you need to preheat the battery in order to drive but what I understand is it's only really useful to prepare the battery when you want to do a rapid charge.. more reading needed for me...

Ah. Doesn't appear there for me.

Look up this on the app, it's not there?

 

[Jamesrr]

Look up this on the app, it's not there?

No. The settings widget just lets me set the target charge percentage and the scheduled charging settings.
Also, I get a picture of my MG4, not your ZS so must be car model dependant.
Makes sense.

 

[Rambutan]

I'm not sure you need to preheat the battery in order to drive

Since range drops when it's cold, I thought it could be beneficial to preheat the battery in the winter?

 

[Coulomb]

the app never displays any in progress status and looking at car it’s silent and no activity as far as I can see, also I never loose on charge so believe doesn’t work,

I wonder if it's because the battery isn't below 10°C yet. It night be 8°C outside, but the battery takes a fair while to change temperature, so it might still be at say 12°C. I vaguely recall that pre-heating only works below 10°C battery temperature.

Of course, it's very rude of the app to not tell you this.

 

[fred12345]

What I managed to find so far is that heating the battery - often called preconditioning and coupled with cabin heating, so further confusing the term "preconditioning" - is only really recommended in extreme temperatures. This was about Tesla batteries so not sure whether it applies to MG as well. It is also recommended to prepare the battery for rapid charging - not necessary but that will result in faster charging time. For me personally, I won't bother wasting battery charge on pre-heating it unless it's -5C and I'm going for a longer drive ...

I wonder if it's because the battery isn't below 10°C yet. It night be 8°C outside, but the battery takes a fair while to change temperature, so it might still be at say 12°C. I vaguely recall that pre-heating only works below 10°C battery temperature.

Of course, it's very rude of the app to not tell you this.

Maybe plugging ODB2 reader would help, it shows battery temperature so could see when it starts changing? Anyway, I'll leave that to someone else as I'm not bothered about it too much, not that cold in England ...

 

[APMG]

I seem to recall battery heating only really matters in sub zero. No point doing it when higher than -5°C. If you're in a harsh climate then it makes sense to have it on 1.5h before charging/turn on smart schedule.