Reduced range in winter (merged)

[Gadget Geek]

I have a Long range I was expecting to get at least 220 miles on a full charge

Before Christmas, I did a 214 mile run up the M5 and back with no charging stops and got back with 10% remaining. It can be done.

 

[KJI]

I charged to 100% as I had a long road trip on a super charger and only got 190 miles and that was using Eco I have a long range model is there any reason why this happened

Yeah, it's a shit car. Mines the same, you won't get 190 either, the mileage will fall off a cliff face once you get under 40%

 

[dspencer12345]

Winter driving, with the heating on, will send the mileage right down, particularly if you're stuck in traffic a lot (I.e. heater uses power the whole time, even when you're stopped).
Mine was down to about that, but the minute the temperature went up to 12°C, I put on a coat, turned off the AC, and my mileage now reads 278 miles on a full charge.

And KJI, I've driven 230 miles from a full charge, and still had 18% left, but only in the Summer. I think that's pretty good personally.

 

[Redoralive]

I charged to 100% as I had a long road trip on a super charger and only got 190 miles and that was using Eco I have a long range model is there any reason why this happened

If using a home charger pre heat the battery, heat up the cabin to squeeze out some more miles.

Also when it's quite cold I find the battery readout isn't accurate, sometimes it sticks sometimes it reads low.

 

[Lovemyev]

Also when it's quite cold I find the battery readout isn't accurate, sometimes it sticks sometimes it reads low.

I agree, when the ambient temperature is really low, the predicted milage appears to read out lower than you expect.
But I am unsure if it is an inaccurate reading or a correct reading given that the battery is SO cold ?.
Batteries are like us really, they are not keen on cold weather ?.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I agree, when the ambient temperature is really low, the predicted milage appears to read out lower than you expect.
But I am unsure if it is an inaccurate reading or a correct reading given that the battery is SO cold ?.
Batteries are like us really, they are not keen on cold weather ?.

I always look at the miles/kWh to get an idea of how accurate the guess is.

 

[Terry2]

Could this be a battery equalisation/balancing problem? Failure to rebalance the battery meant that my Mark 1 model lost some range, which I got back by equalising more frequently (I now have a LR and have never been below 250 miles at 100% in 7 months; last night before todays trip I got up to 286 miles after charging and letting it run on to rebalance). There was a view on another thread that the LR will only need rebalancing if rapid/DC chargers are used. However the equalising/rebalancing issue might be one way to think about the reduced-range problem you have?

 

[dspencer12345]

Yeah, that's pretty good, but I like to have the heating/AC on

Yeah. Take your point. It does seem to be a luxury in an EV, if you're needing high mileage from your charges!

 

[bobmoffat]

Hi I have had the the car from new but from the beginning of this year I have noted a marked decrease in range from 220 in cold conditions at 80% down to 170 in more or lease the same conditions, has anyone seen the same or can anyone explain what is going on, thanks

 

[Ruislip Resident]

How cold are you referring to and what miles per kwh. If its in the minus temps and you are doing lots of short journeys with no time to heat up the battery, you may get a low miles per kwh eg high 2's.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Reduced range in winter (merged)

I have a Long range I was expecting to get at least 220 miles on a full charge Before Christmas, I did a 214 mile run up the M5 and back with no charging stops and got back with 10% remaining. It can be done. :)

www.mgevs.com

 

[bobmoffat]

Hi the temperature was between 0 and -3 degrees c the runs I do are approx 20 miles to daughters then 20 miles back. Don’t know about miles per kwh sorry. Just seems that the range is getting less, I am driving in normal and the heater is not on high.

 

[Paul225]

Very interesting posts - my MG4 will be one on 13th March - best charging range summer 304 miles - cold January this went down to 223 - overnight with slighter warmer weather 239 !! Have asked for battery check on first years service !!

 

[Gadget Geek]

Last week I did a 100% charge with balancing and got 245 miles on the GOM. That'll do me.

 

[Waterstoney]

When I had my 23reg ZS LR back in March 2023, my efficiency was 3.2 mls/kWh. A 100 miles motorway trip bring up efficiency to 3.4 mls/kWh. I was enjoying all the speed and comfort without worrying about cost.

I started to be a better on speed controlling with lesser comfort with energy consumption, average efficiency went up to 4.0 mls/kWh in normal driving mode in August. Highest 100% charge gives 351miles range in normal driving mode.

Winter full comfort normal driving only gives 2.6 mls/kWh on motorway. Short trip was only 2.1. I started using ECO mode in winter.

With mild weather at 11°C last week, efficiency is above 4mls/kWh again. It is achieved with many sacrifices:

• no heater and A/C if there is there is no mist or passengers
• slower acceleration, almost no brake when slowing down if it is safe.
• avoid driving more than 60mph if it is sensible
• keep distance and steady speed in slow moving traffic

My ZS LR average efficiency is now reading 3.9 mls/kWh for one year 3866 miles driving since March 2023. It is above official efficiency and range.

A photo was taken at 4°C today. Range is 232 miles with 80% SOC.

 

[Allen1946]

My MG5 long range only does 1 mile per 1% of charge on short trips (1-2 miles) in cold weather but nearly 4 miles per 1% on long trips.

 

[Tim Green]

Waterstoney - the average speed is very low, I guess a feature of London driving.
But it does allow you good range....

 

[EX MG Owner]

Cold weather is the range killer, however in the summer I was sometimes getting more range, on some occasions 340 miles, in the winter however down as low as 220. I always used the HVAC.