Seeking Advice on ZS Hybrid Plus Electric Motor Usage and Fuel Efficiency

[Jam]

Hi, the thread title says it all.

 

[DMeine]

For a few days now, we have had -6 to -2 degrees in the mornings and I have the feeling that the acceleration takes a little longer with the electric drive. Is it possible that if the battery is still too cold, the power is reduced? Unfortunately, there is very little information about the structure and the exact functioning of the drive.

 

[David38]

I've found during this freezing weather the car runs the same to me in the basic of taking me from AtoB with hardly any EV on it's own but not noticeable unless looking at dash.
What I have noticed that some of it's many features do not function below 0 deg. These have returned now positive temperature back.

 

[mick78]

For a few days now, we have had -6 to -2 degrees in the mornings and I have the feeling that the acceleration takes a little longer with the electric drive. Is it possible that if the battery is still too cold, the power is reduced? Unfortunately, there is very little information about the structure and the exact functioning of the drive.

LiOn batteries need a little warmth for full capacity, and also don't like too much power to be sucked from them when around or below freezing, I guess it's a protective programming. In less overpowered EVS you also tend to have a little less power with a very cold battery (so in very powerful ones, but you probably don't launch every time with full power in a Tesla Plaid or Porsche Taycan )

 

[Chris7]

I have driven in colder and slightly warmer weather. At night with additional power drain from lights, heating etc it spends less time in EV mode. But during the day and warmer weather it spends more time in EV mode.

On a 200mile trip mainly motorway I got 62mpg and when driving through road works at 50mph it spent sometime in EV

Hope this is useful

 

[Noel]

I must admit that I’ve only driven mine for some 600 miles, and most of that has been short local use. I agree with the cold weather causing less EV mode and reduced MPG. However, I must admit I’m surprised at the combined 44 mpg.

 

[Graydo]

I find turning the heater on will automatically turn on the engine as that is where it gets its heat.
If you just use the heated seats and steering wheel it will stay in EV mode much longer, at least untill your windows steam up.
I tend to turn on the heater when the engine kicks in to charge the battery and then turn it off as soon as the car has heated up/windows are clear.
This almost always turns the engine back off within a few seconds.
Currently averaging 46.3 over around 600 miles and still going up.
Individual trips are in excess of 50 mpg (and occasionally up to 70+) so still room for improvement.
Regen 2 and normal mode.
Should also add, I fill up at costco with premium petrol.

It's also cold, so I would expect this to go up in the summer (at least until I have to turn on the AC).

 

[Chris7]

I find turning the heater on will automatically turn on the engine as that is where it gets its heat.
If you just use the heated seats and steering wheel it will stay in EV mode much longer, at least untill your windows steam up.
I tend to turn on the heater when the engine kicks in to charge the battery and then turn it off as soon as the car has heated up/windows are clear.
This almost always turns the engine back off within a few seconds.
Currently averaging 46.3 over around 600 miles and still going up.
Individual trips are in excess of 50 mpg (and occasionally up to 70+) so still room for improvement.
Regen 2 and normal mode.
Should also add, I fill up at costco with premium petrol.

It's also cold, so I would expect this to go up in the summer (at least until I have to turn on the AC).

Thanks for this.

Interesting comment regarding premium fuel, I have not tried that option, may do when I next to a long journey.

My mileage is over 2000 and mpg is 54.

I would say 30% of this mileage is motorway driving