What is the MG4 Battery Saver Mode meant to do?

[JayEV2022]

Also, what does it do in the real world?
If anyone could kindly shed some light on this please

 

[OJEastwood]

I don't have the car yet to say for sure, but going off what some other EVs do in energy saver mode I would say it might limit the acceleration and restrict the use of heating/AC in the car.

EDIT: From the owner's manual;

Energy Saving Mode

When the high voltage battery is low on power, a message will appear on the infotainment display, prompting the driver to enable the energy saving mode. When the energy saving mode is enabled, the vehicle will operate on the minimal energy consumption. The power of the air conditioner is limited. The energy regeneration level is automatically adjusted and fixed to "strong". When the energy saving mode is turned off, the energy regeneration returns to the former-selected level. The energy saving mode can be turned on and off on the infotainment display.

Energy saving mode cannot be enabled when the vehicle is in Snow Mode.

 

[JayEV2022]

I don't have the car yet to say for sure, but going off what some other EVs do in energy saver mode I would say it might limit the acceleration and restrict the use of heating/AC in the car.

EDIT: From the owner's manual;

Energy Saving

Mode When the high voltage battery is low on power, a message will appear on the infotainment display, prompting the driver to enable the energy saving mode. When the energy saving mode is enabled, the vehicle will operate on the minimal energy consumption. The power of the air conditioner is limited. The energy regeneration level is automatically adjusted and fixed to "strong". When the energy saving mode is turned off, the energy regeneration returns to the former-selected level. The energy saving mode can be turned on and off on the infotainment display.

Energy saving mode cannot be enabled when the vehicle is in Snow Mode.

Oh brilliant, that was helpful and gives me a better understanding... thank you

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

TL;DR - It's what other EVs call "Tortoise Mode" or similar.

 

[Ian Key]

It's for when your range anxiety gets the better of you ?

 

[BugEyed]

TL;DR - It's what other EVs call "Tortoise Mode" or similar.

The MG4 has a tortoise/turtle mode as well (evidenced by the icon shown during the warning light testing at startup), energy saving mode is voluntary. But there's nothing about it in the manual and I don't know anyone who has triggered it yet - 3% on an SR and all was normal having dismissed the energy saving mode offer at 5%

 

[dawson2099]

The MG4 has a tortoise/turtle mode as well (evidenced by the icon shown during the warning light testing at startup), energy saving mode is voluntary. But there's nothing about it in the manual and I don't know anyone who has triggered it yet - 3% on an SR and all was normal having dismissed the energy saving mode offer at 5%

My Trophy doesn't offer the option. It just goes straight into reduced power mode. It does tell me but I am unable to revert to normal mode because the screen shows that's what I'm in already!

 

[Rolfe]

I think I was on about 15% the couple of times my SE SR asked me if I wanted to go into energy saving mode. I told it to shut up and get on with it, I knew what I was doing, and the car went on behaving normally. The first time, I overtook a couple of cars at 5% battery, and my speed touched 80 mph. No loss of power at all. (I think I did hear a small sigh of relief when I pulled up beside the rapid charger a couple of minutes later, at 4%, though.)

 

[Kithmo]

When I select energy saving mode, nothing changes on the screen, it stays the same as normal, the default mode.

 

[siteguru]

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought Energy Saver Mode linked with HVAC so that when you go into ECO drive mode then HVAC gets set to ECO performance?

 

[SimonS]

Mine kicked in the other day when I got down to about 9%. Just a message saying I should charge soon and the power was limited to max 17% regardless of how hard I pressed the accelerator.

 

[arty]

The MG4 has a tortoise/turtle mode as well (evidenced by the icon shown during the warning light testing at startup), energy saving mode is voluntary. But there's nothing about it in the manual and I don't know anyone who has triggered it yet - 3% on an SR and all was normal having dismissed the energy saving mode offer at 5%

Mine triggers at 30% with still 60 miles range left today was doing 41 mph on motorway up a very gentle slope once it got to the top and the road levelled out would only do 55mph foot full to floor !!!

 

[Rolfe]

That has got to be a fault. I drove mine down to 4% once and didn't experience any power loss. I was overtaking at 80 mph at 5%. The car asked me at around 15% if I wanted to go into energy saving mode and I said no and it carried right on without any difference.

 

[DrPhil]

That has got to be a fault. I drove mine down to 4% once and didn't experience any power loss. I was overtaking at 80 mph at 5%. The car asked me at around 15% if I wanted to go into energy saving mode and I said no and it carried right on without any difference.

Hi Arty / Rolfe, I took my SR in for updates due to apple car play and numerous phantom braking issues last Thursday 18/1/24 to Perrys Preston. Came out and it wouldn’t accelerate on to the motorway to get hon even with 70% charge. 60 mph max. So dangerous. Tried to phone Friday, no answer. Managed to get through Monday. They said no slots. I said it’s dangerous. Suddenly a slot this Wednesday- but no loan car. Drove it the last 2 days and it won’t accelerate after 35mph . Power shows 13-15% max in the dash - turtle mode when it passes 30mph, resets when slow below 30 then comes on/off. Not happy. How can a car come out worse after service / repair. 6 months in….. if anyone else knows of this, or remedy please let me know. Thank you.

 

[siteguru]

This sounds like the "Bowfer" issue and there may well be no fix, so you may need to explore rejecting the car.

 

[Rolfe]

This is a fault that has appeared after a software update though. The others we know about developed all on their own, not so long after the cars were new. He's already had the thing six months, so rejection is going to be difficult.

My bet is they did something stupid with the software, and surely what's done can be undone. (In fact the cars that were apparently cured of the Bowfer issue were cured by a software update.)

 

[DrPhil]

Thank you for the comments. My guess is also on something related to the updates they did. It’s very odd as what they looked at was nothing to do with power. It’s a shame as the car has been great apart from the odd emergency stop for no reason. I believe the braking issue happens on numerous other manufacturers as well. I’ll update after my next fun visit to the dealer.

 

[JonnyG]

I use "Energy Saving Mode" from 100% charge at the start of long motorway trips. It definitely seems to help with efficiency / range from my experience. Air Conditioning is listed in the manual but I'm guessing it does more in other areas. I suspect a power cap on throttle response is one of these too.

 

[fnegroni]

That’s how WLTP figures are reached ;amongst other things such as switch lights off, no radio, shut down screen… basically completely unrealistic in real life but gives you an extra few miles from a full battery and might well be needed in a post apocalyptic world. ?

 

[Rolfe]

I've heard of plenty other makes doing the phantom braking thing, but mine has never done it for no reason. I know it's working, because the brakes did slam on once when a pedestrian came out from between two parked cars and the car thought he was about to walk in front of it. I think it's something to do with calibration of cameras or other sensors.