OUR Real World Range

[Deleted User 192]

This thread is really interesting to me as a prospective new EV buyer.
I knew temperature and driving affected range but not by this amount.
I am used to driving with A/c on and 22-24C plus a lot of long 70 mph drives on motorway. I was assuming I would get 200-250 mile range which is essential for my regular journeys. Seems I was in cloud cuckoo land. Regretfully it looks like I will need to stick to diesel until range issues are resolved.

I don’t do more than 120 miles / 2 hours without wanting a break, so there’s always an opportunity to leave the car on charge while I’m using the loo and having a cuppa.

[ColinID3]

I think we need to recognise that as yet BEV ownership is not feasible for all, especially when you consider the premium cost of the long range vehicles. I guess I'm in a similar position as Dave and Olly in that I have the luxury of adapting my driving style and journey set up to cope with the 58kWhr ID3 operating envelop. When my kids were young I would regularly spend all day on the road for work, come home on a Friday night load up the camping gear, hook up the dinghy and be back on the road in an hour to drive another 1-200 miles. I couldn't have run a BEV then!
Those of us who can be early adopters/fast followers have a vital role to play in helping to create the demand the OEM's need to refine the technology. For me I'm really enjoying being part of that development project, with all its frustrations!

[Salmonfisher]

Dave
I have considered the options as I really would like to move to an EV for environmental and driving reasons. My problem is I do a 150 mile trip on motorways, stay over a couple of days and then 150 mile return about every two to three weeks all through year plus several trips of 250 to 450 miles each way to Wales and Scotland (for fishing) each year. Around 17/18,000 miles a year. I could live with a guaranteed 250 mile or near range but would really struggle below that. Reading the really useful posts here it seems it will be a few more years before EV will suit me which is a pity.

[stu-evs]

Dave
I have considered the options as I really would like to move to an EV for environmental and driving reasons. My problem is I do a 150 mile trip on motorways, stay over a couple of days and then 150 mile return about every two to three weeks all through year plus several trips of 250 to 450 miles each way to Wales and Scotland (for fishing) each year. Around 17/18,000 miles a year. I could live with a guaranteed 250 mile or near range but would really struggle below that. Reading the really useful posts here it seems it will be a few more years before EV will suit me which is a pity.

I think you’d need to be looking at the ‘premium’ end of the market at the moment is probably the reality rather than EV not working for you at all. My daily commute is 150 miles - pre lockdown I was doing that every day (including right through winter) in an EV and I only ever charged overnight at home - range has never been an issue. The fantastic experience I’ve had with one EV in the house is what’s made us buy the ID3 too - so now we’re a ‘2 EV household’.

Like you, quite a few long distance trips each year too - they were the only times I ever charged ‘publicly’ - even then many of them you could manage with just destination charging as likely they’re in the nicer weather so range is better anyway.

As I say - don’t discount completely - just less choice in the higher range/premium sector....(and I recognise not everyone can afford that)

[G43FAN]

I think the market around range extenders will increase dramatically for a few years. There are already ideas around battery trailers, putting extenders and even aux motors in caravans etc.
For some, the EV is still going to be a stretch, but 100 years ago driving a 500 - 900 mile round trip several times a year would be unheard of too.
According to some info I saw the highest average mileage for EVs in the UK currently was the Tesla Model S with 12-13000 miles a year. Most other EVs are showing less than 9000 averages.

[OllyExeterID3]

Dave
I have considered the options as I really would like to move to an EV for environmental and driving reasons. My problem is I do a 150 mile trip on motorways, stay over a couple of days and then 150 mile return about every two to three weeks all through year plus several trips of 250 to 450 miles each way to Wales and Scotland (for fishing) each year. Around 17/18,000 miles a year. I could live with a guaranteed 250 mile or near range but would really struggle below that. Reading the really useful posts here it seems it will be a few more years before EV will suit me which is a pity.

It is tricky because some of these issues will be fixed with longer range but I think the predominant shift over the next 5 years will be infrastructure and efficiency rather than battery size.

Don't discount entirely if you can - we scrimped and saved to get a second-hand i3 (with a range extender) - running from a house with no driveway and regular 500 mile round trips to see family in Cambridge. After an initial worry about ensuring I got to 100% and feeling I needed to use the range extender, I rarely ever did - we used it once on a long journey and that was only because I didn't trust the Ecotricity points at Moto services to work so powered on through!

That had an average range of 100 miles on a charge but actually I found that, even in a family emergency, the reliability of the car doing high miles (250+) was phenomenal and only took an hour longer than if we had done the same in an ICE car. I suppose the main point to say is owning an EV requires planning - you need to know where to stop, when to power on through and where to make the best use of slow chargers too.

Finally, perhaps slightly differently to some on here, I only use the ID3 for 50 mile+ journeys, preferring the train or cycling for shorter trips. This past year has been boom time for charging infrastructure, and it will only get better.

If you need to see how infrastructure changes mindsets, look up Norway as an example. Cold weather, 1000km long country, high rural populations. Yet over 50% new sales are EVs. Main driver is access to reliable charging even in rural locations. If you did your 150 mile journey every few weeks but knew at your destination location, you just needed to charge for 25 mins to get back again, it is straightforward. But you need to know the infrastructure will be there. That is what will be the tipping point.

[Daveion]

Im a beginner with an EV but make Olly right.
I have not used a public charger many times so far and won't go into the ins and outs but it hasn't always gone as smooth as I would have liked. Upside though is my local Tesco has 11kw chargers free and I can get the weeks charge in a little over 2 hours whilst I cycle down the Thames footpaths

[G43FAN]

In keeping with the original thread title..
Picked mine up yesterday (Friday) and had a 111 mile drive home..

Temp 5.0C - 7.5C Car was Warmed and I assume pre-feated at dealers charge of 100%
Climate was set to 20C for the journey which was a mix of Dual carrigeway and A roads.
Despite my efforts to restrain I was heavier on the righ pedal occasionallly and the car surprised me in it's eagerness to get from 50 - 70ish..

Overall 111miles Avg Speed 43mph 2:37h time 3.2 mi/kWh 43% charge..

Stopped part way to get some lunch at a drive tru then parked up to get out to eat. Did't really shut down the car or lock it and when we set off the Info screen froze, the Nav was still updating and moving but was unresponsive to the touch. Quick reboot and all was well.

Over all really enjoyed the drive and having just handed back a BiTurbo SEL Tiguan was not really dissappointed in the slightest.

[Daveion]

The original thread has wobbled a bit but all in a related good way.
G43fan quote
"Stopped part way to get some lunch at a drive tru then parked up to get out to eat"
111 miles 3.2miles/kw at 20C cabin on a 6C day and a drive thru
Oh how Im looking foward to getting out a bit more now Im vaccinated.
Dave

[Deleted User 192]

Oh how Im looking foward to getting out a bit more now Im vaccinated.
Dave

Now you just need to wait for everyone else to get theirs so the rules change.

[Daveion]

Maybe that was a bit out of context.
Of course when the rules change . Its different for all Im sure. Sheilding much of 2020 was a strain but now vaccinated we can resume our Grandparent child care bubble and use the car more.
777 miles in 11 weeks at 3.2 miles/kw long term avarage.
Dave

[Blippybay68]

As a prospective EV buyer this is really interesting.

My OH is disabled so not using the heater and the car being cold just isn't an option. Regularly in our current Q3 I have my side on 18degrees and she's at 30degrees.

We are looking at a Life Pro Performance 58kwh due to cost, but I'm curious assuming the heater is always around 25degrees in the winter what would the realistic range be?

Also approximately once a month I do a 240 mile round trip (all motorway), in a day for work. I'd rather not stop either way and there's nowhere to charge at my destination. Is this even feasible in an ID3? Especially in the depths of winter. Plus I regularly do 160 mile round trips, usually A and B roads, usually with little to no time to stop, again is this feasible?

[Daveion]

Im new to EVs with the ID.3 my first.
The data I have gathered here though and personal experience is that 240 miles in Winter would be a little too far. I dont think it would be huge, maybe a quicky 30 minute charge would be ok.
One advantage of a longer run is of course that everything involved in consuming energy has staberlized. Initial heating of the cabin requires a lot more energy to begin with as the mass comes up to the temperature set point. After it is reached consumption will fall to balance the heat lost to atmosphere. That said a cabin temperature of 30C against an ambient say of 5C (Delta T of 25C) will be a large consuption even with a heat pump. The cars exterior will act like a radiator losing heat and I guess could easily take 5+ kwh to maintain beyond the initial heavier draw.
160 miles I would have thought to be straight forward.
My pick up journey from the dealership to home on a 0C day was 160 miles. I had plenty in reserve when I got home but never used the heater. I think If I had it would have been ok.
Sorry to dribble on but reducing the Delta T and keeping speed down will squeeze the range on a long run.
Dave

[Deleted User 192]

We are looking at a Life Pro Performance 58kwh due to cost, but I'm curious assuming the heater is always around 25degrees in the winter what would the realistic range be?

Pre-heat the cabin while the car is plugged in at home before you set off, the rest will depend on the types of roads and your speed - I’d guess at 160-180 miles based on the winter just gone and what I’ve read of others’ experiences.

Also approximately once a month I do a 240 mile round trip (all motorway), in a day for work. I'd rather not stop either way and there's nowhere to charge at my destination. Is this even feasible in an ID3? Especially in the depths of winter. Plus I regularly do 160 mile round trips, usually A and B roads, usually with little to no time to stop, again is this feasible?

240 in the summer, maybe. Not in the winter though. You might get those 160 milers in though, as above.