Electric range in extremely cold conditions

Pitkis · 01-06-2016, 03:20 PM

I had some battery range test today in freezing conditions. It's really cold here now, temperature next morning may be close to -30 C. The current weather station I passed by shows -27.2C (-17F). So I decided to test how battery works now. Some people have said that eRange drops dramatically when temperature goes down.

To start with, you can't freeze i8 overnight outside and start operating deeply frozen battery. Engine starts every time when you push start button and eDrive is not possible before warming up car completely. So you have to fix some arrangements otherwise.

I went to my warm garage, pushed eDrive before opening doors. And my car started to drive eDrive also after moving to cold air...so no problem so far. Full battery promised 27 km range now.

I started max-range test and had pretty reasonable drive without major interference. Temperature was all the time around -25 C. You could really feel how badly i8 rolls in those conditions...pedal have to be pushed clearly even in downhill roads.

Result: Max eRange was 21,7 km. I could have driven a bit more, perhaps, with even more careful speed adjustment but not much more. ECO-PRO setting was used all the time, Nokian tyres in every corner.

Hard to comment if about 21 km in arctic conditions is dramatically dropped range. Maybe a bit more than I estimated? Battery was warm all the time, I suppose. But other parts of the car not, at least electric motor had really cold times...

Attached a picture of the dash after home arrival.

kip1 · 01-07-2016, 05:00 PM

I think the range drops describe cars that are started in the cold, no reason why you wouldn't get near full capacity from a warm battery, merely handicapped by increased heating.

ChiTownM · 01-07-2016, 07:34 PM

I am in Chicago and we get that kind of cold weather also. I don't drive in snow but when the roads are clear and it is dry I use the car and there is some battery drain. I don't have a heated garage at work and I can tell you it is maybe 3 to 4 miles less on the display when I start with a full battery. However since it all depends on so many other factors I cannot give an exact number just like you.....I guess it is more of a gut feeling.

I want to commend you on 52000 KMs on your car, impressive to say the least. any major issues with the car, especially software or broken things.

Pitkis · 01-08-2016, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTownM

I want to commend you on 52000 KMs on your car, impressive to say the least. any major issues with the car, especially software or broken things.

It's been problem-free driving from day to day. Only grounding issue with fuel tank cover at the very beginning, but that went away soon by itself. After that, simply no problems!

01-06-2016, 03:20 PM	#1
Pitkis First Lieutenant 71 Rep 338 Posts Drives: i8 2014 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampere, Finland iTrader: (0)	Electric range in extremely cold conditions I had some battery range test today in freezing conditions. It's really cold here now, temperature next morning may be close to -30 C. The current weather station I passed by shows -27.2C (-17F). So I decided to test how battery works now. Some people have said that eRange drops dramatically when temperature goes down. To start with, you can't freeze i8 overnight outside and start operating deeply frozen battery. Engine starts every time when you push start button and eDrive is not possible before warming up car completely. So you have to fix some arrangements otherwise. I went to my warm garage, pushed eDrive before opening doors. And my car started to drive eDrive also after moving to cold air...so no problem so far. Full battery promised 27 km range now. I started max-range test and had pretty reasonable drive without major interference. Temperature was all the time around -25 C. You could really feel how badly i8 rolls in those conditions...pedal have to be pushed clearly even in downhill roads. Result: Max eRange was 21,7 km. I could have driven a bit more, perhaps, with even more careful speed adjustment but not much more. ECO-PRO setting was used all the time, Nokian tyres in every corner. Hard to comment if about 21 km in arctic conditions is dramatically dropped range. Maybe a bit more than I estimated? Battery was warm all the time, I suppose. But other parts of the car not, at least electric motor had really cold times... Attached a picture of the dash after home arrival. Attached Images __________________ i8 2014 (PI, Protonic Blue), X1 25i 2016. Gone F30 320i xDrive 2013, E84 X1 23d 2010, E60 530 xdA 2006, E92M3 2008, R53 Mini Cooper S 2006, F430 F1 2008
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01-07-2016, 05:00 PM	#2
kip1 Captain 168 Rep 774 Posts Drives: X5M50d Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: - iTrader: (0)	I think the range drops describe cars that are started in the cold, no reason why you wouldn't get near full capacity from a warm battery, merely handicapped by increased heating.
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01-07-2016, 07:34 PM	#3
ChiTownM Lieutenant Colonel 1071 Rep 1,543 Posts Drives: M and i BMWs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I am in Chicago and we get that kind of cold weather also. I don't drive in snow but when the roads are clear and it is dry I use the car and there is some battery drain. I don't have a heated garage at work and I can tell you it is maybe 3 to 4 miles less on the display when I start with a full battery. However since it all depends on so many other factors I cannot give an exact number just like you.....I guess it is more of a gut feeling. I want to commend you on 52000 KMs on your car, impressive to say the least. any major issues with the car, especially software or broken things.
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