In the Chevy Volt, running AC or Heat saps the battery quicker.
Heater kills the battery range
I have a trip I do weekly that is about 50 miles. If I put it on cruise about 62 MPH, I will generally get 36-38 miles before the gas engine first turns on. Never less than 35 miles even with the AC on with very high outside temps.
But twice now (this morning was the second time), I have gotten only 30 miles on the battery. I believe in both cases the cabin heater came on. The outside temp was 68. The cabin setting was 70. I wouldn't think that should turn the heater on at all. I am guessing the "heater" is simply a resistor coil, and not a heat pump.
I have several questions:
But twice now (this morning was the second time), I have gotten only 30 miles on the battery. I believe in both cases the cabin heater came on. The outside temp was 68. The cabin setting was 70. I wouldn't think that should turn the heater on at all. I am guessing the "heater" is simply a resistor coil, and not a heat pump.
I have several questions:
- Has anybody else seen this behavior?
- Is this really resistor heating? If the engine is warm, will the car use the coolant for heating?
- How much worse will it be in the winter when it is below freezing?
- What are the settings to keep the heater from coming on?
- Is there any way with the Uconnect app to turn on the car while it is still connected to the charger without causing the gas engine to come on? In other words, warm up the cabin inside the garage before opening the garage door?
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I would look up the "remote start" section of your vehicle as it talks about this (and I assume this includes remote start from the key and the Uconnect app), although unfortunately it's not 100% clear how it works. The way I read the manual I believe it is saying that if you remote start the vehicle while it connected to a charger, then the vehicle will attempt to cool / warm without starting the gas engine. It also says that depending on the temperature then the vehicle will not start depending in the temperature (I would assume this in the case of extreme cold temperatures, where the manual states in the climate control section that the gas engine is needed to provide extra warming in certain conditions).
From the manual:
From the manual:
While plugged in the remote start feature for the vehicle may not always start the engine. Temperature dependent.
The Remote Starting System also activates the Climate Control, vented seats (if equipped) in temperatures above 80° F (26.7° C), the optional heated seats, optional heated steering wheel, optional heated mirrors and rear defroster in temperatures below 40° F (4.4° C).
I had a leaf for two years, as snorth mentioned above with his experience, cold weather and highway speed is Kryptonite to electric vehicles, my range would drop almost 20% when it got cold, AC would hardly affect range. Hate to say it but when it gets colder it's going to get worse, it's not unique to the Pacifica, its currently the achilles of EV's.
Hi cparmerlee,I have a trip I do weekly that is about 50 miles. If I put it on cruise about 62 MPH, I will generally get 36-38 miles before the gas engine first turns on. Never less than 35 miles even with the AC on with very high outside temps.
But twice now (this morning was the second time), I have gotten only 30 miles on the battery. I believe in both cases the cabin heater came on. The outside temp was 68. The cabin setting was 70. I wouldn't think that should turn the heater on at all. I am guessing the "heater" is simply a resistor coil, and not a heat pump.
I have several questions:
- Has anybody else seen this behavior?
- Is this really resistor heating? If the engine is warm, will the car use the coolant for heating?
- How much worse will it be in the winter when it is below freezing?
- What are the settings to keep the heater from coming on?
- Is there any way with the Uconnect app to turn on the car while it is still connected to the charger without causing the gas engine to come on? In other words, warm up the cabin inside the garage before opening the garage door?
The average MPGe for the PHEV is:
electric MPGe = 33
gas MPGe = 533
Based on that information, you've actually been getting a bit more than what the average amount is for the vehicle.
The electric coolant heater (ECH) is integrated into both the HVAC and Hybrid systems. Either system will automatically turn on the heater based on many considerations since the heater supports warming both the interior cabin in addition to the high voltage battery. In the case of cabin heating, the ECH will turn on any time the requested temperature target from the interior control head unit is greater than the actual coolant temperature. The heater will stay on until the coolant temperature is several degrees higher than the requested target (customer) setting. Additionally, the remote start function will allow for cabin conditioning via the App. The combustion engine may turn on, and cycle on-off, if the high voltage state of charge is too low to support extended voltage draw from either the electric coolant heater (cabin heating) or the electric air compressor (cabin cooling). The Pacifica Hybrid was designed with auto shutdown features that will completely turn the vehicle off after an extended remote start event or if the vehicle is left in the ignition RUN state while in park for extended periods of time. This is explained in the both the User Guide and Owner's Manual, which you can find at mopar.com for easy reference!
Kori
Chrysler Social Care Specialist
These figures are for the range, not MPGe.The average MPGe for the PHEV is:
electric MPGe = 33
gas MPGe = 533
In my BMW i3 experience, heating the cabin takes a big tall on the range, which can be reduced by 30% even after the precoditioning. And i3 is a small car. The battery itself also loses capacity in the cold weather.
I've had a Highlander hybrid for the last 10 years and found that having the fan on at all would have a noticeable effect on mileage. This is a vehicle where the engine is on most of the time anyway. However, it seems that even when you aren't "heating" or cooling and just circulating air, it seems to have a bit of a drain on things. My mileage definitely went up once I kept that stuff off.
Here's a question - is there any way to just turn on a vent fan in the cabin without the system trying to change the temperature based upon your climate setting? Sometimes I just want it to not be stuffy, but I don't need AC or heat. For instance, if it's raining or I'm on the highway, I'd rather not open the windows.
Here's a question - is there any way to just turn on a vent fan in the cabin without the system trying to change the temperature based upon your climate setting? Sometimes I just want it to not be stuffy, but I don't need AC or heat. For instance, if it's raining or I'm on the highway, I'd rather not open the windows.
Yeah, I hate the whole "temperature setting gauge" for the cabin. For me it's always been about relative temperature: I either want it colder or warmer than it currently is, or like you, I just want some air flowing. I don't care about absolute temperature.I've had a Highlander hybrid for the last 10 years and found that having the fan on at all would have a noticeable effect on mileage. This is a vehicle where the engine is on most of the time anyway. However, it seems that even when you aren't "heating" or cooling and just circulating air, it seems to have a bit of a drain on things. My mileage definitely went up once I kept that stuff off.
Here's a question - is there any way to just turn on a vent fan in the cabin without the system trying to change the temperature based upon your climate setting? Sometimes I just want it to not be stuffy, but I don't need AC or heat. For instance, if it's raining or I'm on the highway, I'd rather not open the windows.
I'm losing 20% electric range now with the cooler weather. But it's not that cold yet so I'm not sure if this is normal or not. I haven't been driving much so let's see how it fares. Got my winter tires on now, will post pics later.
same here ...temps are getting cooler so now only getting around 50km rangeI'm losing 20% electric range now with the cooler weather. But it's not that cold yet so I'm not sure if this is normal or not. I haven't been driving much so let's see how it fares. Got my winter tires on now, will post pics later.
Not heating up
I have a different problem, while on battery heating is not turned on, once the battery is 0, then its getting warmed up. Is this is a mechanical or electronic problem? it's 2018 Hybrid limited.
I have just seen it 2 times.
I have a different problem, while on battery heating is not turned on, once the battery is 0, then its getting warmed up. Is this is a mechanical or electronic problem? it's 2018 Hybrid limited.
I have just seen it 2 times.
As I've done in previous hybrids during the winter, I turn the hvac off, turn on the heated seated and steering wheel if equipped, to shorten the warm up cycle of the ICE. Since the PacHy is my first plug-in, I'll try the same scenario to see if it helps, but I think once temps get cold enough, the ICE will kick on just to warm up, regardless if you're requiring heat. I saw that on one of the many youtube videos I watched before buying. My Sonata Hybrid and I believe my Prius v5 before that had supplemental electric heat to provide heat to the cabin before the ICE warmed up, so I imagine the PacHy is similar.
If I turn the climate system on, the engine definitely turns on for at least a little while. The defrost is probably the worst, but that’s somewhat unavoidable when your window is foggy. My range has gone down the last few weeks since it has been colder.
I've watched my Hybrid Info in Apps and can see how much power is being drawn by the HVAC - it uses quite a bit!
Unrelated but related. I leased a Leaf for 2 years. Range killers in order: Cold ambient temp >> AC > Heat > hills (depending on length and grade).
During cold weather I’ve read losing 30-40% range is not uncommon and that is a very accurate estimate on an all electric.
Hills are a killer but you get some of that back on the downslope. One long rise over 10 miles used about 20 miles of range but the remaining 15 miles into the city only used 5 miles of range. On my way to return to the dealer at lease end, I actually gained 3 miles of range over that 15 mile downslope (which I’ve seen before at times on other roads) under ideal circumstances. 68F, no A/c no heat. I believe these principles would apply to any PHEV/hybrid with a battery. Cold temps significantly slow the flow of electrons in the battery resulting in less efficiency.
During cold weather I’ve read losing 30-40% range is not uncommon and that is a very accurate estimate on an all electric.
Hills are a killer but you get some of that back on the downslope. One long rise over 10 miles used about 20 miles of range but the remaining 15 miles into the city only used 5 miles of range. On my way to return to the dealer at lease end, I actually gained 3 miles of range over that 15 mile downslope (which I’ve seen before at times on other roads) under ideal circumstances. 68F, no A/c no heat. I believe these principles would apply to any PHEV/hybrid with a battery. Cold temps significantly slow the flow of electrons in the battery resulting in less efficiency.
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