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My first real test of Charge Mode efficiency

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by Lee Jay, Sep 16, 2017.

  1. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Until you experience winter driving.
     
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  2. HypersonicPrime

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    In the winter you could reset your electricity consumption in the car's settings to reset your average miles/kWh. This would give you a more realistic estimate based on your current driving conditions.
     
  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Nope. Where are you experience true winter driving, the conditions are quite random and very unpredictable. The temperature vary significantly too.

    I'm currently editing video of my first winter drive like that now... no charge-mode use though, this one was all electric.
     
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  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    True winter, the temperatures are less variable than some places that either frequently sees the influence of downslope winds (chinook, santa ana) that significantly warms up the surface temperature or a place that frequently sees storms that bring in warm airmasses with a warm front then see sudden drop in temps with a cold front (e.g. southern Ontario or the St. Lawrence River valley)
     
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  5. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Here's that video...

     
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  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    That is my guess in the case of the Clarity.
    For the Prime, it is because of charging limits. For longer battery life, you want the charge rate to slow down as the pack gets closer to full. You can maintain the fast charge rate up to 80% for most chemistries, but the final 20% can take almost as long as the first 80% with this slowing.
     
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  7. jdonalds

    jdonalds Active Member

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    Correction: It's 57.7% not 50.7%
     
  8. HypersonicPrime

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    I didn't see it, but based on other data from your MID, I'm going to guess your A/C load ratio was about 24% on that drive (due to necessary use of heat). Your initial EV range estimate (without climate on) should have been about 30 (because your average mi/kWh of 4.6 is skewed high from not usually having to use so much accessory power). Your actual range is probably about 23 miles right now, which would make the initial estimate of ~30 seem unreliable until you reset the mi/kWh value.

    It would be interesting to reset your electricity consumption, drive at least one wintery day to set a new baseline, then record your next day commute (same conditions and climate usage) to see if the distance estimation is more accurate. Your current mi/kWh should be closer to 3.5 right now.
     
  9. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Had to do another one of these today. averaged 73.8MPG using charge mode + Ev.
     
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  10. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Here is another real-world data sample...

     
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  11. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I wonder if the traction pack heater is switched on when in charge mode.

    The pack is heated from the bottom which is better than no pack heater
    but with cold air being blown through the pack while charging
    (unless the air intake gets heated too) the bottom of the pack can be
    hotter than the top for the entire charge.

    Probably not noticeable with a fresh battery though.
     
    #31 vvillovv, Mar 7, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2018
  12. jdonalds

    jdonalds Active Member

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    I see you're in NY. I thought only the Canadian Clarity cars had traction battery heaters.
     
  13. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    No, they all do.
     
  14. jdonalds

    jdonalds Active Member

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    From everything I read only the Canadian Clarity had a traction battery heater. What source do you find that shows the American Clarity PHEV has that heater?
     
  15. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    I'm sorry, I was thinking Prime, not Clarity.
     
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Clarity has liquid cooling for the battery pack. Most other plug ins using such a system can also heat the pack this way, which helps with charging efficiency. It also allows charging at reasonable rates without damage when the Li-ion cells are below freezing.

    Primes in Canada and Alaska have an additional heating function over what the rest of North America gets. It is possible Honda saying Canadian Clarities have a battery heater could mean in addition to the basic battery heating.
     
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