Macan EV Range concerns

[tmrqs]

I’m reading all of these posts and starting to think something is wrong with my car. I’m in the Northeast US and it has been under or near freezing but lately I only get 150 miles with a 95% charge and I have to slow down in the last 30 miles. It’s a Turbo with 22” and winter tires. For European folks the last 2 trips were about 35kWh/100km. Not sure what I’m doing wrong but it’s not going to work for me. Any advice most welcome!

You seem to be going pretty fast, that will eat at the battery like crazy.
If the average is 68mph, how fast are you actually driving? 80? 85? 90?

Anything over 65-70 and the range will take a severe nose dive.

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[krissrock]

you also have the worst set up for range... turbo, 22's and cold...

I'm also in the North east with the cold, but i'm not driving as fast and i'm only on 20's (for now)

 

[nikdulac]

you also have the worst set up for range... turbo, 22's and cold...

I'm also in the North east with the cold, but i'm not driving as fast and i'm only on 20's (for now)

Thank you, this is useful - I know I have a pretty bad setup for range and I do drive fast, but never thought it would basically cut the advertised range in half. I replaced my ICE Macan S (best car I ever owned) with this thing for winter driving to my Maine shack exactly 150 miles away until it’s time for the 911 to come out of winter hibernation. Have to say it’s an extremely cool car but if I have to drive slow for the commute, maybe I should get a Prius. Idk - definitely not what I expected.

 

[mikeright]

Thank you, this is useful - I know I have a pretty bad setup for range and I do drive fast, but never thought it would basically cut the advertised range in half. I replaced my ICE Macan S (best car I ever owned) with this thing for winter driving to my Maine shack exactly 150 miles away until it’s time for the 911 to come out of winter hibernation. Have to say it’s an extremely cool car but if I have to drive slow for the commute, maybe I should get a Prius. Idk - definitely not what I expected.

I really understand your feelings and the non accomplished expectations. And believe me, it is not your fault.

All the Porsche marketing numbers and statements point to what you expect… the car in those conditions you mention will cut its range but no one will expect that huge cut… at least no one who want to believe and trust Porsche and has not got more than 10 years of experience with electric cars.

My advice, at least it is what I am trying to do to manage my frustration, take your time with the car. Try to understand it and learn with it. It is something dramatically different from an ICE and requieres other way to drive and life with it. And it is not only a matter of speed down. Precondition, AC, coasting,…

And once you achieve to get more or less between 23-26 kWh/100km then you decide if you like the experience that the car offers to you.

Just my two cents

 

[nikdulac]

I really understand your feelings and the non accomplished expectations. And believe me, it is not your fault.

All the Porsche marketing numbers and statements point to what you expect… the car in those conditions you mention will cut its range but no one will expect that huge cut… at least no one who want to believe and trust Porsche and has not got more than 10 years of experience with electric cars.

My advice, at least it is what I am trying to do to manage my frustration, take your time with the car. Try to understand it and learn with it. It is something dramatically different from an ICE and requieres other way to drive and life with it. And it is not only a matter of speed down. Precondition, AC, coasting,…

And once you achieve to get more or less between 23-26 kWh/100km then you decide if you like the experience that the car offers to you.

Just my two cents

Thank you - I’ll try to be patient and learn how to optimize. I went all in on this maybe too early. That thing is 20% more expensive than a GTS, and it’s gorgeous for sure, but range anxiety is very very real.

 

[Yves]

Thank you - I’ll try to be patient and learn how to optimize. I went all in on this maybe too early. That thing is 20% more expensive than a GTS, and it’s gorgeous for sure, but range anxiety is very very real.

No opportunity to do like a 5 minute splash and dash, get a coffee, go to the restroom on that 150km trip, otherwise just driving 5 miles slower and pre heating ... Also maybe and this is really killing, headwind ... check and you can anticipate ...

 

[mikeright]

These links have been useful for me to understand and learn what to expect regarding the range:

Crystal clear view about how to calculate true
range in a real world
https://www.macanevowners.com/forum...n-ev-consumption-by-theorical-approach.19214/

It is in Spanish but you can use YouTube subtitles or even audio translation. But it is a must!


Some tips to improve range in winter, specially about how to properly heat the cabin

 

[Awaz]

Yes, very interesting indeed.

 

[krissrock]

That thing is 20% more expensive than a GTS,

ain't you getting a lot more Horsepower than a GTS though?

this is my first EV,...and I can admit, i'm charging more than i expected...(that's why i'm gonna use this free year of EA charging for sure) but it's also winter here.... I'm just looking foward to seeing the difference when things warm up

 

[daveo4EV]

Thank you, this is useful - I know I have a pretty bad setup for range and I do drive fast, but never thought it would basically cut the advertised range in half. I replaced my ICE Macan S (best car I ever owned) with this thing for winter driving to my Maine shack exactly 150 miles away until it’s time for the 911 to come out of winter hibernation. Have to say it’s an extremely cool car but if I have to drive slow for the commute, maybe I should get a Prius. Idk - definitely not what I expected.

speed is a range killer - above 40-50 mph - aero-dynamic drag is the major factor in moving any (ICE or EV) vehicle - aero-drag also has a V^2 (velocity squared) impact on the number - i.e. it's not linear - the difference in power to go from 50-60mph is less than from 60-70, and 70-80 - the faster you go the more power it requires to go that extra 1 mph - so it gets crazy expensive to move an object through the air at increasing speeds

5 mph slower will dramtically improve your range - 10 even more so - 15 is a dream scenario for reducing consumption.

combine the V^2 aspect with colder/denser air and it gets even more crazy expensive (cold dense air is more expensive on drag)…

so basically you're asking to move a 5,000 lbs SUV eV in the worst conditions possible for an EV (and still getting 150 miles range):

• cold denser air - more expensive than 50F air
• crappy road conditions so rolling resistances are maximum - snow, wet, salt, less grip, more power required, and cold rubber with less compliance
• high speed - bring in V^2 for maximum impact - speed - OMG speed
  • at free way speeds 60-80 mph my 2020 taycan was a 200'ish mile EV
  • at 50 mph or slower you can go nearly 350 miles or more…same car - different speed
• 22" wheels - yeah this are 5-10% hit all on their own
• winter tires (increase rolling resistances) again more costs - less take more electrons away
• very very low temperatures
  • battery range reduced due to less efficient LiON battery chemistry - the battery has "less to give" when it's cold out - less efficient chemical reactions
  • extra power used by battery to "heat itself" - not all your power is going to move the car - some of the batteries's total capacity is being "burned/consumed" to heat itself
  • extra power used by battery to heat the cabin for passengers - pesky passengers also "burn/consume" power to heat them also…

I'm surprised you're going as far as you actually are - I would've thought range would be way worse given that you're basically driving in the most expensive conditions possible and very high speed - only way you could make it worse is if you were towing something uphill - both ways…

range will dramatically improve when it warms up - but speed will still compromise your ultimate range/efficiency

ICE vehicle's are equally affected by aero-loads, but have much bigger "batteries" (fuel tanks) and cost to fill them is less time - and they do not take the hit for battery/cabin heating…since heat is a waste product - but you'll find increased fuel economy for driving slower in an ICE - but most people don't care…

rented a model 3 in germany - normal range an easy 250+ miles
drove from amsterdam to nurburgring (for porsche track event it was awesome)
navigation estimate @ start was arrive @ 42% battery capacity at supercharger @ nurburgring
much of the trip was on unrestricted speed freeways (love germany)
actual percentage upon arrival (after driving in excess of 100 mph for various segements for long duration) - I arrived with 12% battery

I have no doubt at "normal" speeds I would've arrived at 42% or more battery
but speed increased consumption so much - that I burnt an additional 30% battery just because "fast"
all of that 30% was purely the increased aero-dynamic loads due to V^2

YMMV has never been more true.

 

[daveo4EV]

Thank you, this is useful - I know I have a pretty bad setup for range and I do drive fast, but never thought it would basically cut the advertised range in half. I replaced my ICE Macan S (best car I ever owned) with this thing for winter driving to my Maine shack exactly 150 miles away until it’s time for the 911 to come out of winter hibernation. Have to say it’s an extremely cool car but if I have to drive slow for the commute, maybe I should get a Prius. Idk - definitely not what I expected.

https://www.macanevowners.com/forum...hit-in-cold-weather…new-owner-overview.18231/

 

[Paris92]

speed is a range killer - above 40-50 mph - aero-dynamic drag is the major factor in moving any (ICE or EV) vehicle - ...

...YMMV has never been more true.

Great tutorial Dave. Much appreciated.

 

[nikdulac]

speed is a range killer - above 40-50 mph - aero-dynamic drag is the major factor in moving any (ICE or EV) vehicle - aero-drag also has a V^2 (velocity squared) impact on the number - i.e. it's not linear - the difference in power to go from 50-60mph is less than from 60-70, and 70-80 - the faster you go the more power it requires to go that extra 1 mph - so it gets crazy expensive to move an object through the air at increasing speeds

5 mph slower will dramtically improve your range - 10 even more so - 15 is a dream scenario for reducing consumption.

combine the V^2 aspect with colder/denser air and it gets even more crazy expensive (cold dense air is more expensive on drag)…

so basically you're asking to move a 5,000 lbs SUV eV in the worst conditions possible for an EV (and still getting 150 miles range):

• cold denser air - more expensive than 50F air
• crappy road conditions so rolling resistances are maximum - snow, wet, salt, less grip, more power required, and cold rubber with less compliance
• high speed - bring in V^2 for maximum impact - speed - OMG speed
  • at free way speeds 60-80 mph my 2020 taycan was a 200'ish mile EV
  • at 50 mph or slower you can go nearly 350 miles or more…same car - different speed
• 22" wheels - yeah this are 5-10% hit all on their own
• winter tires (increase rolling resistances) again more costs - less take more electrons away
• very very low temperatures
  • battery range reduced due to less efficient LiON battery chemistry - the battery has "less to give" when it's cold out - less efficient chemical reactions
  • extra power used by battery to "heat itself" - not all your power is going to move the car - some of the batteries's total capacity is being "burned/consumed" to heat itself
  • extra power used by battery to heat the cabin for passengers - pesky passengers also "burn/consume" power to heat them also…

I'm surprised you're going as far as you actually are - I would've thought range would be way worse given that you're basically driving in the most expensive conditions possible and very high speed - only way you could make it worse is if you were towing something uphill - both ways…

range will dramatically improve when it warms up - but speed will still compromise your ultimate range/efficiency

ICE vehicle's are equally affected by aero-loads, but have much bigger "batteries" (fuel tanks) and cost to fill them is less time - and they do not take the hit for battery/cabin heating…since heat is a waste product - but you'll find increased fuel economy for driving slower in an ICE - but most people don't care…

rented a model 3 in germany - normal range an easy 250+ miles
drove from amsterdam to nurburgring (for porsche track event it was awesome)
navigation estimate @ start was arrive @ 42% battery capacity at supercharger @ nurburgring
much of the trip was on unrestricted speed freeways (love germany)
actual percentage upon arrival (after driving in excess of 100 mph for various segements for long duration) - I arrived with 12% battery

I have no doubt at "normal" speeds I would've arrived at 42% or more battery
but speed increased consumption so much - that I burnt an additional 30% battery just because "fast"
all of that 30% was purely the increased aero-dynamic loads due to V^2

YMMV has never been more true.

Thank you. I’m a mechanical engineer so I completely follow the physics, but somehow had not done the math given all I needed was 150 miles of range and the Turbo is advertised at 288, so I figured as long as I’m not towing a boat, I have a buffer. I’m sure it would have if I drive slower but then again what’s the point of shelving $130K on a Porsche if I have to limit myself to 70mph. I also charge it at 95% so maybe I crank it to 100% before the drive and it gets me there. It’s a really sweet car and I’ll probably stick with it for a while - just not doing what I bought it to do, so it’s disappointing.

 

[daveo4EV]

Thank you. I’m a mechanical engineer so I completely follow the physics, but somehow had not done the math given all I needed was 150 miles of range and the Turbo is advertised at 288, so I figured as long as I’m not towing a boat, I have a buffer. I’m sure it would have if I drive slower but then again what’s the point of shelving $130K on a Porsche if I have to limit myself to 70mph. I also charge it at 95% so maybe I crank it to 100% before the drive and it gets me there. It’s a really sweet car and I’ll probably stick with it for a while - just not doing what I bought it to do, so it’s disappointing.

you’ll have plenty of range when it warms up- for cold you have to compromise on the speed just a bit… while it’s cold

 

[USMA81]

Nick, in driving to Maine, is an elevation change also a factor for you? I regularly drive from 2,000 feet to 6,000 feet. Obviously moving a 5,000+ pound vehicle up a mountain takes a lot of energy. I go from about a 70% charge to 30% on the uphill 90 mile drive at 65-80 mph in a Macan 4 with 20” aero wheels (and outside temperatures are not very cold). The Macan uses less than half the energy on the return.

Also, if I needed more range as you do, I’d not be worried about charging to 100%.

If you’re just on the cusp of having sufficient range (and don’t want to give up your faster driving style or cabin heat), you might talk with your dealer about trying 21” or even 20” wheels. I know, not great, but there is no free lunch.

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