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Worst Case Scenario - Range Anxiety

1297 Views 35 Replies 22 Participants Last post by Kloosty, 3 d ago

GQelements

Discussion Starter · 6 d ago

Hi, I've been lurking here and got some of my (admittedly quirky) questions answered already, but thought I'd ask about my biggest and most comprehensive fear point blank.

What's the WORST range you got from 80% charge on an ID Pro 4wd? I mean in the cold, with the family in the car, AC on and luggage hanging off of it? Has anyone seen range reduction to LESS than 140mi range from 80%?

We are a single car family of 3 and while I'm super excited to try my (waiting on the lot) VW ID4 Pro 4WD, I'm afraid of the range 'issue'... Weekday commute is not an issue. On the weekends however weekends we hike and bike, so the car is often carrying 3 people (sometimes with a bike rack on the rear), but in 97% of cases never more than 70mi from our house... We do take 2-3 long trips per year, but these are usually along the highway where fast charge infrastructure exists (and for the one that is not along the corridor, I'm prepared to 'work around', as long as it is once or twice per year). We do live in Canada (cold in the winter), but the Canadian model has a heat pump, which I understand is better for cold driving... I also know that I can charge to 100% occasionally, but let's be honest... I'm a bit forgetful and know that at some point I may forget to change the charge level to 100% before a long trip, so this is why 80% is the benchmark.

Really, to make this decision I need your help to know are there any circumstances where I would get less than 140mi on a vehicle that is EPA rated for 255mi (410 km) or 205mi if charging to 80%?

Thank you in advance, I really appreciate any real-world feedback you can share (and I'm sure it will help others make the right decision some day as well)...

Dee

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Geo

· #2 · 6 d ago

First Edition RWD driver. Most anxiety-inducing moment was a trip through Utah in single digit temps. Thought I'd make it to a charger 120mi away, but thanks to the cold, it got a little too close. I rolled in at about 7%.

Other than that, it's been pretty good. For road trips, I generally figure 180-ish miles on an 80% charge (so 80-10%). I have no problems charging above 80% if needed. Don't worry too much about range, after your first road trip, you'll have it figured out.

Reactions: 2

GrandpaJim

· #3 · 6 d ago

From Vermont, a few miles south of the Canadian border: never less than 140 showing at 80%, even in winter. But we drive at the speed limit, which gives far more range than if you drive at 75-80 mph.

Reactions: 2

SparkGal

· #4 · 6 d ago

Using Interstate 5 between southern Oregon and northern California, in the winter, being very conservative with speed and cabin heating, my AWD Pro-S delivers less than a 140-mile range from an 80% charge.

Reactions: 1

EV-Driver

· #5 · 6 d ago

SparkGal said:
Using Interstate 5 between southern Oregon and northern California, in the winter, being very conservative with speed and cabin heating, my AWD Pro-S delivers less than a 140-mile range from an 80% charge.

That's where I got my worse range anxiety too but I was traveling in temps of 80° - 100°+

I can only imagine what it was like for you!

Davev

· #6 · 6 d ago

After a few weeks of anxiety- we figured it out and now we travel worry free and specifics are too variable to consider. Just know that this old timer - age 70- likes the id4

Reactions: 3

TidingSStables

· #7 · 6 d ago

Heat pumps are no longer offered on ID.4s, and I highly recommend steering away. Your range will be critically worsen in cold weather and not having pre conditioning charging puts the nail in the coffin.

Reactions: 1

p__x

· #8 · 6 d ago

GQelements said:
Hi, I've been lurking here and got some of my (admittedly quirky) questions answered already, but thought I'd ask about my biggest and most comprehensive fear point blank.

What's the WORST range you got from 80% charge on an ID Pro 4wd? I mean in the cold, with the family in the car, AC on and luggage hanging off of it? Has anyone seen range reduction to LESS than 140mi range from 80%?

We are a single car family of 3 and while I'm super excited to try my (waiting on the lot) VW ID4 Pro 4WD, I'm afraid of the range 'issue'... Weekday commute is not an issue. On the weekends however weekends we hike and bike, so the car is often carrying 3 people (sometimes with a bike rack on the rear), but in 97% of cases never more than 70mi from our house... We do take 2-3 long trips per year, but these are usually along the highway where fast charge infrastructure exists (and for the one that is not along the corridor, I'm prepared to 'work around', as long as it is once or twice per year). We do live in Canada (cold in the winter), but the Canadian model has a heat pump, which I understand is better for cold driving... I also know that I can charge to 100% occasionally, but let's be honest... I'm a bit forgetful and know that at some point I may forget to change the charge level to 100% before a long trip, so this is why 80% is the benchmark.

Really, to make this decision I need your help to know are there any circumstances where I would get less than 140mi on a vehicle that is EPA rated for 255mi (410 km) or 205mi if charging to 80%?

Thank you in advance, I really appreciate any real-world feedback you can share (and I'm sure it will help others make the right decision some day as well)...

Dee

Torrential rainfall, or polar vortex with -20C with lot's of snow. Those are the situations where you can drop the range to below 140mi. Poler vortices are predicted, and you wouldn't want to go for a hike amidst one. The torrential rainfall scenario is more likely. Though not sure how much it drops the range because when that happened to us about 3 times, we were never too preoccupied with the range but with traction and visibility.

If you can preheat the battery at home you won't experience such charge drops. Not sure about the heat pump though. Our Canadian colleague's such as @knash might be better to verify the heat pump question. The US AWD has a heated windshield (handy in the cold), but no heat pump.

Reactions: 1

MR. Ed of course

· #9 · 6 d ago

Here in flat and warm FL, I typically get over 240 miles of range at 80% charge. The best was 262 mi., but usually it's about 246 mi. YMMV.

GriefHammer

· #10 · 6 d ago

SparkGal said:
Using Interstate 5 between southern Oregon and northern California, in the winter, being very conservative with speed and cabin heating, my AWD Pro-S delivers less than a 140-mile range from an 80% charge.

This is piss poor.

GriefHammer

· #11 · 6 d ago

TidingSStables said:
Heat pumps are no longer offered on ID.4s, and I highly recommend steering away. Your range will be critically worsen in cold weather and not having pre conditioning charging puts the nail in the coffin.

.......no longer offered on MY23s....... MY24 is supposed to have the heat pump again (in Canada at least)

Reactions: 2

SparkGal

· #12 · 6 d ago

GriefHammer said:
This is piss poor.

Yes, agreed. This route does have the highest pass anywhere on Interstate 5. In winter, it is not possible to make a round-trip without substantial recharge.

I foresaw the range issue with the cold in winter and the elevation change. VWoA confirmed, before we agreed to buy the ID.4, that Electrify America would install DCFC in the Medford, Oregon area soon after our purchase. That was a lie. There remain no DCFC stations of any type in that area. A 50 Amp station, at $0.64 / kWh is the best available.

The ID.4 is not the correct car for this area given the conditions, passes, and the lack of fast charging.

Reactions: 1

GriefHammer

· #13 · 6 d ago

SparkGal said:
Yes, agreed. This route does have the highest pass anywhere on Interstate 5. In winter, it is not possible to make a round-trip without substantial recharge.

I foresaw the range issue with the cold in winter and the elevation change. VWoA confirmed, before we agreed to buy the ID.4, that Electrify America would install DCFC in the Medford, Oregon area soon after our purchase. That was a lie. There remain no DCFC stations of any type in that area. A 50 Amp station, at $0.64 / kWh is the best available.

The ID.4 is not the correct car for this area given the conditions, passes, and the lack of fast charging.

VWoA lied? Say it ain't so.

Reactions: 1

ga2500ev

· #14 · 6 d ago

Um, why is there an 80% restriction? If one knows one is going on a longer trip, why would one not charge to 100% overnight?

ga2500ev

Reactions: 5

GQelements

Discussion Starter · #15 · 6 d ago

Amazing replies... Thank you all!

Interesting pattern though: the poll responses are largely positive while the stories above are kinda scary. I'm almost more confused than ever.

ga2500ev said:
Um, why is there an 80% restriction? If one knows one is going on a longer trip, why would one not charge to 100% overnight?

Forgetfulness... I'm guaranteed to forget to switch from 80% to 100% the night before at least once and as a one car family, there is no Plan B.

@MR. Ed of course Ontario, Canada is pretty flat too... hopefully I see the same.

So, would it be fair to say that outside of terrible winter conditions (or polar vortex/monsoons) I should reliably expect to get +180mi from 80% even with 3 people in the cab and maybe a bike rack? Or does the bike rack absolutley kill the range (YouTube reviews range from 6% to 20% range loss, which is confusing.)

In this case, I suppose I could charge to 80% on weekdays and 100% on weekends (anticipating longer trips if needed...

Reactions: 1

papab

· #16 · 6 d ago

I've never had efficiency that bad to only get 140 from an 80% charge. If you forget to set it up for 100% the night before, plan B could be to delay departure a bit and finish charging in the morning.
Bike rack on the back or on top? I've done some driving w bikes on a hitch rack & it doesn't seem to be a huge hit.
Huge headwind and/or driving really fast might drop your range that much. Big elevation gain would for sure (up & down not big deal).

Reactions: 1

p__x

· #17 · 6 d ago

GQelements said:
Amazing replies... Thank you all!

Interesting pattern though: the poll responses are largely positive while the stories above are kinda scary. I'm almost more confused than ever.

Forgetfulness... I'm guaranteed to forget to switch from 80% to 100% the night before at least once and as a one car family, there is no Plan B.

@MR. Ed of course Ontario, Canada is pretty flat too... hopefully I see the same.

So, would it be fair to say that outside of terrible winter conditions (or polar vortex/monsoons) I should reliably expect to get +180mi from 80% even with 3 people in the cab and maybe a bike rack? Or does the bike rack absolutley kill the range (YouTube reviews range from 6% to 20% range loss, which is confusing.)

In this case, I suppose I could charge to 80% on weekdays and 100% on weekends (anticipating longer trips if needed...

When we purchased the car it was unusually cold for our southern climate (about -15C; the car read -12.5 but because it was warmed up a little). You can see the range estimate at that temp would have been 151mi at 80%. But bear in mind that I had the heating up to 21.5 and had been keeping it nice and toasty. It was also without preheating. So if you garage the car, can charge overnight and thus can precondition before a trip in the cold, you'll be fine. If you don't have a garage and home charging, I'd avoid an EV in a cold climate.

And about the extremes on this forum. Half of us are fanbois, few of us are haters, and almost all of us are whiners

So whatever opinion you'll read will be overemphasized.

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Reactions: 5

Eric Nay

· #18 · 5 d ago

Yeah, just to be a dissenter, I almost always charge to 100%. So Cal, lots of long distance trips. Need the 100% range.

We'll see how it works out!

Justin8888CT

· #19 · 5 d ago

Eric Nay said:
Yeah, just to be a dissenter, I almost always charge to 100%. So Cal, lots of long distance trips. Need the 100% range.

We'll see how it works out!

The thing I understand about 100% charge is that you just don't want the car to sit at that level for very long. If you use the car a lot, charge to 100%. You didn't buy it to not use it.

Reactions: 4

GQelements

Discussion Starter · #20 · 5 d ago

p__x said:
When we purchased the car it was unusually cold for our southern climate (about -15C; the car read -12.5 but because it was warmed up a little). You can see the range estimate at that temp would have been 151mi at 80%.

I understood though that VW (unlike tesla) dod not have preconditioning...

Justin8888CT said:
The thing I understand about 100% charge is that you just don't want the car to sit at that level for very long. If you use the car a lot, charge to 100%.

Point taken! Understood.

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