Battery Capacity Question

[jdc]

Has anyone had the problem that reported range on an Air GT large capacity battery (112Kwh) never gets to, no less above 500 miles at full charge? I’m worried that the capacity of my battery was not at spec when I got it. From the day I received it (in January), it has reported 497 as the highest range for a full charge (both when actually fully charged, and when doing the calc based on miles / %charge reported). I fully understand that reported range can vary based on conditions and use (outside temperature, driving habits etc.). *However*, I have now had the vehicle for about 6 months, through cold (near zero) and hot (above 90) weather, over periods during which I have taken long trips and when I have used only for a 3 mile commutes to work, and it has *never* reported more than 497, and has varied very little (495-497). Furthermore, I had a loaner for several weeks while mine was being serviced (for other reasons), and it consistently reported 512 miles under the same conditions that mine reported 497. So, my concern is that some of the cells may be bad, and that the capacity is less than what it should be. FWIW, I usually charge to 80% (someone suggested in another post that doing so would condition or "reset" the battery) but that does not help... still calculates to max of 495-497, which is the number it reaches when I charge to 100%, When I first noticed this (a week or so after I took delivery), I contacted the service center, and raised it again while it was being serviced (in the spring). They said that range varies, that there is a “break-in period” and that I should wait to have it looked at until July, after I had driven over about 3K miles, and when conditions should be more favorable. I’m there now, and nothing has changed. I have contacted them again, but so far all I’ve gotten is the same “range varies” statement. I assume that it should be possible to measure the capacity under controlled conditions, and compare that to a reference vehicle under the same conditions. I have suggested that, but so far no reply. Anyone else out there have this or similar experience?

 

[Alex]

Has anyone had the problem that reported range on an Air GT large capacity battery (112Kwh) never gets to, no less above 500 miles at full charge?

My Lucid Air Dream Edition (Range Model, 19" Wheels) with a 520mi full charge is now at 489mi at full charge, with about 38,000mi on the odometer. The battery was replaced at 18Kmi, so about 20K for the current battery. That's about 6% degradation. My range dropped from 520 to about 513 after about 6 months and then "nose dived" to 490 or so after about a year. It's been holding steady for about a year.

So your aprox. 1% degradation doesn't sound too bad. Generally, you can expect about 2% degradation in the first year.

 

[jdc]

My Lucid Air Dream Edition (Range Model, 19" Wheels) with a 520mi full charge is now at 489mi at full charge, with about 38,000mi on the odometer. The battery was replaced at 18Kmi, so about 20K for the current battery. That's about 6% degradation. My range dropped from 520 to about 513 after about 6 months and then "nose dived" to 490 or so after about a year. It's been holding steady for about a year.

So your aprox. 1% degradation doesn't sound too bad. Generally, you can expect about 2% degradation in the first year.

Thing is, it has been this way from the day I got it, so unless it was degradation on the lot (in which case it can be argued that it should not have been sold in that state), it can't be that.

 

[Sandvinsd]

Has anyone had the problem that reported range on an Air GT large capacity battery (112Kwh) never gets to, no less above 500 miles at full charge? I’m worried that the capacity of my battery was not at spec when I got it. From the day I received it (in January), it has reported 497 as the highest range for a full charge (both when actually fully charged, and when doing the calc based on miles / %charge reported). I fully understand that reported range can vary based on conditions and use (outside temperature, driving habits etc.). *However*, I have now had the vehicle for about 6 months, through cold (near zero) and hot (above 90) weather, over periods during which I have taken long trips and when I have used only for a 3 mile commutes to work, and it has *never* reported more than 497, and has varied very little (495-497). Furthermore, I had a loaner for several weeks while mine was being serviced (for other reasons), and it consistently reported 512 miles under the same conditions that mine reported 497. So, my concern is that some of the cells may be bad, and that the capacity is less than what it should be. FWIW, I usually charge to 80% (someone suggested in another post that doing so would condition or "reset" the battery) but that does not help... still calculates to max of 495-497, which is the number it reaches when I charge to 100%, When I first noticed this (a week or so after I took delivery), I contacted the service center, and raised it again while it was being serviced (in the spring). They said that range varies, that there is a “break-in period” and that I should wait to have it looked at until July, after I had driven over about 3K miles, and when conditions should be more favorable. I’m there now, and nothing has changed. I have contacted them again, but so far all I’ve gotten is the same “range varies” statement. I assume that it should be possible to measure the capacity under controlled conditions, and compare that to a reference vehicle under the same conditions. I have suggested that, but so far no reply. Anyone else out there have this or similar experience?

What size wheels do you have? The 520 miles is for the 19” wheels. If you don’t have 19” wheels the max range displayed will be less.

 

[jdc]

Right. 19” wheels is what I have.