Canada - Northern USA with actual winters: what's a realistic range expectation?

[Ledmi]

I completely understand the concerns and sometimes the distress we all feel regarding the km/kw (mi/kw) efficiency of our Lucid car. This Air Touring car is my first electric vehicle. Previously, I had a Jaguar XFS with which I took an amazing road trip from Montreal to Palm Springs via the State Parks of Utah and Wyoming, returning by the old Route 66. I covered 15,000 km without worrying about efficiency; however, with premium gas, I spent $2,000 on fuel.
I no longer plan to take road trips with my Lucid, except for shorter distances. My tendency to constantly check efficiency numbers has faded after realizing I can go wherever I want in my daily travels without the risk of running out of charge. Of course, the displayed range of 667 km when fully charged rarely translates to more than 480 km actually achieved.
BUT, the cost of electricity for my home charging for 15,000 km is only $150. That’s where my stress completely dissipates. A real saving of $1,850. However, I didn't buy my Lucid for the savings either, but for the joy of driving it. I've never felt as much pleasure with my many sports cars (including my Jaguar XK8 Victory Edition that I still have) or luxury cars EXCEPT with my first car, my 1974 MGB... such nostalgia.

 

[Truthlesshunter]

that's fair...but my cost of electricity is much higher than yours. And gas is going down. So the cost difference is down to about $2000 difference per year, assuming 20,000km.

That may seem like a lot (and it is...) but the other car that I want/am contemplating is a ct5 manual blackwing. Absolutely less space, but still pretty good...and manual...and one of the few cars that drives better than the lucid.

I just wished it would be closer to even expectations. My taycan's range was much worse than the air GT...but the air GT is only getting about 55-60% of range in the winter....while I was getting 70-75% on the taycan. Maybe it's a combination of the range plus other problems I've had (see my other posts...no HDFA working at all, support, etc.) ..but the range thing really bothers me

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

I'm getting 2.7 mi/kWh after latest update.
Philadelphia PA suburbs. Climate here is more like Carolinas now. Hardly ever below freezing during day.
Temps. in 40s degrees F. 19" A/S tires @ 49 psi. . Mixed driving. However, using heaters now (cabin, seats, steering wheel).
Lifetime average was 3.3 with 6 months on 21" summers and 6 months on 19".
Recent updates seem unnecessary at best...forced me to stop using mobile key and go back to the fob.

Not worried about range as I charge at home and there seem to be more than enough fast dc chargers when I trip. More every day too.
Mostly when tripping I charge when I have to pee, so 320 km = 200 miles is more than enough range. The fast DC charges are plentiful along the interstates.

I'm supposed to get ~800 km 100% to 0% SOC so very happy with even half of that in adverse conditions. I do 80% to 20% SOC generally.
Also I don't speed as this really kills range. I love my air GT.

Thought my 1970 240z was the best/most fun/ most beautiful car I ever owned, but one tends to forget the downsides of old cars,
like, it was made of paper...

 

[DJL]

As the title states, what are people getting for efficiency during *real* winter?

I asked because I just got my Air GT a few weeks ago and live in Canada. Winter has arrived way too early and we're already hovering just above freezing and the efficiency is awful so i'm just wondering if it's because it struggles in the cold or if it's because my wife has the heat at an insane level (which is possible).

I'm getting around 3.8 km/kwh (~2.33 miles/kwh). I have the 19 inch winter wheels at 48 psi right now. As I said, we're hovering around freezing..maybe about 3-4 degrees higher.

As mentioned, wife is always cold...the heated seats are always and she puts the heat (AC button not on) at 25 (~77 Fahrenheit). I keep it around 21 (~69-70 F). 85% of driving around town.

So what have you been getting in these temps?kwh

I live up in Blaine, WA, right on the Canadian border. When the temps get around freezing, 2.3 to 2.7 mi/kWh is quite normal. I have a 2022 AirGT with 19 inch tires and have driven 46,000 miles through three winters.. We keep our heater temps in around 78. I also have the aero wheel covers off. During the summer, I get upper 3s to low 4s. So far, over the three plus years of ownership, I am average 3.3 and that is driving over the Rockies each winter to Denver to visit the kids.

 

[Truthlesshunter]

I live up in Blaine, WA, right on the Canadian border. When the temps get around freezing, 2.3 to 2.7 mi/kWh is quite normal. I have a 2022 AirGT with 19 inch tires and have driven 46,000 miles through three winters.. We keep our heater temps in around 78. I also have the aero wheel covers off. During the summer, I get upper 3s to low 4s. So far, over the three plus years of ownership, I am average 3.3 and that is driving over the Rockies each winter to Denver to visit the kids.

okay...i'm "glad" to hear this because this sounds more like my experience overall so far so if i can push near 4 miles during the summer, i'll be happy as that gives ~650+kms on a full charge. Thanks!

 

[J_ct]

I have the Pure AWD and drive monthly >200 miles over high mountain passes in winter for past two winters. (I'm looking forward to going again tomorrow!) Temps are usually between 20-35F for most of the way, sometimes as low as 0F.
The efficiency I get is minimally impacted by the cold temps, <5%. I usually drive alone without a ton of cargo, on Lucid's choice for winter tires (Pirelli Sottozero.). Two points I haven't read here yet but I think matter:
- I find tire inflation is important for efficiency.
- Stay in smooth mode which uses only one of the two motors for efficiency when cruising.

I do a similar trip every weekend from CT to VT. Leaving at 5am, I was seeing -9F temps on my way up. What's your remaining range after that 200 mile trip? I may not always have access to a charger and have to wait, possibly an entire day,until one frees up at my destination.

 

[Ledmi]

I do a similar trip every weekend from CT to VT. Leaving at 5am, I was seeing -9F temps on my way up. What's your remaining range after that 200 mile trip? I may not always have access to a charger and have to wait, possibly an entire day,until one frees up at my destination.

In Quebec with cold like now at minus 25C (-13F) my Touring with 92KW battery on full charge, my mileage expectation runs between 175 to 223 miles only to 0% KW. And my car is kept in heated garage all the time,

 

[kurious]

I do a similar trip every weekend from CT to VT. Leaving at 5am, I was seeing -9F temps on my way up. What's your remaining range after that 200 mile trip? I may not always have access to a charger and have to wait, possibly an entire day,until one frees up at my destination.

On my 250mi trip I charge at home to 95%, stop halfway (~120mi) at ~35-38% and take that back up to 85%, then arrive at my destination at ~30%. I tend to drive a bit over the limit, plus some passing, so giving up some efficiency to save time. I've done it in 0F temps but not colder. So ~97kWh to go 250mi = ~2.6 mi/kWh. YMMV!

 

[Truthlesshunter]

In Quebec with cold like now at minus 25C (-13F) my Touring with 92KW battery on full charge, my mileage expectation runs between 175 to 223 miles only to 0% KW. And my car is kept in heated garage all the time,

This makes sense. I get about 3.5-3.6 km/kwh in our -10C (or lower) weather...which is about 400kms, 250miles on a full charge on my AGT. Looks like you're getting similar mileage (and mine is also in a heated garage). Honestly, it's usually slightly better than that as well when I warm up the car on the charger!

 

[LuHart]

On my 250mi trip I charge at home to 95%, stop halfway (~120mi) at ~35-38% and take that back up to 85%, then arrive at my destination at ~30%. I tend to drive a bit over the limit, plus some passing, so giving up some efficiency to save time. I've done it in 0F temps but not colder. So ~97kWh to go 250mi = ~2.6 mi/kWh. YMMV!

Why do you only charge to 95% if you
are charging at home? I understand when traveling to charge only to 80 or 85%, considering the time it takes to charge to 100%.

 

[kurious]

I guess three answers?
1. the deeper into discharge you go, the faster rate of recharging. So 35->85% takes slightly less time than 40->90% for example.
2. I don't need more than 95%. I probably don't need more than 80% but I like the margin. I'm from Minnesota, I don't Live Large.
3. I assume everything above 80% is not ideal for battery longevity, that's why they recommend 80% for daily driving. So I avoid going higher than has any benefit.

 

[thommev]

2.25mi/Kwh sounds about right for me as well in midwest winter.. I get over 4/kwh in summer.

 

[DBV]

This makes sense. I get about 3.5-3.6 km/kwh in our -10C (or lower) weather...which is about 400kms, 250miles on a full charge on my AGT. Looks like you're getting similar mileage (and mine is also in a heated garage). Honestly, it's usually slightly better than that as well when I warm up the car on the charger!

Are you saying in this cold weather that on a Lucid Air Grand Touring with 19’s you are only getting range of 250 miles on a full charge? If so, that seems really low and would be disappointing. Especially if starting from 516 range. Would expect 30% to 40% less in the Winter months with this prolonged cold period we have been in.

I read about the Lucid Winter range test article in Europe, but those were really extreme temps and the Lucid did better, but not sure of the speeds they were driving.

 

[Truthlesshunter]

Are you saying in this cold weather that on a Lucid Air Grand Touring with 19’s you are only getting range of 250 miles on a full charge? If so, that seems really low and would be disappointing. Especially if starting from 516 range. Would expect 30% to 40% less in the Winter months with this prolonged cold period we have been in.

I read about the Lucid Winter range test article in Europe, but those were really extreme temps and the Lucid did better, but not sure of the speeds they were driving.

Yes that's what it means. I'm getting slightly more if I condition the battery while plugged in. But I'm not driving huge distances and I feel the car gets better as you drive further.

 

[DBV]

Yes that's what it means. I'm getting slightly more if I condition the battery while plugged in. But I'm not driving huge distances and I feel the car gets better as you drive further.

Interesting, that does seem really disappointing. Was contemplating getting a used 2025 Air GT with 19’s, as the high range is appealing, (as I travel a lot), but would never expected that much range loss in this cold weather. Sure range loss, but not like that.

 

[Truthlesshunter]

Interesting, that does seem really disappointing. Was contemplating getting a used 2025 Air GT with 19’s, as the high range is appealing, (as I travel a lot), but would never expected that much range loss in this cold weather. Sure range loss, but not like that.

If you travel long distances, you'll get more...the longer you go,the better it gets. I've done a few longer trips during the winter and averaged closer to 300 miles.

In the summer, it should be closer to 400-450

 

[thommev]

Are you saying in this cold weather that on a Lucid Air Grand Touring with 19’s you are only getting range of 250 miles on a full charge? If so, that seems really low and would be disappointing. Especially if starting from 516 range. Would expect 30% to 40% less in the Winter months with this prolonged cold period we have been in.

I read about the Lucid Winter range test article in Europe, but those were really extreme temps and the Lucid did better, but not sure of the speeds they were driving.

Mine is Air Touring and I get 225-250 if the temperature remains consistently below 20F. In my experience the range drops dramatically under 20F. I can hit over 350 easily in summer.