Winter range

[phixion]

I find the brakes to be lacking in D mode, pretty scary going from B to D after a while, feels like the car isn't going to stop.

That’s because it isn’t going to stop - it’s coasting. To stop in D mode, use the brake. The only time you’ll get regenerative braking in D mode is;
- when going downhill, it aims to maintain speed
- when using ACC and slower vehicle in front
- when using speed limit assist or eco assist

I mean that in D mode it feels like the brakes are lacking... I much prefer B, it feels as if the brakes are more effective because as soon as you start lifting off the accelerator it slows.

I know it's coasting in D when you release the accelerator, just like it does in previous Golf DSGs I had, but the brakes are nowhere near as good as the Golfs I previously had.

[Neilg3]

Has anyone else noticed a large drop in range at the recall? My ID3 had an 80% range of 209 miles prior to the recall last summer it's now 174 miles. If you did how was it resolved.

[Midgex]

I find the brakes to be lacking in D mode, pretty scary going from B to D after a while, feels like the car isn't going to stop.

That’s because it isn’t going to stop - it’s coasting. To stop in D mode, use the brake. ....

... prefer B, it feels as if the brakes are more effective because as soon as you start lifting off the accelerator it slows.

I know it's coasting in D when you release the accelerator, just like it does in previous Golf DSGs I had, but the brakes are nowhere near as good as the Golfs I previously had.

Ignoring anything the car does automagically with D and B, isn't that a driving style tending to lower efficiency?
The resistance to the wheels turning the electric transmission and motor seems likely to be less than that for a coasting ICEV, which would be an advantage. Ceasing power a little earlier before a junction so as not to need to brake so much has always been a way to increase mileage.

I think the brakes are excellent. I try not to use the mechanical brakes, but when I do or the car does it is like but preferable to hitting a wall.

[GeoffP]

I also notice a significant miles per kWh drop in winter and I put that down mainly to the heating. Which actually raises a question? How on earth do I get the car to remember the heating setting I had last time? Getting in the car and setting off it seems to default to 22degC with the A/C on (for demisting?). If I drive like that then the range is way down. I can turn the heating down or off and get increased range for that journey, but the next time I get in the car it is back at 22degC again. What I really want to do is to have a very low level fan to keep the windscreen clear, and no heating or A/Cat all. And for that to be the default setting every time I start. But for the life of me I can't work out how to do that!

[sidehaas]

I also notice a significant miles per kWh drop in winter and I put that down mainly to the heating. Which actually raises a question? How on earth do I get the car to remember the heating setting I had last time? Getting in the car and setting off it seems to default to 22degC with the A/C on (for demisting?). If I drive like that then the range is way down. I can turn the heating down or off and get increased range for that journey, but the next time I get in the car it is back at 22degC again. What I really want to do is to have a very low level fan to keep the windscreen clear, and no heating or A/Cat all. And for that to be the default setting every time I start. But for the life of me I can't work out how to do that!

You can do what you suggest by turning the temp to LO, reducingthefan speed and directing it at the windscreen. I'd suggest keeping A/C as its effect is very small and it'll help keep things clearer.
The car should remember your previous settings when you turn it on. Have you got a preheat schedule set via the app or something?

[Midgex]

I've repeated a journey I did several times in the summer, across the country.
In summer I had to start with it charged, charge once on the way, and plug in when I arrived, each way.

Yesterday was the same.

There'll be someone whose journey has gone from one stop to two stops, but most of our journeys are going to be none, one, or two stops, and stay that way, I think.

[GeoffP]

I also notice a significant miles per kWh drop in winter and I put that down mainly to the heating. Which actually raises a question? How on earth do I get the car to remember the heating setting I had last time? Getting in the car and setting off it seems to default to 22degC with the A/C on (for demisting?). If I drive like that then the range is way down. I can turn the heating down or off and get increased range for that journey, but the next time I get in the car it is back at 22degC again. What I really want to do is to have a very low level fan to keep the windscreen clear, and no heating or A/Cat all. And for that to be the default setting every time I start. But for the life of me I can't work out how to do that!

You can do what you suggest by turning the temp to LO, reducing the fan speed and directing it at the windscreen. I'd suggest keeping A/C as its effect is very small and it'll help keep things clearer.
The car should remember your previous settings when you turn it on. Have you got a preheat schedule set via the app or something?

Thank you, that worked perfectly and now getting 4.5mpkWh whereas I was gettting less than 4 before. It has also remembered that setting the last few times so don't know what was going on there.

[sidehaas]

I also notice a significant miles per kWh drop in winter and I put that down mainly to the heating. Which actually raises a question? How on earth do I get the car to remember the heating setting I had last time? Getting in the car and setting off it seems to default to 22degC with the A/C on (for demisting?). If I drive like that then the range is way down. I can turn the heating down or off and get increased range for that journey, but the next time I get in the car it is back at 22degC again. What I really want to do is to have a very low level fan to keep the windscreen clear, and no heating or A/Cat all. And for that to be the default setting every time I start. But for the life of me I can't work out how to do that!

You can do what you suggest by turning the temp to LO, reducing the fan speed and directing it at the windscreen. I'd suggest keeping A/C as its effect is very small and it'll help keep things clearer.
The car should remember your previous settings when you turn it on. Have you got a preheat schedule set via the app or something?

Thank you, that worked perfectly and now getting 4.5mpkWh whereas I was gettting less than 4 before. It has also remembered that setting the last few times so don't know what was going on there.

Great stuff glad to help. 4.5 in winter is brilliant.

[ar76]

I'd say you are doing pretty well. I tend to expect 200-220 in summer and 180 in winter. If there is standing water, high winds or unusual cold it can be less.

58KWh Max Pro Perf here. At 80% battery the car is saying 143 miles! When driving it it’s generally saying 3.0 miles per kWh since charge. I have the 1st edition 58KWh model. The mileage is only 1700 after 4 months. Worried I’m not driving it enough.

I’m always using Eco mode and sticking to 60mph on longer trips but I have used Sport mode on shorter trips when I know I can get it home. So maybe that has thrown off its estimates.

When it was new the car had a stated range of 230 miles. Hoping it will improve again with warmer weather.

[sidehaas]

I'd say you are doing pretty well. I tend to expect 200-220 in summer and 180 in winter. If there is standing water, high winds or unusual cold it can be less.

58KWh Max Pro Perf here. At 80% battery the car is saying 143 miles! When driving it it’s generally saying 3.0 miles per kWh since charge. I have the 1st edition 58KWh model. The mileage is only 1700 after 4 months. Worried I’m not driving it enough.

I’m always using Eco mode and sticking to 60mph on longer trips but I have used Sport mode on shorter trips when I know I can get it home. So maybe that has thrown off its estimates.

When it was new the car had a stated range of 230 miles. Hoping it will improve again with warmer weather.

Well, 143 miles from 80% would be 178 miles from 100%. This is just down to the cold weather. Efficiency is especially bad on short trips with the heating on. It'll rise substantially in spring.

[MotMot]

EV’s will lose 20-30% of their range in winter. It’s that simple. All sorts of reasons but you can’t escape that I’m afraid.

Below 10 degrees it starts going south… we’re lucky in the UK though - as hot temps lead to faster battery deg. So we sit in a sort of sweet spot temp wise.

[ar76]

Reassuring to know it’s within normal expectations then! It was just 3° the other day.

[MotMot]

Wait until a March April warm spell and that range will surge back!

[marsam71]

I have done just under 20,000miles in a year, largely driving from Cambridge to north London and back 3-4 times a week with a bit of town/ country driving also. I got up to an average of 4.6 miles / kWh by about Aug but now it’s dipped to 4.2 kWh (ave of 20,000 miles). Most I’ve used to London and back is 65% of battery and that’s with heating on and traffic. Today I used 55% which was 4 degrees aM and about 6-8 degrees evening. I don’t worry about efficiency it is what it is. Sometimes it does surprise me a little but it’s pretty consistent. I drive about 65 mph ish (hard to go any faster) and I don’t accelerate quickly or anything.

[Garethbr]

Interesting people are seeing a 20% drop in winter (me too in my ID3)- my old ICE used to see exactly the same drop off- 75mpg in August, 60mpg in January, driving the same gentle 90 mile daily commute in a Toyota Aygo. People just don't realise that ICEs perform worse in winter too!

[MikeBike]

Just got a VW approved used 2021 id3 Family Pro 58kw.
Their battery health check rates the battery at 91%
Range seems extremely low this week, dropped 50% driving 75 miles today. The data in car is reading 3.1 m/kw. Used heating but only very low.

At this rate a full charge would get me 150 miles. Bit concerned the battery health reading is inaccurate.
I have driven my idBuzz for a year so know about winter range drops off but does this sound extra low to you guys?

[sidehaas]

Just got a VW approved used 2021 id3 Family Pro 58kw.
Their battery health check rates the battery at 91%
Range seems extremely low this week, dropped 50% driving 75 miles today. The data in car is reading 3.1 m/kw. Used heating but only very low.

At this rate a full charge would get me 150 miles. Bit concerned the battery health reading is inaccurate.
I have driven my idBuzz for a year so know about winter range drops off but does this sound extra low to you guys?

That does seem a little low, although I have found that the SoC scale is not entirely linear so to read a lot in to those figures you really need to drive down from 100% to below 10%.
I also suspect you'd have seen consumption improve a bit if you had carried on driving, it usually does in the second half of a winter journey as the battery gradually warms up.
What mileage is it?

[MikeBike]

Good point, the journeys today were about 6 short ones so I’m guessing the battery struggled to warm up each time using up more %
Mileage is 26k

[sidehaas]

Good point, the journeys today were about 6 short ones so I’m guessing the battery struggled to warm up each time using up more %
Mileage is 26k

Ah, in that case yes it'll definitely improve on longer trips. The other thing is, of you were preheating the car between each time that would explain some energy loss. The indicated consumption only accounts for energy used while the car is on with you in it.

[MikeBike]

Thanks sidehaas good to know that, feel a bit reassured. Was contemplating returning the car!