Massive battery range jump

[voltage692]

It's cooled off maybe 5-10 degs here in Houston, and I have all of a sudden jumped up about 33% in battery range with no other changes -- not even an increase in tire pressure. In fact, the tire pressures are close to 35 psi because I haven't gotten around to pumping them up over 40 like I normally keep them.

I was regularly getting 30-33 miles per charge this summer because I drive mainly 70mph+ on the freeways. I drove over 160 miles on Friday, which was all fast freeway, and I got less than 30 miles of electric range.

Today, I got in the car in the morning and it said 41 miles to my surprise. Normally it would be even lower after a day like Friday, not higher. Drove about 15 miles and still had almost 30 left. Later I charged back up during the day and it said 43 miles without even having a completed charge. I drove almost 40 miles on that charge, and still had 3 or 4 miles of range left.

33% is not a small jump. Anyone else having these jumps? Are they doing anything to update the Volts over the air because I still have not taken mine in for the update, so I can't imaging this small change in temp can be the explanation. It was still almost 100degf today with the hotest this summer getting up to 105, so it's not like it's that much cooler.

[SIFU]

For the last few days after a full charge, it reads 43 miles on battery. Of course when I start driving, the extra mile or two drops super fast.
Also Voltage692, do Volt owners in Houston get any discount on a 240 charger and install or is it just for Austin?

[SolarExec]

I've seen a jump due to weather as well but much smaller (38-42) and an increase in range last two weeks. But nothing like you have seen. Will check out the wife's car. She does mostly Katy Freeway driving and usually shows in the mid 30s on her range.

Also Voltage692, do Volt owners in Houston get any discount on a 240 charger and install or is it just for Austin?

Houston is eligible for the SPX - Ecotality free charger program. They finally started installing them in the past few weeks. Not sure how many they will put in for free but call them at 877-805-EVSE (877-805-3873). You should be eligible. (Blink is a nice unit. Ours working well.)

[SIFU]

Cool, thanks

[tfford]

Here in northwest Harris Cnty for about the last week my full charge range has been showing typically 46 - 49 and in fact at the moment it's sitting on 47. Having said that my daily range has been about 47 - 49 so hence the reason for my high calculated range. All my high speed driving however has been CS mode, battery has typically been at 55 and less.

[shellzj]

I live in Midtown Houston and commute to the Rice Village--so about 3 miles each way--2 miles on the highway, 1 on city streets. I have noticed a slight bump in range...was about 34 when it was 110 outside and read 38 when it dropped into the low 90s. My cold tire pressure is 37.

[Kup]

Ironically, I've seen a 10 percent reduction in my EV range in the last couple of weeks. I live in the DC area and we've had a fairly hot summer but for the last week or so it has been in the 60's in the morning and in the 70's or low 80's during the day. I was getting about 47 miles of range several weeks ago during the heat but lately when I start up in the morning I'm at 42 or 43 miles of estimated range. It's a little strange seeing that reduction but during the week it's no issue since I plug in at work and have plenty of range to get to work.

Still getting awesome CS mileage though. Was in the high 40's MPG in CS Mode yesterday on a 120 mile rountrip.

[voltage692]

Wow, I am lucky to get 35mpg in CS mode.

Ironically, I've seen a 10 percent reduction in my EV range in the last couple of weeks. I live in the DC area and we've had a fairly hot summer but for the last week or so it has been in the 60's in the morning and in the 70's or low 80's during the day. I was getting about 47 miles of range several weeks ago during the heat but lately when I start up in the morning I'm at 42 or 43 miles of estimated range. It's a little strange seeing that reduction but during the week it's no issue since I plug in at work and have plenty of range to get to work.

Still getting awesome CS mileage though. Was in the high 40's MPG in CS Mode yesterday on a 120 mile rountrip.

[SolarExec]

I did check out the wife's car and she did not really get any jump (still at 36). But it is totally a function of how she drives the car. I did an experiment and took her car on a 45 mile or so round trip to 1960 area this weekend and I got 43 miles on the charge (I-45 to Beltway 8 and then up 249, so almost all highway). The main difference is (1) rabbit starts - she just digs that sport mode (2) average highway speed of 70+ for her whereas I drove 63-65 (with a few times going up to 70).

But no big deal. She drives 90% on electric because she charges at both home and work. I have noticed that she consumes about 36kwh/100 miles on average whereas I do 33kwh (not sure how much I trust that data). With the hot august her consumption jumped to 38kwh/100mi.

[voltage692]

I have been keeping an eye on my range, and it's still staying close to 40 despite the 100deg days. I would normally average around 31 under these conditions.

I think unexplained jumps in either direction are disconcerting. It's certainly great that the car decided to jump up 10 miles in range instead of down, but because I don't know what caused it to go up, I don't feel confident that it will stay up, or that it won't jump down 10 from the original 31.

Makes me wonder if something has changed in the battery. Was I driving with less than the normal number of working battery cells previously? But wouldn't there be a warning light?

It would definitely be interesting to have access to all of the data that OnStar collects instead of just the few numbers they give us in the OnStar reports.

I bet they know exactly what's going on with my car. But I bet they also would never tell since they don't want everyone saying their car is sub-par and they want a replacement.