I've only had my Clarity since Saturday, but I noticed that when I charge it, the range goes well past 47. Even as high as 61. I mentioned it to the Honda Service Advisor and he said they can do some kind of software update that will make it more accurate. Has anyone had Honda service make this adjustment? I don't really mind it as is because psychologically it makes me feel like I'm getting incredible EV range. But maybe I'm deluding myself. Would love to get input from others who've dealt with this.
EV range is wildly variable depending on several parameters. The largest factor is temperature. Most of us have reported EV ranges in the low 60 mile range during warmer months and less than 40 during winter. Your driving habits will also effect EV range. What you are seeing is normal behavior. What the service advisor was referencing is a software update to correct the HV range calculation. EV range has never been a problem, but HV range out of the factory was wildly inaccurate. Honda Service Bulletin 18-069 covers the software upgrade.
We regularly go more than 50 miles on a charge. I'd take your EV range readout as a challenge. It's possible that with the way you've been driving you actually could go 61 miles on a full charge. Hypermile away!
The EV range estimate is pretty accurate for me. I consistently got high 60s in moderate weather with just me in the car, and no other non-motive drain on the battery. Now that I’m using the AC and temps are the 80s-90s F, I’m consistently getting 62 miles. I haven’t run it all the way down to 0 EV but it tracks with the odometer within 3-4 miles ans mifht evwn be more accurate if I ran it down until it went into HV. The estimate for both EV ans HV are based on your previous driving so if that changes, the estimate may be a little too optimistic or pessimistic. It will however correct itself not only over time but also during a single drive. It’s the HV estimate that has been wildly inflated. You need to go to a dealership and have the update applied. It’s Service Bulletin 18-069 Driving range will be affected by: -Any non-motive drain on the battery like heat/defrost (main range killer) and to a lesser extent AC and least by wipers and lights. -weight as in cargo and # of people -driving style, Mario Andretti vs gramps. Moderateacceleration and gradual stops (no youthful jackrabbiting) and speeds under 70 will reward you with more range. -road conditions, hills vs flats, stop and go traffic, rain, extreme cold (less battery capacity ans ICE runs more often), extreme heat, top speed limit, etc. But no matter what the range, we do it all in economical comfort in our a Claritys.
I have also found the Clarity EV range estimate to be remarkably accurate, as long as our next drive is similar to the last one. Of course there are a bunch of variables that are beyond Honda's ability to predict, which can throw that estimate a bit awry: change in weather conditions, speed variations, running Climate Control during extended stops, etc. @KentuckyKen did a great job elaborating on them in more detail. I've been tracking my current EV range estimate each day, since I fully charged it a few days ago. It started with a 59 mile EV estimate, and 4 days later, it's still exactly on track with that estimate, despite 2 drivers with slightly different driving habits. I couldn't be happier with that performance, or reasonably expect it to be any better.
