Range Testing

David Towle

Well-Known Member
Looks like I can no longer track the battery amp degradation of my 2018 with 118k miles. On May 8 it was at 42.76 amps, but since I brought the car in for replacing the coolants 3000 miles ago it was reset and has not budged from 54.98 amps reading. (It doesn't seem worth hassling with the dealer to try and figure out what is wrong I doubt they could determine anything)
So the only way I see to track future battery degradation is by monitoring maximum range. I just did a 100% to 0% battery test with my normal around town driving (mostly 35-50 mph), no AC/windows open, using my best technique, and was at 59.6 miles when the engine came on. The GOM initially read 75.2 miles. For hahas I repeated the test using AC the whole time and got only 31.4 miles! Looks like I'll continue to minimize the AC use except on highways where its pretty much a necessity.
 
Run the battery all the way to zero (until the gas engine kicks on). Then plug it in to charge. The number of kWh needed to fully recharge the battery will give you a good measurement of the Ah. I think you can assume about 14.65 kWh to fully recharge the battery when new at 55 Ah. So, for example, if you need 11.2 kWh to fully recharge, then 11.2/14.65 x 55 = 42.05 Ah. This should be pretty accurate.
 
Didn't think the AC used that much power. That's wild. I'm at 125k miles and on average I get 35-40miles from 100-0%.

My car usually reads around 44-46ah. Max. The most power I have been able to charge into the battery was around 10kwh. Average is 9-9.5kwh
 
Run the battery all the way to zero (until the gas engine kicks on). Then plug it in to charge. The number of kWh needed to fully recharge the battery will give you a good measurement of the Ah. I think you can assume about 14.65 kWh to fully recharge the battery when new at 55 Ah. So, for example, if you need 11.2 kWh to fully recharge, then 11.2/14.65 x 55 = 42.05 Ah. This should be pretty accurate.
Why didn't I think of that, sheesh. Will try soon. Thanks!
 
Didn't think the AC used that much power. That's wild. I'm at 125k miles and on average I get 35-40miles from 100-0%.

My car usually reads around 44-46ah. Max. The most power I have been able to charge into the battery was around 10kwh. Average is 9-9.5kwh
Realize how slow I'm going, with lights and stop signs probably an average of 25 mph, so almost 1.5 hours of AC. Versus on the highway using up the battery in 35 miles or less than a half an hour, so I'm using the AC 3 times as long as I would on the highway. That's why the difference is so big.
 
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