Max charge level dropping

yup, there's many many threads on this very same issue

 

Yeah it’s the cold.

 

seems quite normal behavior, read some of the other posts from folks in colder areas of the country. Also EV range displayed is an estimate based on your recent driving characteristics ...

 

If I'm not mistaken, the "charge level" you're describing is the EV range "estimate" that the Prime determines you can attain under the current conditions of weather, speed, acceleration, altitude, etc., and your general driving habits. In very cold weather, many people posting here report a reduction of this estimated range. This is probably due to lowered efficiency of batteries at low temperatures, and of course your driving style, including your probable greater use of heating which will reduce this estimate. If you scan through the posts here under Prime categories, you'll probably find more information on this question. BTW, congratulations and welcome to PriusChat!

.

 

Resolution is 5 to 6 months away, when warm spring weather arrives, wet roads dry up, and you quit using any cabin heat.

 

I quests this is Toyota’s answer to, “Why there are no Primes for sale in the Southeast”. Go figure?

 

Steve, please read post #786 in this thread. Yes, it is a well known situation with colder weather. It isn't the car - it's physics.

Any one else getting more than 30 per charge? | Page 40 | PriusChat

 

welcome to priuschat!

dealer was telling truth, it is a known issue, and there is no resolution. are you pre conditioning the battery?

 

All electric vehicles suffer from the effect of the cold. (to some extent even conventional vehicles as well but it is less noticeable).

In addition to any possible limitation in the batteries the car requires more energy for driving as the temperature gets lower (or too high).

Kevin

This is an example for the Chevy Volt:
Electric Range for the Nissan Leaf & Chevrolet Volt in Cold Weather

 

don't feel bad, i'm down to 11.9 miles.

 

Interesting. My Prime on top. By the time you get down to 30 degrees, they're about equal.

 

PC should start a "First post of the Season" lottery each year; see who's pick is the closest or actual date.

 

... and as the road gets wetter (snowier). All that water getting pushed aside from the tires represents a significant energy loss. The more water, and the higher speed that its gets thrown, the more wasted power required.

 

I agree - in my Gen 2 Prius rain used to drop my mileage a few mpg. I haven't had much experience in my Gen 4 yet to know how much.

In my Spark EV rain and cold would drop efficiency from 6 or 7 mi/kWh down to 3 or 4 mi/kWh.

And it doesn't even get very cold here in the Bay Area so I wouldn't need put the heater on much, the biggest issue was keeping the windshield from fogging up, that's one place where it's nice to have the 'free' heat in an ICE based car.

kevin