energy draw of heater vs seat warmer

Since you have an Advanced like I do, I preheat the car 10 minutes ahead of time with the needed defrosters using the Entune App while the car is still plugged in. That way you are using your house current and not your battery charge before you drive the car. Then only use the heated seats and/or steering wheel to maximized your EV range. If you still choose to use the climate control, set your climate control to AUTO ECO and set the temperature to 65 degrees, which is the lowest temperature setting before you goto MAX A/C.

#1 in Easley,SC

 

It's the same in my other brand plug in hybrid, but the wife still insists on some room heat.

 

A seat heater typically draws something on the order of 50-75 watts, where the heat pump is probably drawing, what, 2-3 kW, at full tilt?

 

Auto Eco while in Normal driving mode or will it kick in automatically if your in Eco mode?

 

AUTO ECO mode can be used in any driving mode. To avoid aggressive EV range depletion with the pedal, I always drive in ECO mode, unless I foresee needing the POWER mode temperarily. The less aggressive driving will give you maximum EV range. Temperature does effect EV range because of the affect it has on batteries in general. Batteries don't like or operate as well in cold. So that would be going against your EV range even if you use no climate control and drive efficiently as you always would. I have gotten up to 38 EV mile range in the summer months. But now, I am only getting 32 EV mile range because of the 30 and 40 degree temperatures where I live.

#1 in Easley,SC

 

Damn, I forgot about the heated seat and heated steering wheel. Why have a been freezing the last couple days?

 

Some people like being tough. LOL

#1 in Easley,SC

 

Both of these together use less energy than the heater. Compromise by using them instead of the heater to gain EV range, or wimp out and use all three.

 

See this thread. Take the "current" (Amps) and multiply by 350 Volts. That's the power (energy per second) draw of that component.

 

When should I use climate control generally speaking. I’m in frigid SE WI. I’ll use the seat heater along with Eco for the time being. Today it was in the low 30’s. Come Jan-Feb it gets down to below zero some days.

 

If it gets below 16 degrees, you will be fighting the way the car is programmed because the engine can kick on to get extra warmth whether you want to stay in EV only or not. At that point you gas mileage will be effected too. So if the car is in HV mode, run the climate control at the lowest comfortable ECO setting to optimized the most efficiency as possible. Your EV range will be preserved while in HV mode.

#1 in Easley,SC

 

I only drive 19 miles to and from work. When it’s cold I get 26 EV miles for me. 31-33 EV miles during the summer. I always leave it in EV mode to be honest winter or summer.

When should I absolutely use HV mode instead of EV mode without a question. That’s where I’m confused.

 

The car will automatically switch to HV mode when it is needed. I wouldn't change anything with what you are doing by using the AUTO ECO on the climate control and the heated seats at any temperature. You will notice gas usage when the engine kicks on and EV range won't deplete while the engine runs automatically when needed for extra heat below 16 degrees. Pretty much set it and forget it. Lol.

#1 in Easley,SC

 

So I should follow is this. Correct where needed.

20 degrees on up. Eco mode, seat heater, no climate control, leave in EV mode.

20 degrees or lower. Eco Mode, Climate control low setting, no seat heater, HV mode.

Again, I’m not really worried much about EV miles because I have a total of 19 miles to and from work. But as it gets colder those EV miles also go down so it would be nice to spare them as I’m going home.

 

You can use heated seats either way too.

#1 in Easley,SC

 

I would rather use heated seats vs climate control UNLESS it’s really bad.

Is there a scenario where you would use EV mode vs HV mode the entire time?

Am I thinking about it the correct way on what I typed above. Or should I also use HV mode when it’s above 20 degrees no matter?

 

I try not to over think things other than do what I can efficiently. If you know it is going to be below 20 degrees, run in HV mode until the engine is warmed up, then leave it in EV ONLY mode. Meanwhile, use only the heated seats if possible. If not, then add the AUTO ECO climate control at the lowest heated temperature you are comfortable with.

#1 in Easley,SC

 

Stupid question but refresh my memory. How do I know the engine is warmed up when I look at the dash.

 

If you can't hear it running, either rely on the graph of the car with the power flow from the engine or just wait about 5 minutes of the car being on. If you aren't in a hurry and need to warmup anyway, you can just sit and idle until you hear or feel the engine cut off. It should when it warms up.

#1 in Easley,SC