Outlander PHEV Sub-Zero Operation Question

[twiggy144]

I am curious as to why the forced EVmode on a cold day. Let the car warm up its components by design just like most EVs.
Just trying to understand. R

In most cases, you are right, I would let the ICE start and warm up the cabin. But for a short 2 km ride to the local convenience store, I'd rather not want to use the ICE, which will burn 20 liter per 100km when started cold for a short ride with a lot of stops and red lights on the way. I'd rather want to button up my winter coat and endure the cold for a 5 minute ride.

 

[PHEV07]

On my 2024 GT Model, I have noticed that once I start the Car without depressing the Brake Pedal, if the estimated range shows as - - -. The car will not go into EV Mode even if I do try forcing it into EV Mode.

This seems to occur when the Battery Gauge bar is closer to the the left Blue Horizontal line than to the left white vertical line and the Temperature is lower than -14'C.

I sure wish that the Battery Gauge was digital, but at least the 2023 to 2025 Models have a Battery Gauge.

I also wish that the My Connect App had a Battery Temperature Section

But "Wishing and Hoping" will not make it happen, I fear.

 

[mebarrera]

Glad to read that she is enjoying the car and has had no starting problems .... yet. I hope she never does.

SInce the Battery range on your photo is displaying (42kms) the Battery Temperature must be to the right of the left white line.

Can you post a photo of the Battery Temperature, please? My 2024 shows - - - when my Battery Temperature is on the white line or to the left of the line.

We visited some friends and stayed overnight, It was around -20 Celsius overnight.
The vehicle was parked outside all night and not plugged in.
It stayed outside for almost 24 hours before we decided to go back home.
Because of what was read on these post was a little scared about the vehicle not starting.
It was about -15 Celsius when we started the vehicle and started without issues and we drove back home (yay!).
The only 'issue' to report is that compared to a gasoline V6, that the Outlander replaced, the cabin was cold and stayed like that for a while (if not the complete trip).
Here is the battery temperature indicator you requested. Will keep posting about winter since February is usually the coldest month.
The bar is useless as you mentioned, since it does not give you an idea of what the real temperature without any units next to it.
But here it is (after spending all night outside without pluggin it in):

 

[PHEV07]

We visited some friends and stayed overnight, It was around -20 Celsius overnight.
The vehicle was parked outside all night and not plugged in.
It stayed outside for almost 24 hours before we decided to go back home.
Because of what was read on these post was a little scared about the vehicle not starting.
It was about -15 Celsius when we started the vehicle and started without issues and we drove back home (yay!).
The only 'issue' to report is that compared to a gasoline V6, that the Outlander replaced, the cabin was cold and stayed like that for a while (if not the complete trip).
Here is the battery temperature indicator you requested. Will keep posting about winter since February is usually the coldest month.
The bar is useless as you mentioned, since it does not give you an idea of what the real temperature without any units next to it.
But here it is (after spending all night outside without pluggin it in):
View attachment 1782

Glad to hear that you had no trouble starting the car

Thanks for the photo.

So at -14'C the Battery Temp Gauge is to the right of the vertical White line and it does display the Battery range left.

As for the Cab Heat. Did you drive the car in EV Mode or on ICE.

If on ICE, the Cab should have heated up. I usually set my temp control to 19'C then down to 18'C because my Cab does get Hot I select the diverter position to Defrost and Floor and fan on full blast when the air gets warmer

If you drove in EV Mode. The Heat Pump is useless once the temp drops lower than -12'C because these Models no longer have a Resistive or PTC Heater for the Cab

I had better look at your gauges. This photo was raking as you were driving with the ICE so you should have had good heat.

 

[twiggy144]

Report of this cold morning drive:

Ambient temperature -16C, car not plugged intentionnally for last 48 hours, battery SOC 7/8 full, forced EV mode, got the turtle as per the follwing pic, ICE started immediately, battery temperature was slightly left of the white marker line:





Drove 4 km, had breakfast with friends, returned home after 3 hours. Ambient temperature had risen to -13C, yet EV mode would still not engage, message displayed was: "EV mode not available, battery too cold". The driving range on the battery still displayed ---.

Even with the turtle power reduction mode, I had plenty of power to do city driving.

I think if had the car plugged for a few hours before driving, the battery would have been warm enough to engage the EV mode. This scenario yet to be tested.

 

[PHEV07]

Report of this cold morning drive:

Ambient temperature -16C, car not plugged intentionnally for last 48 hours, battery SOC 7/8 full, forced EV mode, got the turtle as per the follwing pic, ICE started immediately, battery temperature was slightly left of the white marker line:

View attachment 1790
View attachment 1791


Drove 4 km, had breakfast with friends, returned home after 3 hours. Ambient temperature had risen to -13C, yet EV mode would still not engage, message displayed was: "EV mode not available, battery too cold". The driving range on the battery still displayed ---.

Even with the turtle power reduction mode, I had plenty of power to do city driving.

I think if had the car plugged for a few hours before driving, the battery would have been warm enough to engage the EV mode. This scenario yet to be tested.




View attachment 1793

Thanks for Photos.

Unfortunately you will find that charging the car does not warm up the Battery as much as just driving in EV Mode but Unfortunately, at -12'C or colder, the EV Mode does not kick in, as you will find out soon.

 

[twiggy144]

Thanks for Photos.

Unfortunately you will find that charging the car foes not warm up tge Battery as much as just driving in EV Mode but Unfortunately, at -12'C or colder, tgd EV Mode does not kick in, as you will find out soon.

 

[twiggy144]

Right on!
Late this afternoon, température display in the dashboard was -11C, EV mode lit up in the Dash, remaining battery range in km displayed, but ICE started immediately, ignoring my command to force EV, but shut down after 2-3 km of driving. By then battery temp had increased slightly past the white line, as per following pic:

 

[PHEV07]

Right on!
Late this afternoon, température display in the dashboard was -11C, EV mode lit up in the Dash, remaining battery range in km displayed, but ICE started immediately, ignoring my command to force EV, but shut down after 2-3 km of driving. By then battery temp had increased slightly past the white line, as per following pic:
View attachment 1795

There you go. You are getting the hang of it

At this temperature, after forcing into EV mode and if ICE starts up, I let it run for 1 munite. Turn it off and restart in EV Mode and ICE usually kicks out.

At these temperatures, since it is cool in the car I plug in a 1500 Watt Cerematic Heater to the Inverter Plug and turn on Inverter. I also turn hvac fan on to 1 bar. When I see the Air Temp out of vent at 15'C I turn off inverter and let Heat Pump do its job as long as outside temp is warmer than -13'C otherwise I use Ceramic Heater as well.

I use a metal meat thermomer and push it in the top left Dash Vent. Use paperclips to hold in place.

I will get a close up photo posted tomorrow.

 

[Arian]

-32c here. my 2014 with 200k on it is going strong with a few quirks. Its odd to me that your car forces EV, mine does the opposite, it starts in EV then after a minute or so regardless of wether iam stationary it starts the engine and wont go back to EV again until the car is presulably warm (after 15 minutes or so active driving)

I did need to jury rig a second 12v battery in my trunk tho, even after purchasing a new battery for my car it simply flatlines if not charged regularly(the 12v) those factory/recomended batteries are simply too weak for this climate when being out in the wilds for 48 hours without running the engine or charging. But thats off topic altho i would apreciate battery recomendations so i can go back to only having one.