Capacity for charging

[Freelele]

Salutations everyone, With the exception of the ICCU problems I experienced with my previous vehicle, which led to its exchange by the dealer, I have owned a brand new EV3 GT Line S (81.4 kwh) for the past eighteen months. While I understand that charging varies from season to season, I've noticed that the car's range can fluctuate by as much as 70 miles in either summer or winter. This could simply be the car's typical characteristics, but I've never had any problems with it. Is this normal, am I doing something wrong, or is there a trick to getting a more consistent charge? I've tried conditioning the batteries, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. My home charger is an Easee 7.2kw model, and we charge it until it reaches 50 miles of range. We've never used a public charger because our trips aren't long enough to warrant it.

[Mantelle]

Your summer/winter range difference is not unusual. Check this out for some third-party experience Long Range Kia EV3 (MY25-26)

Keep the battery level between 20% and 80% according to general advice; unless you're going on a very long trip, you probably don't need a fully charged battery.

[Mantelle]

Kia EV3 Long Range (MY25-26) (2024-2026) price and specifications - EV Database

[Freelele]

Thanks for the info! I've taken note of that.

[KnightNewscast]

I take it you're not interested in "charging capacity" per se, but rather the difference between actual and estimated ranges? It's always an educated guess because it's practically hard to tell what a battery's actual charge level is; instead, it's "calculated" and impacted by numerous factors like temperature, driving style, accessory use, etc.

Or the difference between what the charger is reporting as going into car versus the battery capacity/ or what car is reporting? This is because there will be charging losses in the battery and the charger/inverter used in the vehicle. Particularly when using an air conditioner, these can have a major impact.

[Freelele]

We used to get consistent charges and then the range dropped a little; however, we charge to 100% every time, so maybe we should start charging to 80% instead? There are a lot of factors that can affect the range, and I am aware of them.

For instance, during the summer (which was exceptionally hot this year), the electric vehicle's range can vary. One day, it will charge to 300 miles, and then around a week later, it will charge to 375 miles, which is the highest range we've experienced. In winter, the range remains the same, but obviously lower due to outside temperatures. I was hoping for a consistent figure, if only by a few percent. I don't mind the accuracy of the car's display and the range driven; if this is the norm, then I can live with it. Fortunately, we don't have to rely on a full 370ish range for long journeys.

[KnightNewscast]

The recommended range for battery charge is 20–80%, but from what I gather, leaving the battery fully charged for an extended length of time is the only way to cause issues with ac (slow/home) charging to exceed 80%.

Truthfully, after three years of driving a 2018 Soul EV—with an indicated range of 130 in the summer and 80 in the winter—I can say that
I am grateful that in the winter I won't have to stress about the EV3's range or efficiency.

No obvious signs of battery or range degradation have been observed in the Nb Soul EV, which has always been charged to 100%.

[KnightNewscast]

Protecting the battery is less of an issue than the efficiency of the change, which becomes significantly worse above 70%, according to my analysis of the 80% upper limit.
I think that's less of a concern with solar power or low-cost home charging.

[Freelele]

Thank you for your response. I have consulted with our local dealer, but they have given me contradictory advice. I will try adjusting the charging percentages to see if it helps, but I suppose I should be content as long as I consistently get results above 300.