New C5 X PHEV Owner \ battery query

[Astro]

Hey guys,

I've just bought a C5 X Shine Plus fully loaded with even them optional stuff. It is a fantastic comfy family car and rapid too. Not my F Type by any means but absolutely loving it, especially the cooled seats in this weather!

I looked for quite a while till one of this spec popped up, even my car guy had trouble finding one, few and far between it seems.

My question is charging the battery, is it best to fully charge it nightly, do the 80% thing, not let it go below 20% and so on. lots of conflicting advice so I thought you guys might know best.

Incidentally i've been getting 4.8miles per kw out of it which i gather is exceptoinal? granted slow easy shorter trips but did get near 40 on a jount to the parents to show it off other day.

Thanks in advance, great to be here.

Phill

[mickthemaverick]

I have no direct experience of an EV, but from the friends I know who have the general concensus is use the 20 -80% regime with a full charge to 100% every 6 weeks or so unless the extra range is needed for a particulay journey.

[Sloppysod]

This is my opinion and only mine having had one of these for over 2 years - and still do.

My question is charging the battery, is it best to fully charge it nightly, do the 80% thing, not let it go below 20% and so on. lots of conflicting advice so I thought you guys might know best

If it was really that important the Citroën would have included the option to charge only to 80% and they didn't not even on early eC4's.
Yout traction battery is 12.4kW, sounds good, but the most I have been able to recharge it by is around 10.7kW. I believe there is a big buffer top and bottom to ensure the battery lasts at more than 70% in 8 years.(Warranty). And think about it, if you only use 60% of the battery, then you will only get 60% of the ev range, 23.4 max!. Also the car will regularly take the battery down to a displayed 0% when driving in Hybrid/Comfort/Power.
My car is 41 months old (21,000 miles) and the traction battery has a state of health (SOH) of about 94%.

Incidentally i've been getting 4.8miles per kw out of it which i gather is exceptoinal? granted slow easy shorter trips but did get near 40 on a jount to the parents to show it off other day.

That's very good, the most I've ever seen in electric only, without 'B-mode' is around 4.1m/kW.

Couple of tips.

• Don't worry if the engine runs occasionally it's because you two 12 volt batteries are needing a charge .

• Don't worry about warning "Electric mode unavailable", just select some good music and go on a steady 30 mile(ish) drive to recharge the batteries.

• Download an install MyCarVision from playstore, I think it's on Apple as well.It will give you more data, especially SOH.

• Winters really make a difference, my estimated range went down to 18 in mid winter, and I garage every night.

• I have a battery minder I plug in occasionally, more often in the winter, to keep the two 12 volt batteries topped up and clean.

[Astro]

This is my opinion and only mine having had one of these for over 2 years - and still do.

My question is charging the battery, is it best to fully charge it nightly, do the 80% thing, not let it go below 20% and so on. lots of conflicting advice so I thought you guys might know best

If it was really that important the Citroën would have included the option to charge only to 80% and they didn't not even on early eC4's.
Yout traction battery is 12.4kW, sounds good, but the most I have been able to recharge it by is around 10.7kW. I believe there is a big buffer top and bottom to ensure the battery lasts at more than 70% in 8 years.(Warranty). And think about it, if you only use 60% of the battery, then you will only get 60% of the ev range, 23.4 max!. Also the car will regularly take the battery down to a displayed 0% when driving in Hybrid/Comfort/Power.
My car is 41 months old (21,000 miles) and the traction battery has a state of health (SOH) of about 94%.

Incidentally i've been getting 4.8miles per kw out of it which i gather is exceptoinal? granted slow easy shorter trips but did get near 40 on a jount to the parents to show it off other day.

That's very good, the most I've ever seen in electric only, without 'B-mode' is around 4.1m/kW.

Couple of tips.

• Don't worry if the engine runs occasionally it's because you two 12 volt batteries are needing a charge .

• Don't worry about warning "Electric mode unavailable", just select some good music and go on a steady 30 mile(ish) drive to recharge the batteries.

• Download an install MyCarVision from playstore, I think it's on Apple as well.It will give you more data, especially SOH.

• Winters really make a difference, my estimated range went down to 18 in mid winter, and I garage every night.

• I have a battery minder I plug in occasionally, more often in the winter, to keep the two 12 volt batteries topped up and clean.

thank you, very helpful indeed, both of you.

Searching that app as we speak! The my Citroen thing is a bit janky and takes a few goes to get it working right anyway.

the " don't worry do a steady 30 miles to recharge it" you mean in the ev save mode thing, force charge it via that? Its been on zero the last few days, still waiting on charger fitted but it never ever comes off that no mater what I do or how I drive. it does keep going blue in the speedo and always tells me at the end of a trip iv'e still done x amount zero emissions.

incidentally, the little line with the dot above that and a car it shows after each trip, stuck what that is?

I've seen 14m/kw on a run steady up a motorway, yes one four, but Im thinking thats some combined figure so didn't mention it. It has been ridiculously economical and currently gives a 520 miles range from the petrol tank after filling jup. I do need to do some miles in it yet and probably charge and discharge the battery fully to calibrate it but even so, proving remarkably economical.

Thanks for the tips

[Sloppysod]

Searching that app as we speak! The my Citroen thing is a bit janky and takes a few goes to get it working right anyway.

I've only been using the MyCarVision app a few weeks and it seems more reliable.....only time will tell.

the " don't worry do a steady 30 miles to recharge it" you mean in the ev save mode thing, force charge it via that? Its been on zero the last few days, still waiting on charger fitted but it never ever comes off that no mater what I do or how I drive. it does keep going blue in the speedo and always tells me at the end of a trip iv'e still done x amount zero emissions.

.
No I mean the 12 volt batteries, If you use esave to charge the traction battery your mpg will plummet, possibly by 40%…! Unless switched to it will never charge the traction battery, unless you use b-mode down a hill, you may get 1%(ish) or more depending on the hill.

I use a granny charger plugged into a dedicated 13amp socket, charges overnight.

incidentally, the little line with the dot above that and a car it shows after each trip, stuck what that is?

No idea will look next time I'm out - if I remember.

I've seen 14m/kw on a run steady up a motorway, yes one four, but Im thinking thats some combined figure so didn't mention it. It has been ridiculously economical and currently gives a 520 miles range from the petrol tank after filling jup. I do need to do some miles in it yet and probably charge and discharge the battery fully to calibrate it but even so, proving remarkably economical.

Ah, that explains the earlier 4.8kW figure earlier, you are running on an empty traction battery. That figure grows as you click up Hybrid miles.

Yes mine is relatively economical, empty battery, motorway speeds, loaded 55-60mpg.

[Astro]

I've replied your PM, is there a link or something we can use?

Been running the daily commute on battery electric only and getting 4.8, so it says