[John Austin]

I hope to pick up my Solterra Touring this week. The dealer is 180 miles from my home in Minnesota. The outside temperature is 30°F. What is your opinion regarding my ability to drive the entire distance without charging? If it's operational, there is a fast charger after the first 100 miles but I wonder if I could expect to make the trip without charging.

From reading this forum it sounds like when the SOC reads 0 there is still power in reserve just so there is a cushion. Is this accurate? Is that reserve 20% of capacity? How many miles can one drive after SOC=0%?

If we say that the battery has a range of 220 miles and if 20% of capacity is held in reserve, does that 220 mile capacity reflect 0%-100% or 20%-100%?

It sounds like, in order to prolong battery life, Subaru wants you to keep the battery charged between 20% and 80%. Does that mean the range they would like you to operate in is 132 miles (220x20%=44; removing 44 miles from 220 twice=132).

Once I get my car (finally!) I hope to have the answers to these questions but I'm hoping that others will answer them first - thanks.

 

[FelineFreddie]

The quick answer to your question about recharging necessity…

Maybe, but maybe not. There are lots of factors at play…speed, weather, temperature, driving style, flatland .vs. hills…just to name a few.

Leaving with a 100% charge, and minimal use of cabin environmental controls, in theory you should be able to make it, but personally, I’d plan on having a charger available in-route… just as a “plan B”.

 

[JayEM]

I wouldn't try doing it without stopping to recharge (but you wouldn't need to recharge for long, maybe just long enough to go to the bathroom and get a refreshment). The 222-mile nominal (fairweather) range is a "combined" figure of both city (higher than 222) and highway (lower than 222) driving. Temps in the 30s (F) are not "fairweather" by any stretch.

The combined MPGe on the Monroney sticker is 102. The City figure is 111, the Highway number is 93.

So, if 102 MPGe equates to 222 miles, then 111 MPGe City equates to 241/242 miles, and 93 MPGe Highway equates to 202 miles (under ideal/non-winter driving conditions).

If you're driving into a headwind, or there are strong crosswinds, expect your range to be lower.

Don't be surprised to see your projected total range (miles to empty + what you've driven on this charge) drop quite markedly once you're on the highway. The initial range number displayed will likely reflect mostly slow driving before the car hit the dealership, but don't panic. Set your climate to eco and use the lowest comfortable temperature (I use 64 F) combined with the seat heater(s).

It's better to be able to follow your Plan A than to have to scramble to Plan B while you're driving along the highway.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes! Be sure to post a picture or two to the Baby Photos thread!

I'm planning to pick up my Touring on Saturday, and I'll have a 75-mile drive home - so not expecting to charge before I get home.

 

[Dave]

If you're on Android Auto, load up the Plugshare app - make sure you're filtering out the Tesla SuperCharger Networks. You can plan a trip that way, or see charging locations close to your route as well.
Since it's going to be cold as well, strongly suggest you sign up for the major charging networks now - Electrify America and evGo are the big ones near me - since messing with an app, bank card, phone and such is a real pain in cold weather. Also with evGo I've had better luck starting charging sessions by app than by using the station.

 

[JayEM]

Or give ABetterRoutePlanner a try, I really like that app/service.

 

[n6nl]

If you are planning a DCFC stop, you’ll get the best charging rate when the SOC is less than 50%. But without many charging station options… you might not have a choice.

Be sure the dealership plans enough time to charge it to 100% before you depart.

The last 5-10% is much slower on the typical L2 chargers that dealers seem to be installing.

In the worst case, make sure that you’ve got a Plan C for staying someplace with a working L2 (“destination”) charger if nothing goes as planned. Consider that like any planning you would do in very cold temperatures anyway.

When the Guess-O-Meter reads zero, estimates are that you’ve got maybe 20 miles (maybe that’s in moderate temperature conditions) until it stops moving. Possibly quite less in cold conditions.

 

[Dave]

Or give ABetterRoutePlanner a try, I really like that app/service.

Can you launch it in Android Auto?

 

[John Austin]

I wouldn't try doing it without stopping to recharge (but you wouldn't need to recharge for long, maybe just long enough to go to the bathroom and get a refreshment). The 222-mile nominal (fairweather) range is a "combined" figure of both city (higher than 222) and highway (lower than 222) driving. Temps in the 30s (F) are not "fairweather" by any stretch.

The combined MPGe on the Monroney sticker is 102. The City figure is 111, the Highway number is 93.

So, if 102 MPGe equates to 222 miles, then 111 MPGe City equates to 241/242 miles, and 93 MPGe Highway equates to 202 miles (under ideal/non-winter driving conditions).

If you're driving into a headwind, or there are strong crosswinds, expect your range to be lower.

Don't be surprised to see your projected total range (miles to empty + what you've driven on this charge) drop quite markedly once you're on the highway. The initial range number displayed will likely reflect mostly slow driving before the car hit the dealership, but don't panic. Set your climate to eco and use the lowest comfortable temperature (I use 64 F) combined with the seat heater(s).

It's better to be able to follow your Plan A than to have to scramble to Plan B while you're driving along the highway.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes! Be sure to post a picture or two to the Baby Photos thread!

I'm planning to pick up my Touring on Saturday, and I'll have a 75-mile drive home - so not expecting to charge before I get home.

Thanks for the details. I do plan to stop for a charge after 100 miles but was curious what current owners thought the range would be at 30 degrees on an Interstate. I assume the MPGe numbers are from 100% to 0%, not to the Guess-O-Meter 0 - correct?
Eager to see my Solterra and drive it home. I'll send pics.

 

[John Austin]

If you're on Android Auto, load up the Plugshare app - make sure you're filtering out the Tesla SuperCharger Networks. You can plan a trip that way, or see charging locations close to your route as well.
Since it's going to be cold as well, strongly suggest you sign up for the major charging networks now - Electrify America and evGo are the big ones near me - since messing with an app, bank card, phone and such is a real pain in cold weather. Also with evGo I've had better luck starting charging sessions by app than by using the station.

I loaded Plugshare - thanks.

 

[John Austin]

Or give ABetterRoutePlanner a try, I really like that app/service.

I loaded up ABetterRoutePlanner and it looks like a great option! Thanks

 

[John Austin]

The quick answer to your question about recharging necessity…

Maybe, but maybe not. There are lots of factors at play…speed, weather, temperature, driving style, flatland .vs. hills…just to name a few.

Leaving with a 100% charge, and minimal use of cabin environmental controls, in theory you should be able to make it, but personally, I’d plan on having a charger available in-route… just as a “plan B”.

Thanks - I will be charging after 100 miles.

 

[Dave]

I loaded Plugshare - thanks.

There's a thing you have to do in Android Auto on your phone to make it be a short cut in the Solterra's infotainment screen. I think you just launch android auto on the phone and hit the check box next to 'PlugShare'

 

[KSchneider]

Thanks for the details. I do plan to stop for a charge after 100 miles but was curious what current owners thought the range would be at 30 degrees on an Interstate. I assume the MPGe numbers are from 100% to 0%, not to the Guess-O-Meter 0 - correct?
Eager to see my Solterra and drive it home. I'll send pics.

In the owner's manual charging section is the following, "... if the remaining charge of the traction battery is low, avoid relying on the displayed possible driving distance too much as well as driving on highways (or freeways)."
This suggest to me Subaru understands and wants us to understand that the displayed possible driving distance" is an estimate and not an absolute number. Your plan to charge mid way on the trip seems very sensible.
People with experience say the DCFC's actual output is quite variable.

 

[JayEM]

In the owner's manual charging section is the following, "... if the remaining charge of the traction battery is low, avoid relying on the displayed possible driving distance too much as well as driving on highways (or freeways)."
This suggest to me Subaru understands and wants us to understand that the displayed possible driving distance" is an estimate and not an absolute number. Your plan to charge mid way on the trip seems very sensible.
People with experience say the DCFC's actual output is quite variable.

It takes way less time to stop and charge at a convenient, pre-planned location, than to scramble to find something working if you have to resort to plan B.

But before your trip, check recent availability on PlugShare to make sure your plan A stop is in service, and has been so, recently.

 

[JayEM]

Can you launch it in Android Auto?

I believe so. I think it even shows up in my Outback's AA.

 

[BinPNW]

Please let us know how your drive home is, and what you end up doing. Good luck!

 

[John Austin]

I love my Touring! In some light it's blue and in other it's more Grey. Bigger than I expected and I'm eager to try my "activity hitch," tho I'll have to wait for Minnesota spring to arrive. Left the dealer fully charged and 20°F with guess-o-meter saying 190 miles left. I drone 71mph with a 20mph tailwind on Interstate with climate and drive mode in eco. Comfortable inside yet apprehensive re destination. Arrived 100 miles later at a dcfc with 70 miles left. Plugged in for 60 minutes at 24kW

with plenty of juice to complete the rest of my 180 mile trip. The coffeebreak was welcome...returned to car and discovered that my charge was free! Can't beat that. With more experience the range worry will disapate.

 

[JayEM]

Hey, that's the car I'm picking up today! Some colors and trim! Minus the activity hitch.

Glad you made it back home comfortably! Enjoy!

 

[n6nl]

John, when you get the time, would you please measure the distance from the ground to the inside bottom edge of the activity mount and report it back? (Not the outside, the inside where whatever you plug in will go).

I am trying to determine how close a fit my Twistep will be to the bottom plastic shield when swung under the car (stowed). It’s adjustable in something like 1 inch increments, but I am hoping it won’t be so close to fitting that it has to be set to the next increment to properly swing. In that case, it would be more likely to scrape or hang up on drainage swales.

I’m still waiting for my activity mount, now backordered for four weeks.

 

[John Austin]