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Even when I plug into a "Fast Charger" that claims to offer up to 150kW, I only get about 8 or 9 kW. Is there any way to increase the charging levels?
Charging Speeds
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It would probably help to include more details. Assuming that you're at a commercial DC Fast Charger. The lowest the Solterra can be set (U.S. Owner's Manual) is 50kW, so doubtful that's the issue. If your current State of Charge is high, that's probably "working as designed". If it's cold, charging speed can be reduced, but 8-9kW is very slow. If there are other chargers available, try a different one. Check how fast others on those chargers are charging and look in PlugShare (or the equivalent in Canada) to check on recent functionality of the charger that you're at.
Here's a post with a charging curve from the bZ4X AWD, which is similar to the Solterra.
Yikes. AWD battery charging is atrocious
I'm increasingly convinced that the slow DC charging is primarily Toyota's bad decision (among many other poor Toyota decisions regarding EVs). Standard range Teslas also have a battery from CATL and they aren't amazingly fast-charging but the peak power is over 150kW...
www.solterraforum.com
(see my post for same issue) Do these Charging videos scare you about Solterra / BZ4x...It would probably help to include more details. Assuming that you're at a commercial DC Fast Charger. The lowest the Solterra can be set (U.S. Owner's Manual) is 50kW, so doubtful that's the issue. If your current State of Charge is high, that's probably "working as designed". If it's cold, charging speed can be reduced, but 8-9kW is very slow. If there are other chargers available, try a different one. Check how fast others on those chargers are charging and look in PlugShare (or the equivalent in Canada) to check on recent functionality of the charger that you're at.
Here's a post with a charging curve from the bZ4X AWD, which is similar to the Solterra.
Yikes. AWD battery charging is atrocious
I'm increasingly convinced that the slow DC charging is primarily Toyota's bad decision (among many other poor Toyota decisions regarding EVs). Standard range Teslas also have a battery from CATL and they aren't amazingly fast-charging but the peak power is over 150kW...
View attachment 1568
And has the car had a recent 100% charge (best done on an L2)? This balances the battery cells which can speed up charging and perhaps make them more efficient for range. It did for the Kona, at the top end of the charging curve. And I think it is healthier for the batteries long term. I know all OEMs recommend periodic 100% charges.
Even the old lead acid batteries benefit from a regular "equalization" cycle. I have an off grid solar system at our lake cabin. And the solar charger does a monthly high voltage, but low amperage 1 hour cycle where it equalize the individual cells in the battery bank. I have 16 large 6V batteries. So this is very important to keep all those batteries healthy. What happens is that if you don't equalize some cells work harder than others, and the ones that are lower will degrade. Both of these will result in a reduced life. With proper equalization and maintenance (making sure battery fluid is always topped up), these batteries last 10 years or more.
So I believe also that unequal battery cells in our car battery packs are not good for performance or longevity.
Even the old lead acid batteries benefit from a regular "equalization" cycle. I have an off grid solar system at our lake cabin. And the solar charger does a monthly high voltage, but low amperage 1 hour cycle where it equalize the individual cells in the battery bank. I have 16 large 6V batteries. So this is very important to keep all those batteries healthy. What happens is that if you don't equalize some cells work harder than others, and the ones that are lower will degrade. Both of these will result in a reduced life. With proper equalization and maintenance (making sure battery fluid is always topped up), these batteries last 10 years or more.
So I believe also that unequal battery cells in our car battery packs are not good for performance or longevity.
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I have only two DC fast charge experiences (all Electrify America; 35% SOC, then 7% SOC (!) at first; mid 40s temp) and I saw 47Kw and 57kw. Looking forward to further experiences to see just how fast it will go. Have not done a full speed test to see how long it might take to get to 80% (did not hit that in either of these times due to time constraints).
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A Bz4X facebook post reported 58 minutes to 85% from empty. Personally after 3-4 (even 2) hours of driving I'm happy to take an extended break :-D
Raw data from some recent long distance, highway driving. Data as Vendor (Electrify America and EVgo), ambient temperature per dashboard at start (to nearest 5F), and posted charging unit rating. Then data collected at minutes plugged in, percent charged as reported on the charger, and KW delivery per charger. (Sorry, I can't figure out how to get the columns appropriately narrow.) For the EVGo one, I was the only car at an 8-charger station and I switched chargers a couple times to see if that would speed things up. It didn't.
| Elec Amer | 50F | 350KW |
| Minutes | %Charged | KW |
0 | 11 | 63 |
5 | 18 | 62 |
16 | 35 | 56 |
20 | 40 | 54 |
25 | 47 | 54 |
30 | 54 | 48 |
35 | 60 | 42 |
40 | 65 | 16 |
46 | 67 | 15 |
50 | 68 | 14 |
55 | 70 | 14 |
| Elec Amer | 50F | 150KW |
| Minutes | %Charged | KW |
6 | 26 | 52 |
25 | 50 | 19 |
55 | 63 | 16 |
63 | 66 | 13 |
79 | 70 | 11 |
| Elec Amer | 50F | 150KW |
| Minutes | %Charged | KW |
1 | 13 | 48 |
6 | 19 | 45 |
10 | 22 | 46 |
15 | 28 | 48 |
20 | 35 | 49 |
26 | 43 | 48 |
31 | 49 | 46 |
35 | 54 | 43 |
40 | 59 | 39 |
45 | 68 | 34 |
51 | 70 | 29 |
55 | 72 | 9 |
65 | 74 | 8 |
70 | 75 | 7 |
75 | 76 | 7 |
81 | 77 | 7 |
85 | 78 | 6 |
| EVgo | 40F | 200KW |
| Minutes | %Charged | KW |
1 | 3 | 60 |
5 | 8 | 63 |
10 | 16 | 63 |
16 | 26 | 60 |
20 | 29 | 23 |
25 | 32 | 22 |
0 | 34 | 21 |
5 | 37 | 20 |
10 | 40 | 20 |
20 | 45 | 19 |
25 | 47 | 18 |
30 | 50 | 17 |
40 | 54 | 15 |
0 | 54 | 15 |
10 | 58 | 14 |
15 | 60 | 13 |
| Elec Amer | 55F | 150KW |
| Minutes | %Charged | KW |
1 | 22 | 69 |
6 | 30 | 66 |
8 | 34 | 63 |
14 | 43 | 56 |
30 | 62 | 38 |
36 | 68 | 32 |
44 | 73 | 27 |
48 | 76 | 24 |
55 | 79 | 20 |
64 | 83 | 16 |
71 | 86 | 13 |
73 | 87 | 11 |
Tracked it manually while there - hence the uneven times. Tedious. I've had the car about a month now, and am trying to learn its quirks. The wide variation of charging speeds/KW delivered really confuses me, but I'm really liking it otherwise.
Thank you all for the useful info. As a 1st time EV owner, I am learning to charge/use my EV the "right" way so it last longer.
I don't see anything about pre-conditioning before charging like I read elsewhere. Do the Solterra has something like that? or what should I watch out for on a road trip? Thanks!
I don't see anything about pre-conditioning before charging like I read elsewhere. Do the Solterra has something like that? or what should I watch out for on a road trip? Thanks!
2023 Subaru Solterra with Technology Package, Platinum White with Two-Tone Black Roof
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The Solterra currently does not have battery pre-conditioning for DC charging. Only thing you can do is drive it harder for 20 mins or so before DC fast charging. But that doesn’t necessarily work the best.
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Thank you so much for sharing. I’m a Dutch guy who received his Solterra on 29-DEC-2022. My son went for a ski trip to Austria with the Solterra and had the same fast charging experience.
My following charging details are already communicated to Subaru Benelux. There is a software investigation started (because I’m convinced that it is a software problem) and I’m waiting for a reply.
Same as some others, I really like the car! It is great! Except for the terrible fast charging statistics!
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