[md.]

Why? After fast charging twice, I wasn't able to get that 3rd fast charge (<20% SOC each time aside from 3rd time which was ~35%). I was maxing out at 11 kwh , stuck an hour outside of Buffalo, sitting in a cold car in a little gas station with a cold dog.

Others have given you lots of helpful information already, but I wanted to mention one more item. I don't have a Solterra, so I can't verify this. While your vehicle will limit how much energy goes into the battery, I'm pretty sure that if you turn on the vehicle and keep the heat (or AC) running, the vehicle will draw more energy from the charging station to run the vehicle and heat.

So, if you're at a 150kW station and charging at 28kW, if you start the vehicle and turn on the heat, your battery might continue to draw 28kW, but the station may provide 33kW or35kW or whatever the car needs to run the computer and heater. If that's the case, you and your dog could enjoy a warm car and some relaxing music while charging and your cabin will be all warmed up when you depart from charging. Of course, if you're at a 6 or 7kW Level 2 station, you would likely slow the actual charging if you did the same thing.

Hopefully, someone else can verify this. It shouldn't be too hard to test.

(Pretty sure my Bolt will also activate the battery heating function if the vehicle is set to Ready Mode while DCFCing in cooler weather, not sure if that's common in other vehicles.)

 

[jg.]

...turn on the vehicle and keep the heat (or AC) running, the vehicle will draw more energy from the charging station to run the vehicle and heat.

Hopefully, someone else can verify this. It shouldn't be too hard to test...

Yes, that's the "My Room" mode. It should ask when open the door after plugging in, but there's a way to activate it through the menu system as well.

 

[md.]

Yes, that's the "My Room" mode. It should ask when open the door after plugging in, but there's a way to activate it through the menu system as well.

Can you confirm that it will draw additional power from the DCFCing station rather than slowing down the charging of the battery?

 

[jg.]

Can you confirm that it will draw additional power from the DCFCing station rather than slowing down the charging of the battery?

Nope. The owners manual says for a few scenarios that battery charging may take longer — that seems to be Toyota’s answer for everything.

 

[Jere48]

I think the large software update included some fixes to the way Subaru calculates percent of charge, which so far has felt like increased range. Range can be substantially affected by outside temperature. I took a 1200 mile trip when we first got our Solterra that took much longer that our Forester would have taken. When we encountered slow charging I think the main causes were due to problems with the AE charger and high outside air temperature

 

[jmwk]

I think the large software update included some fixes to the way Subaru calculates percent of charge, which so far has felt like increased range. Range can be substantially affected by outside temperature. I took a 1200 mile trip when we first got our Solterra that took much longer that our Forester would have taken. When we encountered slow charging I think the main causes were due to problems with the AE charger and high outside air temperature

The update changed how the "with hvac on" range projection gets calculated with regard to ambient temperature. Otherwise, projected range is mostly calculated based on your personal driving habits with a recency bias. (I have no idea the actual alchemy involved, though. Regardless, it's well known that it's wildly optimistic when you leave the sales lot.)

If you normally drive around town on surface streets, you'll see much higher projected range than what you actually get when you start driving 75mph on the highway. Mix in colder weather, which both makes air denser (increasing drag) and makes your heating work harder, and you'll get even worse range.

My usual everyday driving is a 60/40 mix of 70mph highway to local, about 200 miles a week. I did a 500 mile round trip this week - DC to NYC - and traffic was heavy (I-95 and NJTP ); my average highway speed was low, each way around 55mph. On road trips, I watch the difference between real miles to charger/destination and the GoM's projected range. This trip, due to traffic, I beat the projected range on every leg.

On road trips where I can actually maintain 75mph, I assume about 20% less range than the GoM projects when planning charging stops.

 

[traven.l]

From an 8 hour trip with an internal combustion engine car to only 12+ hours with your Solterra, I'd say you're lucky. My experience has been much more disappointing. I live in north central Vermont, but my partner lives 300+ miles south near Suffern, New York. Now with colder weather and the necessary studded snow tires (given where I live and work as a ski patroller), my last Solterra trip home took 10.5 hours with my getting only about 145 miles on a full charge, plus the complications of having to queue for a fast charger as well as finding that two of the usual fast charging stations were out of order, as well as my third "fast" charger station only charging at a rate of about 19 kwh from about 20% to 67%. So for yesterday's trip south I borrowed a RAV 4 Prime (a plugin hybrid) it took less than 6 hours including stops. I'd owned Subaru Outbacks for the previous 25 years with positive experiences, but now with a year's experience and 19,000 miles on my Solterra, I would only recommend the Solterra as a second car or for someone in a warmer climate and flatter geography than Vermont.

 

[BillLin]

So for yesterday's trip south I borrowed a RAV 4 Prime (a plugin hybrid) it took less than 6 hours including stops.

Would you recommend the RAV4 Prime? That was on my wish list when it first came out but it proved too popular and less available, then dealer markups happened.

 

[n6nl]

For road trippers who like Toyotas, the RAV4 Prime is a great choice. Plenty of range on electric for around town/shopping/mild commuting, plenty of ICE range beyond that. We were trying to get one, before the bZ4X and Solterra were announced and we realized a BEV meets our use cases.

 

[traven.l]

Would you recommend the RAV4 Prime? That was on my wish list when it first came out but it proved too popular and less available, then dealer markups happened.

Absolutely yes. Excellent gas mileage while still providing 40 miles just using the EV capacity. Roomier than Solterra. I was wait listed for a the RAV4 Prime over a year. However, when my old Subaru Outback was becoming less reliable I unfortunately bought my Solterra based on my inadequate research in late 2022. That said, I live in a rural, cold, hilly climate in north central Vermont with my Significant Other living 300 miles away. The Solterra may work well for others in a different location and climate who only need to make relatively short trips or who use the Solterra as a second car, but not for my situation.

 

[jmwk]

Absolutely yes. Excellent gas mileage while still providing 40 miles just using the EV capacity. Roomier than Solterra. I was wait listed for a the RAV4 Prime over a year. However, when my old Subaru Outback was becoming less reliable I unfortunately bought my Solterra based on my inadequate research in late 2022. That said, I live in a rural, cold, hilly climate in north central Vermont with my Significant Other living 300 miles away. The Solterra may work well for others in a different location and climate who only need to make relatively short trips or who use the Solterra as a second car, but not for my situation.

I wouldn't have a Solterra as an only car myself, either. I drive way too many long, quick trips for it to be reasonable. As a second car, or one for leisurely road trips, it's fine.

 

[jmwk]

I wouldn't have a Solterra as an only car myself, either. I drive way too many long, quick trips for it to be reasonable. As a second car, or one for leisurely road trips, it's fine.

 

[Redd]

I have a Solterra that I purchased this last spring and am really enjoying it. At the time I purchased it, I considered it competitive with other main stream EV SUVs and a good value. I did my research and understood that I would be able to use it to travel from southern Oregon to the SF Bay Area and Portland. This requires DC fast charging and the Subaru online information confirmed that the Solterra was sold with the capacity to fast charge, accepting charging rates up to 100 kWs. But turns out it doesn’t.

Both my Solterra and my fiend’s Solterra will not charge faster than 23 kW at two different Electrify America DC fast charger that work normally and had capacity to charge up to at least 150 kW. On this forum and from others elsewhere online, many if not all owners of 2023 Solterras have the same experience. This means that to charge at a DC fast charger with say a 10% state of charge to 80% SOC, it will require us to spend 2-3 hours at the charger. Traveling a distance that requires a fast recharge to reach our destination just became more than 50% longer to reach, measured in time. This has made what appeared to be a good choice for an all around vehicle into one suited for day trips of a hundred miles or less and almost unacceptable for someone who wishes to drive more than a few hours from home.

When we asked our dealer about this, they referred us to Subaru. To date, I have not been able to find anyone who has received an admission from Subaru of what looks everything like false advertising, an explanation as to why we were misinformed, or any offer to somehow mitigate the impact this has on the value of the car to its owner.

I have owned Subarus before and had great experiences. This experience has changed that. I don’t think Subaru understands the importance of setting this right with owners who took a chance, depending on the company’s reputation, on a brand new model. I have lost trust in the company as a result.

I am calling on Subaru not to ignore this issue. To admit that they inaccurately advertised and find a way to either reconfigure Solterras to charge at a faster rate like other manufacturers have attained, or admit this undisclosed limitation has lowered the value of the car and find a way to compensate us.

I can’t help but hope that the 2024 model has caught up with the competition or at least Subaru advertises its DC fast charging abilities accurately.

I just traveled from Vancouver Washington to Port Angeles, stopping at Chehalis to top off. I had about 48% SOC. I was only pulling 30 kw. Stopped at 80% SOC, got to Port Angeles with 3% SOC. Charged at Walmart on electrify America. Pulled 65kw to start, got to 80% in an hour. Much better to get below 10% if you can, that gets you a faster charge rate. Planning is the key. I love my Solterra, ride comfort is superb, but faster charging would be great!

 

[Bandpear]

I just traveled from Vancouver Washington to Port Angeles, stopping at Chehalis to top off. I had about 48% SOC. I was only pulling 30 kw. Stopped at 80% SOC, got to Port Angeles with 3% SOC. Charged at Walmart on electrify America. Pulled 65kw to start, got to 80% in an hour. Much better to get below 10% if you can, that gets you a faster charge rate. Planning is the key. I love my Solterra, ride comfort is superb, but faster charging would be great!

Thank you, sir; you just confirmed what I am thinking about the charging algorithm on the Solterra; it seems to trigger the one-hour charging time in the Solterra. You have to be close to zero %. If you charge close to zero, you get a high charging rate. If you are 20 %, you don't get the high charging rate, and you might take more time to get to 80% than if you started almost zero.

 

[BillLin]

Ambient temperature during the drive? I imagine the battery temperature would be fairly warm and stable arriving in Port Angeles.

 

[jmweeks]

The update changed how the "with hvac on" range projection gets calculated with regard to ambient temperature. Otherwise, projected range is mostly calculated based on your personal driving habits with a recency bias. (I have no idea the actual alchemy involved, though. Regardless, it's well known that it's wildly optimistic when you leave the sales lot.)

If you normally drive around town on surface streets, you'll see much higher projected range than what you actually get when you start driving 75mph on the highway. Mix in colder weather, which both makes air denser (increasing drag) and makes your heating work harder, and you'll get even worse range.

My usual everyday driving is a 60/40 mix of 70mph highway to local, about 200 miles a week. I did a 500 mile round trip this week - DC to NYC - and traffic was heavy (I-95 and NJTP ); my average highway speed was low, each way around 55mph. On road trips, I watch the difference between real miles to charger/destination and the GoM's projected range. This trip, due to traffic, I beat the projected range on every leg.

On road trips where I can actually maintain 75mph, I assume about 20% less range than the GoM projects when planning charging stops.

I'm doing a similar trip in the next few months. Any "goto" charging stations you recommend between DC and NYC?

 

[jmwk]

I'm doing a similar trip in the next few months. Any "goto" charging stations you recommend between DC and NYC?

I go from Bethesda, MD to Leonia, NJ - so not quite DC to NYC. More like Beltway to GW bridge. I’ve done this trip twice in my Solterra.

These are the stations I plan for northbound, leaving home with 100%. I’ve used the one in Mt Laurel twice. Lots of chargers and several restaurants in the strip center there.

acme EVgo
631 mantua pike
west deptford nj 08096

Macerich Deptford Mall EA
1750 Deptford Center Rd
Deptford, NJ 08096

Walmart AE
1 Coopertowne blvd
somerdale, nj 08083

shoprite EVgo
127 Ark Rd
mt laurel township, nj 08054


Charging while in northern NJ, I’ve used this one twice:

Walmart EA
400 Park Plaza
Secaucaus, NJ 07094

with this one for backup:

Target EA
30 Kingsland rd
clifton, NJ 07014


Then southbound, leaving with around 75%, I used each of these stations once:

Wawa EA
4000 N DuPont hwy
New Castle, DE 19720

Shoprite EVgo
1600 W Newport pike
Newport, DE 19804

I’ve never had trouble with any of the stations I’ve used beyond dealing with December charging speeds.

 

[Nange]

Btw, I just heard back from Subaru after I complained and here is there lovely (sarcasm) response,

"I am so sorry to hear of your disappointment in your new vehicle. This being the first model year of the Solterra improvements are sure to come. We truly appreciate the feedback and invite you to review your owner's manual starting at page 99 to determine if it speaks to a "fast charging limit", this will help you better understand the charging capabilities for your vehicle. I hope this bring clarity to your question. "

Nothing about fixing it. Nothing about instructing sales staff to bring up this topic with potential buyers. Nothing even admitting to a limit that we all know exists. What a joke.

 

[JayEM]

Textbook form response.

But the more people complain, eventually they might figure out what's going on, and realize that they need to do something.

 

[Dan MacArthur]

I was talking with 2 friends today each of whom owned Toyota pickups back when all of the frames rusted out- they both got super deals on newer trucks from the company and both will always buy Toyotas...... even today they remember exactly how well they were treated. Just sayin'.....