[ted99]

I read a report that BMW intends to restrict home battery charges to 80% on the 2021 330e "to allow room for regenerative charging". Can any one having a new 2020 530e report if this has been done to the 530e? I call BS on BMW's stated reason for this restriction--I think they are trying to extend battery life.

[AP]

I don't know but agree with you that charging to 80% will extend battery life.

If you look On a website called battery university you will see the effect on a lithium battery at various charges / discharges.

If you are interested, to make a lithium battery last the longest it needs to remain between 65 and 75 %.

Worst thing to do a lithium battery is charge to 100% or deplete entirely.

Charging to only 80 instead of 100 doubles the life of a battery.

I believe (happy to be proved wrong) that Evs are only charged to 80 to prolong the life, but they may display to the user that it's fully charged.

[Wivenhoe]

Originally Posted by ted99

I read a report that BMW intends to restrict home battery charges to 80% on the 2021 330e "to allow room for regenerative charging". Can any one having a new 2020 530e report if this has been done to the 530e? I call BS on BMW's stated reason for this restriction--I think they are trying to extend battery life.

My Oct 530e (greater capacity battery) isn’t restricted

[ted99]

Originally Posted by Wivenhoe

My Oct 530e (greater capacity battery) isn’t restricted

Originally Posted by AP

I don't know but agree with you that charging to 80% will extend battery life.

If you look On a website called battery university you will see the effect on a lithium battery at various charges / discharges.

If you are interested, to make a lithium battery last the longest it needs to remain between 65 and 75 %.

Worst thing to do a lithium battery is charge to 100% or deplete entirely.

Charging to only 80 instead of 100 doubles the life of a battery.

I believe (happy to be proved wrong) that Evs are only charged to 80 to prolong the life, but they may display to the user that it's fully charged.

I agree that both you and BMW are correct that limiting charge extends battery life. Audi highly recommends that hi-speed DC charges be stopped at 80% and their on-board software encourages this by restricting the charging rate a lot at 80%. I do believe that BMW does limit their PHEV recharge to less than 100%. Since no PHEV allows a fast DC charge and limits the AC charging rate to 3.6 KW, or lower, as compared to 7 to 10 KW for full electric cars; I'm just not too concerned about excessive charging leading to battery degradation. In both my 330e and X5 40e the effective battery capacity is less than the "advertised" capacity for this reason, but it's not 80%. BMW will not allow complete discharge. Both of my PHEV's will still have one bar when the ICE engine starts. But, 80% is over and above this and, with the relatively short battery range of the current PHEV's, I'd rather have the extra 15% for range. We don't know what the extra battery life will be with this change, but I suspect that it only becomes apparent for the outliers and close to the end of the BMW battery capacity warranty. In my case, reducing the 2020 530e range by 20%, versus 5% is the difference between 90% of my normal daily use on battery power to less than 70%. For a relatively long-range PHEV, like the Honda Clarity, giving away some capacity isn't as big a deal as it is with BMW's offerings. I have a 2020 530e on order and a big factor in that decision was the increase in battery capacity from 9 KWh in 2019 to 12 KWh. I don't want to give up that extra 25% for some "possible" increase in battery life. I'll be trading the car well before that becomes a factor.

[SteveinArizona]

Other than extending battery life, the other advantage is to ensure that there is always battery capacity for boost.

Everyone's reason for getting a phev is different. To me, I don't mind the shorter distance if I am sure that any time I need boost, I will have it.

[ted99]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Other than extending battery life, the other advantage is to ensure that there is always battery capacity for boost.

Everyone's reason for getting a phev is different. To me, I don't mind the shorter distance if I am sure that any time I need boost, I will have it.

I presume by "boost" you mean the extra power added by the electric motor when you stomp the exilliarator. Yes, very important as the 530e uses a de-rated 4 cyl gas motor. But, this has nothing to do with a charge limitation. It's the fact that some battery capacity is still there when the gas motor starts after "discharge" of the battery--the "one bar" I mentioned. This is battery capacity reserved at the end of discharge. BMW says that they are limiting home charging to 80% so that there is some "room" for adding charge from braking on hill descent. I call BS to that. Perhaps 5% for braking or hill descent immediately after starting a trip could be useful for those that live in hilly places, but good ole flat Houston is not one of those places. I have "room" for regenerative braking recharge after only a city block of EV power. I maintain that BMW is doing this reserve, if true, purely for limiting their liability for battery capacity warranty claims near the end of the 8-year warranty.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by ted99

I presume by "boost" you mean the extra power added by the electric motor when you stomp the exilliarator. Yes, very important as the 530e uses a de-rated 4 cyl gas motor. But, this has nothing to do with a charge limitation. It's the fact that some battery capacity is still there when the gas motor starts after "discharge" of the battery--the "one bar" I mentioned. This is battery capacity reserved at the end of discharge. BMW says that they are limiting home charging to 80% so that there is some "room" for adding charge from braking on hill descent. I call BS to that. Perhaps 5% for braking or hill descent immediately after starting a trip could be useful for those that live in hilly places, but good ole flat Houston is not one of those places. I have "room" for regenerative braking recharge after only a city block of EV power. I maintain that BMW is doing this reserve, if true, purely for limiting their liability for battery capacity warranty claims near the end of the 8-year warranty.

I agree that the primary reason is to preserve the life of the batteries (and, of course, thereby reduce the warranty costs for BMW). My display will go down to "---" but there is still boost there. When the first 330e came out, BMW was upfront about the fact that it was only charging up to 80%.

[LogicalApex]

My MY2020 530e is charging to around 85% capacity or so (and some of that may be to heating the battery since it has been very cold here in the NE) as my ChargePoint charger has me at about 9.5 kWh. But I will take another reading next time I run the battery flat then charge. Only had my home charger for about a week and I am a rebel who has one with on street public parking.

[LogicalApex]

I drained the battery driving today and here is what my ChargePoint says now that it just completed charging from empty to full.

[ted99]

So, LogicalApex, you have conclusively demonstrated that 2 KWh of the advertised battery capacity is held in reserve. I presume that some, or perhaps all of this is at the bottom. How many "E's" (what my wife calls them as they really don't equate to actual miles) do you typically get on all-electric? My 2017 330e, with a 7+ KWh advertised battery capacity gives 12-14 E's depending on outside temps (no hills in Houston). My wife's 2018 X5 40e, with 9 KWh advertised battery capacity, gives 14-16 E's .

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by ted99

So, LogicalApex, you have conclusively demonstrated that 2 KWh of the advertised battery capacity is held in reserve. I presume that some, or perhaps all of this is at the bottom. How many "E's" (what my wife calls them as they really don't equate to actual miles) do you typically get on all-electric? My 2017 330e, with a 7+ KWh advertised battery capacity gives 12-14 E's depending on outside temps (no hills in Houston). My wife's 2018 X5 40e, with 9 KWh advertised battery capacity, gives 14-16 E's .

On my 530e with 9 kwh advertised capacity, I have been getting anywhere from around 12 miles to 16 depending on the weather. In summer (hot in greater Phoenix) and winter (it can drop into the 30s for at least part of the day) it drops down to the 12 mile area and in the spring and autumn it goes up to the 16 mile area.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by ted99

So, LogicalApex, you have conclusively demonstrated that 2 KWh of the advertised battery capacity is held in reserve. I presume that some, or perhaps all of this is at the bottom. How many "E's" (what my wife calls them as they really don't equate to actual miles) do you typically get on all-electric? My 2017 330e, with a 7+ KWh advertised battery capacity gives 12-14 E's depending on outside temps (no hills in Houston). My wife's 2018 X5 40e, with 9 KWh advertised battery capacity, gives 14-16 E's .

It has been pretty good for me. On Saturday I drove 17 miles or so on electric and when I got to my destination I still had around 25% charge left.

[Wivenhoe]

I have the 12kW upgrade and getting 20+ despite the low temperatures. Before the cold weather I was getting 25+. My last two tanks have returned 65 UK mpg so very happy with that.

[ted99]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

It has been pretty good for me. On Saturday I drove 17 miles or so on electric and when I got to my destination I still had around 25% charge left.

Took delivery of my 2020 530e yesterday. Changes from my 2017 330e and 2018 X5 40e is a new setting in the charging screen. It allows me to set the max charge I can take the battery to. When I got it, the setting was at 80%, but I was able to raise the setting to 100%. No experience with actual range, yet, because no commuting with the holidays. If this actually works, it allows an owner who prizes battery longevity over range to set a limit at less than 100%. Well done, BMW. If there had been an 80% limit with no adjustment, I was afraid I would be looking for a software hack.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by ted99

Took delivery of my 2020 530e yesterday. Changes from my 2017 330e and 2018 X5 40e is a new setting in the charging screen. It allows me to set the max charge I can take the battery to. When I got it, the setting was at 80%, but I was able to raise the setting to 100%. No experience with actual range, yet, because no commuting with the holidays. If this actually works, it allows an owner who prizes battery longevity over range to set a limit at less than 100%. Well done, BMW. If there had been an 80% limit with no adjustment, I was afraid I would be looking for a software hack.

I must have missed this setting. Where is this located?

[ted99]

In the "car" menu, as i recall. No clear recollection as I was scrolling thru all the settings to put things the way I want them.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by ted99

Took delivery of my 2020 530e yesterday. Changes from my 2017 330e and 2018 X5 40e is a new setting in the charging screen. It allows me to set the max charge I can take the battery to. When I got it, the setting was at 80%, but I was able to raise the setting to 100%. No experience with actual range, yet, because no commuting with the holidays. If this actually works, it allows an owner who prizes battery longevity over range to set a limit at less than 100%. Well done, BMW. If there had been an 80% limit with no adjustment, I was afraid I would be looking for a software hack.

Are you sure? I have been assuming that when BMW says 100% it means 100% of the allowable usage capacity.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by ted99

In the "car" menu, as i recall. No clear recollection as I was scrolling thru all the settings to put things the way I want them.

I didn’t see anything related to charge capacity in there. Perhaps you have a newer software build than I do as I have a September build.

[ted99]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I didn’t see anything related to charge capacity in there. Perhaps you have a newer software build than I do as I have a September build.

November build

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by ted99

November build

Yeah, I figured that much since you noted taking delivery in December. Do you mind posting a photo to help clarify it for everyone?

I'm sure I'll get it in a software update, but it would be helpful for others to see what it entails.

[ted99]

When my wife lets me at the car lol

[ted99]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Are you sure? I have been assuming that when BMW says 100% it means 100% of the allowable usage capacity.

No, not sure of anything related to total battery capacity, except that BMW says 12KWh. I have an old DIY EVSE kit that does not tell me the total KWh in a completed charge, so I don't know what the charge consists of.

Wife just completed a 31 mi R/T, temps in low 60's, no hills, but speeds up to 80MPH for half of it and in all-electric drive all the way. Started at 100% and ended on ---.

Really pleased with this. With this much real-world range, it's as good as having a full EV for our normal driving. Finally got "connected drive" set up, so she can pre-condition for her daily "commuting" to the Bridge Center--or as she puts it "Adult Day Care".