[iatse52and4]

I've had this since 12/18. Only about 500 miles so far. temperatures mostly in 30-40's but many days in teens and 60's.
I have never had more than 30 mile range at fully charged.
WTF?

Stephen

 

[The Gadgeteer]

Normal cold weather range put up by the guess-o-meter. As the weather warms and the meter learns your actual range the number on the meter will show more.

 

[kvs]

EV Range

Last summer my range was over 50 miles. Now in the cold it is no more than 35 miles. Two things cause this reduction. First, running the heater uses about 1 mile of range for every 5 minutes of operation. And second, the battery likes 70F or higher temperatures to charge and operate optimally.

I use the seat heater and keep the heat at 63F for the cab. Still only 35 miles max. For the second item I await summer and run more on HV mode to save the battery for city stop and go.

This range reduction is typical of all EVs.

 

[Gunslingerheel]

Question is this range you guys speak of what the car shows or what you are really getting?

 

[4sallypat]

Range is estimated but comes out true if you drive the same way you drove the previous days.

I have a suggestion: turn off all climate controls and drive for a week you will notice you miles per charge will go way up.

This past 2 months in winter, I don't turn on the heater. Maybe the A/C in the afternoon when the sun bakes the car at work...

I have been getting 50-60 miles per charge and driving more than that due to paddle regen, coasting, and 100% EV ECON mode....

 

[jsymon]

Newby post here.


Probably going to buy a 2019 Clarity. I was going to ask about real life range. Thanks for all the info. I am driving a 2017 Volt. I believe it advertises 53 compared to the Clarity's 48. We have gotten over 60 in the summer when driving mostly around 45 mph. During the winter (average 30's and 40's degrees F) we never get to 50 and sometimes less than 40. Sounds as though my Clarity experience will only be slightly less. I like that even the Base model has things that would cost a lot extra if I got another Volt, especially interested in adaptive cruise (does that work as advertised on the Clarity?)



I look to save a lot of money over the Volt at purchase time, I assume I will get the full $7500 US tax rebate with the Clarity as I would with the Volt. Anybody know if that is true?



4sallypat mentions the paddle regen. My volt has that but it also does regen with the brake pedal until you really need to press it down hard. Is that not the case with the Clarity?


We are about to add a heated garage to the house. Presumably the car will think it is summertime while charging. Any idea how much that might help range when driving in the cold weather? I have heard that the batteries get quite warm while being used so I was thinking that if they start out fully charged in a warm garage they ought to keep themselves warm and get good range.


They have stopped making the Volt but my dealer assures me I can still get a 2019 when I turn in my leased 2017.

 

[tom]

Range range

I have never gotten as little as 30 miles, even in winter in St. Louis. Last summer I got as high as 67 miles on a charge. You will do better in warm weather.

 

[4sallypat]

Yes, you will do much better in summer.
I am driving in 90 degree heat and with the climate controls off, windows down in sunny So Cal - 60 miles per charge!

 

[jimmyd]

Newby post here.


Probably going to buy a 2019 Clarity. I was going to ask about real life range. Thanks for all the info. I am driving a 2017 Volt. I believe it advertises 53 compared to the Clarity's 48. We have gotten over 60 in the summer when driving mostly around 45 mph. During the winter (average 30's and 40's degrees F) we never get to 50 and sometimes less than 40. Sounds as though my Clarity experience will only be slightly less. I like that even the Base model has things that would cost a lot extra if I got another Volt, especially interested in adaptive cruise (does that work as advertised on the Clarity?)
I love the LKAS. I drive on the thruway once or twice a week about 30 miles each way. I can keep my hands off the wheel the majority of the time. IF YOU HAVE LINES ON EACH SIDE IT WORKS WELL. AND IF THERE ARENT TOO MANY HUGE CORNERS. It will also turn on slight corners by itself. After 30 seconds or so it will say to steer but you still dont have to.


I look to save a lot of money over the Volt at purchase time, I assume I will get the full $7500 US tax rebate with the Clarity as I would with the Volt. Anybody know if that is true? YES- As long as your deductions (or line 47 maybe?) is over 7500 dollars. Someone needs to verify this for me. I know I looked at last year's tax forms to be sure I was eligible for the full amount and I am.



4sallypat mentions the paddle regen. My volt has that but it also does regen with the brake pedal until you really need to press it down hard. Is that not the case with the Clarity? NOPE- Regen with paddles on EV mode. Or use sport mode and it remembers the regen and will apply it as soon as you let off the gas. I use EV and paddle most of the time.


We are about to add a heated garage to the house. Presumably the car will think it is summertime while charging. Any idea how much that might help range when driving in the cold weather? I have heard that the batteries get quite warm while being used so I was thinking that if they start out fully charged in a warm garage they ought to keep themselves warm and get good range. NOT SURE BUT seems logical.


They have stopped making the Volt but my dealer assures me I can still get a 2019 when I turn in my leased 2017.

good luck

 

[jimmyd]

I've had this since 12/18. Only about 500 miles so far. temperatures mostly in 30-40's but many days in teens and 60's.
I have never had more than 30 mile range at fully charged.
WTF?

Stephen

I was the same way until the temp got into 40's and some sun. Didn't have to use any heat, etc... got up to 50 for two days when it was that way. Other days in the 30's when it is colder and have to use heat. low 30's. Waiting for weather to change and will definitely see the 50's I think.

 

[Kerbe]

Yes, the Clarity PHEV is eligible for the full $7500 tax rebate. In some states, so I've heard, that amount is taken off the price of the car when leasing, as well. If you live in a state that offers its own EV rebates, the Clarity PHEV should qualify.

 

[4sallypat]

Yes, this is correct - if you lease the car the dealer and Honda financial should pass on the tax savings to you in the form of cap cost reduction (immediate incentive / credit against the negotiated dealer price).
You end up paying a lot less by leasing as the net cap cost drops to around $25,000 for a $34,300 base Clarity - it's like leasing a Civic but you are getting a much larger, more expensive car....

If you finance or buy cash, you will not receive immediate credit - you will have to file for a $7500 tax credit at the end of the tax year.

Don't be one of those uneducated people and storm into a dealership complaining about not being able to take $7500 off their taxes after they LEASED the car...
I saw one such individual when I was leasing mine - he said his tax accountant could not take the credit off the federal 1040 because he leased it.
Then when the customer was calmed down by the sales manager, they showed him that he actually received an immediate $7600 credit against the lease.
Boy did he look like a fool.....

 

[Defenderman]

Mine is the same way. We're in the 40's in the morning and 50's in the afternoon here right now (Oregon) and I'm getting about 35-38 EV miles. Not using the HVAC or radio seems to help a little. I'm curious to see how it improves as the weather warms up. My mileage indicator says I'm pushing an avg. of 67.9 mpg in HV mode. Much better than my old '16 CX-5 @ 18-20 mpg.

 

[Groves Cooke]

"I like that even the Base model has things that would cost a lot extra if I got another Volt, especially interested in adaptive cruise (does that work as advertised on the Clarity?) "

I like the ACC feature and use it all the time. You can set the follow distance. There are a few instances when it over reacts. It is slow to regain speed when you are in ECON mode. Best not to use when raining.

 

[Tman77]

We came from the volt to the Clarity and so glad we did!

As for the $7500 yes we just got it for our taxes we just did.

The regen when braking does happen with the Clarity just like the volt. The paddle breaking is a little different and has levels of breaking intensity unlike the volt.

As for range in the winter like others have said just use the heated seat and we as well keep it at 63 in the cabin when we use it. We only turn it on to either defrost the windows or to stop them from fogging up because we are warm and the car is not.

Hope that helps with your choice and enjoy the clarity if you choose it!!

 

[rfiore86]

Remember the Clarity has a 6kWh heater in it. If you drive 1 hour with the heater you just used over 1/3 of your 17 kWh. If we bump the advertised range up to 48 miles and divide by 3 we get that 1/3 of the range would be about 16 miles which would make the approx 30 miles-ish range that the computer comes up with about right. Also, remember that number is a computed range based on how you drove recently, so if it was cold yesterday and you used the heater, today's number will be smaller.

I have had luck with someone improving the range when it is cooler by forcing Hybrid mode in the morning and using the battery in the afternoon when it is warmer outside.

 

[Groves Cooke]

The temperature inSt. Louis has been in the 50s and 60s the last few days. EV range is back above 50 for me.

 

[Defenderman]

They took the $7500 and applied it to the cap reduction at lease as noted. My state (Oregon) has a $2500 rebate as well. That comes as a direct cash rebate, not a tax credit. Basically it took my $33700 down to $23,700 for my Clarity base and I love it. I'm going to buy out the lease through a refinance at my CU and my payments will be just about the same. I haven't purchased a car in 20 yrs, always been a lease person due to my profession. This is the first car I've wanted to buy in a VERY long time.

 

[Defenderman]

The range does go up and down. Wait until you try the 'Sport' mode. Just used that this weekend and ****! On average I'm getting about 35-38 right now due to low temps and inclement weather (rain...it never ends!). I'm pretty sure when I get moved to S. California I'll see much better range with more warm weather.

 

[DucRider]

I'm pretty sure when I get moved to S. California I'll see much better range with more warm weather.

Hopefully that will be after 24 mos of leasing/owning the Clarity or you will have to repay the $2,500 to OR :crying:

No prorating or hardship provision in the Oregon rebate program. As written, if you do not keep the car registered in OR for 2 full years, you pay the entire amount back. Even if your car is stolen, totaled in a wreck, etc.

I have a seat on the advisory committee to the DEQ, and while this scenario was discussed when the Bill was being drafted, no provision made it into the final version. There is discussion of a modification being made in a future Bill, but currently if you fail to keep the car registered in OR for 2 years (no matter the reason) you have to pay back the entire rebate.