Hey fellow EV6 owners! I have some concerns about range on my used 2022 GT-Line RWD EV6. I got it in July with 21k miles, and overall, it’s been fantastic. The EV experience is such a step up that I can’t imagine going back to gas.
Now that I’m past the honeymoon phase, I’m noticing the range drop quite a bit on uphill drives, particularly on my regular trip from San Diego to El Centro. It’s about 120 miles, mostly on I-8, which goes through mountainous terrain. Driving around 65-70 mph, I use 180-200 miles of range for that 120-mile stretch. I even see my range drop a mile every 10-15 seconds on steeper uphill sections. When I hit the downhill sections, the range improves, but I’m still left feeling anxious seeing the range plummet on the uphill.
I usually charge to 80% before setting out to make sure I have enough for the trip, but the consumption is almost 1.5x–1.9x the actual distance traveled, which feels high.
My questions:
Is this amount of range loss on uphill climbs normal?
Are there any tips or tricks to make my uphill drives more efficient?
Here’s what I’ve tried:
Different regen levels (I-Pedal seems to help the most)
Slower speeds (55 mph uphill helps, but I’m still seeing 1.2x–1.5x range usage)
Cruise control (but somehow it was less efficient)
Is this expected, or should I be worried? Thanks for any advice! Also, any tips on improving efficiency would be super helpful. I love this car and want to keep using it for these longer drives without range anxiety!
What you’re experiencing is normal and not a sign of battery degradation. The range estimator is adjusting based on actual power use, which is why it drops fast going uphill. EVs are heavy, so climbing takes a lot of energy, and then it evens out on the flats or downhills. You’re cycling between high and low consumption, which messes with the range guess.
The best metric to track is overall mi/kWh for the entire trip. If you’re usually above 3, that’s great. I have the AWD model and get around 3.2–3.4. If you’re getting 1.8 long-term, that’d be a concern, but if it’s just the uphill sections, it’s expected.
@olivia
Thanks! When I’m not on that route, I get around 4 mi/kWh, so it’s good to hear that this is normal. Those hills are brutal, but now I can stress less about the range estimator.
Kenneth said: @olivia
Thanks! When I’m not on that route, I get around 4 mi/kWh, so it’s good to hear that this is normal. Those hills are brutal, but now I can stress less about the range estimator.
Yep, if you’re hitting 4 normally, everything’s fine! Those climbs will eat up power, but the car’s working as expected.
Kenneth said: @olivia
Thanks! When I’m not on that route, I get around 4 mi/kWh, so it’s good to hear that this is normal. Those hills are brutal, but now I can stress less about the range estimator.
I’m in SD too, and I know that drive! Those hills are tough on range.
Kenneth said: @olivia
Thanks! When I’m not on that route, I get around 4 mi/kWh, so it’s good to hear that this is normal. Those hills are brutal, but now I can stress less about the range estimator.
Gas cars also use way more fuel going uphill. It’s completely normal—don’t worry about the battery.
Kenneth said: @olivia
Thanks! When I’m not on that route, I get around 4 mi/kWh, so it’s good to hear that this is normal. Those hills are brutal, but now I can stress less about the range estimator.
I have the GT-Line AWD, and my efficiency drops to around 2.0–2.5 mi/kWh on hills too. Where I live, it’s uphill one way, downhill back, so I use more on the way there and less on the return.
According to ABRP, that trip should use about 50% of your battery each way, with an average efficiency of around 3 mi/kWh. I’d focus on miles per kWh rather than the range estimate. If you’re close to 3, your car’s fine.
@abidemi
ABRP calculates uphill losses well but underestimates gains from downhill driving. I’d rather have it be conservative, but it means you may see better range than ABRP predicts.
diallo said: @abidemi
ABRP calculates uphill losses well but underestimates gains from downhill driving. I’d rather have it be conservative, but it means you may see better range than ABRP predicts.
What regen level do you usually use? I can’t tell if one is more efficient than another.
@Kenneth
I usually drive in higher regen for more control, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference in efficiency. It’s more about driving preference than range.
You’re using around 66% of the battery for 120 miles, which is roughly 2.45 mi/kWh. Pretty low, but uphill could explain it. Flat highways at 70 mph usually give me around 3.7.
Maria said:
You’re using around 66% of the battery for 120 miles, which is roughly 2.45 mi/kWh. Pretty low, but uphill could explain it. Flat highways at 70 mph usually give me around 3.7.
It’s a lot of uphill, especially coming back from the valley. I start around 1.5 mi/kWh uphill, then get closer to 3.0 on flatter parts. Any specific regen level that’s best for flat and uphill driving?
@Kenneth
I don’t know who’s getting 3.7 at 70 mph! On our highways in Australia, I’m around 2.9-3.1 mi/kWh at that speed with no drafting. But over the round trip, you should see range balance out from the downhill segments.
@Jason
With the RWD Wind trim, 3.7 mi/kWh at 70 mph is doable. Wind trims have 19" wheels, while GT-Line AWD has 20"—makes a small difference under ideal conditions.
Gabriel said: @Jason
With the RWD Wind trim, 3.7 mi/kWh at 70 mph is doable. Wind trims have 19" wheels, while GT-Line AWD has 20"—makes a small difference under ideal conditions.
In my GT-Line AWD, I get around 3.5 on a flat highway at 70 mph. Mixed speeds give me closer to 3.9 or 4.0, so conditions definitely matter.