I noticed some differences in mileage based on whether climate control is on or off. What’s the actual impact?
Climate control being on or off can make a noticeable difference.
The extra 28 miles is what you get if you turn off all climate features like AC or heat.
Mica said:
The extra 28 miles is what you get if you turn off all climate features like AC or heat.
It’s 20° outside, so I guess I’ll have to live with the lower mileage. Does it count as off if I only use heated seats? Will I get the same range as turning climate control off completely?
@Kingsley
The car should adjust its range estimates based on how you’re using it and the current conditions.
@Kingsley
Using heated seats and the heated steering wheel doesn’t seem to have any noticeable impact on range.
Fallon said:
@Kingsley
Using heated seats and the heated steering wheel doesn’t seem to have any noticeable impact on range.
How do you even heat the steering wheel?
Fallon said:
@Kingsley
Using heated seats and the heated steering wheel doesn’t seem to have any noticeable impact on range.
How do you even heat the steering wheel?
There’s a button for it. If your vehicle has the feature, the button should be near the heated seat controls.
@Fallon
What does the button look like?
Kingsley said:
@Fallon
What does the button look like?
It’s usually below the seat warmer button. Look for a picture of a steering wheel on it.
Bennie said:
From what I know, the heated steering wheel, seats, and rear defroster don’t impact range since they run on the 12v system.
That’s partly true. They do run off the 12v battery, but that battery is charged by the main EV battery. The reason they don’t impact range much is because they use far less energy compared to heating the whole cabin. It’s kind of like using an electric blanket instead of heating an entire room.
Fallon said:
@Kingsley
Using heated seats and the heated steering wheel doesn’t seem to have any noticeable impact on range.
Actually, they do affect range, though not as much as the heat pump. It’s a small resistive load. I checked the active electricity usage section in the car, but I didn’t dig too deep since I needed to focus on driving.
Mica said:
The extra 28 miles is what you get if you turn off all climate features like AC or heat.
You can leave the fan on if you want.
I’ll say 28 miles, Bob.
If you want decent comfort and range, try setting your climate to ‘auto.’ You can still control where the fans blow, but their speed will be adjusted automatically based on the temperature you set. I usually keep mine between 72-76°F.
The range difference comes down to how much energy the climate system uses, especially in winter. If your car has a heat pump, you’re in luck—it’s much more efficient. Set it to auto at 72, use the driver-only setting, and rely on heated seats and the steering wheel for extra comfort.
It depends on whether the heat or cold pump is running.
From what I know, the heated steering wheel, seats, and rear defroster don’t impact range since they run on the 12v system.
