T7 California Ocean PHEV Questions and issues

[Jerrywho]

Just created this thread to help users to solve different issues; dealers at least in Spain have no clue in so many; they say it is so new and need to learn from users.
Starting...high voltage battery is not recommended to drop to zero level; I could read how to maintain the suggested 20% minimum level at the infotainment ; unfortunately you have to select this option everytime you connect the engine but moreover the reality is that the battery level keeps reducing slowly down to zero; any help?

 

[Californication69]

I’ll let you know when I get my 245ps 4Motion in a couple of months !

 

[pjm-84]

Are you talking about the EV battery? If so note that 0 and 100% only exists for the user's benefit. Hence you will have a battery size and usable battery size. The latter being smaller.

Most PHEVs will have a battery save option / button and management where a level can be set if the button is activated.

 

[WelshGas]

Just created this thread to help users to solve different issues; dealers at least in Spain have no clue in so many; they say it is so new and need to learn from users.
Starting...high voltage battery is not recommended to drop to zero level; I could read how to maintain the suggested 20% minimum level at the infotainment ; unfortunately you have to select this option everytime you connect the engine but moreover the reality is that the battery level keeps reducing slowly down to zero; any help?

I'm afraid you are confusing using a full EV vehicle with a PHEV vehicle.
They recommend the 20/80 system is for EV vehicles. If the EV battery drops below 20% then a sudden temperature drop can drop the battery output to Zero and vehicle will not function. The 80% rule is suggested as charging from 80 to 100% takes longer with a relatively small gain in predicted milage thus you get quicker long-distance travel times if you charge to 80% each time rather than waiting the extra time to get to 100% each time.

With the VW PHEV 0 - 100% charge actually relates to 0 - 90% of the Total battery capacity. 10+% is reserved for starting and initial moving of vehicle and low speed manoeuvring as you would in 1st and Reverse gears. This 10+% reserve is maintained via regenerative braking AND the IC engine kicking in.
I've had this happen once in winter. Parked with zero miles and temperature 2c a few hours later temperature was -7c and on starting the vehicle IC engine started immediately and was providing charge to the EV battery whilst i drove out of the car park. You could see on the dashboard the IC engine was providing charge NOT drive to the vehicle.

The Handbook states leaving the PHEV battery at 40-50% charge if the vehicle is not being driven for an extended time of 4 weeks or more.

 

[pjm-84]

I’ll let you know when I get my 245ps 4Motion in a couple of months !

Nice....I configured a orange PHEV at the weekend with a black roof.....we like orange....was going to nip around to Breeze to take a look and the Mrs said okay.....

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Nice....I configured a orange PHEV at the weekend with a black roof.....we like orange....was going to nip around to Breeze to take a look and the Mrs said okay.....

This chap picked up a bike rack last week. Colour looked great. Thought his suspension was going to get stuck on the drive…

 

[pjm-84]

Lol.....can only be on air and on bump stops!

 

[Jerrywho]

Are you talking about the EV battery? If so note that 0 and 100% only exists for the user's benefit. Hence you will have a battery size and usable battery size. The latter being smaller.

Most PHEVs will have a battery save option / button and management where a level can be set if the button is activated.

I meant so... But it drops slowly down to zero even if it is activated. No way to mantain yet...

 

[Jerrywho]

I'm afraid you are confusing using a full EV vehicle with a PHEV vehicle.
They recommend the 20/80 system is for EV vehicles. If the EV battery drops below 20% then a sudden temperature drop can drop the battery output to Zero and vehicle will not function. The 80% rule is suggested as charging from 80 to 100% takes longer with a relatively small gain in predicted milage thus you get quicker long-distance travel times if you charge to 80% each time rather than waiting the extra time to get to 100% each time.

With the VW PHEV 0 - 100% charge actually relates to 0 - 90% of the Total battery capacity. 10+% is reserved for starting and initial moving of vehicle and low speed manoeuvring as you would in 1st and Reverse gears. This 10+% reserve is maintained via regenerative braking AND the IC engine kicking in.
I've had this happen once in winter. Parked with zero miles and temperature 2c a few hours later temperature was -7c and on starting the vehicle IC engine started immediately and was providing charge to the EV battery whilst i drove out of the car park. You could see on the dashboard the IC engine was providing charge NOT drive to the vehicle.

The Handbook states leaving the PHEV battery at 40-50% charge if the vehicle is not being driven for an extended time of 4 weeks or more.

I am trying to understand this issue... Because dealers dont give me any info... They hardly now anything about it. I can seee that you can drive in Emode for short periods of time even when hiigh voltage battery is zero charged so I understand there is always some charge left. I was told the recommendations to remain between 20 to 80% of battery charged (also in the users manual) at my PHEV's. Let me say the button selection is only accesible at the Hybrid mode so.... No clue!!! By the way there are a couple of options: first is to maintain the existing battery charge and second is to keep 20-40-60 or 80% of battery till the end of trip..
Keeping the high voltage battery between 20-80% provides increased battery long life even for PHEVs

 

[Cath&Stef]

I have a Golf GTE PHEV and a MY21 T6.1 van.
Based on experience with those two vehicles, I can confirm that the WelshGas' description of VW PHEV is accurate.
As for the van, the T6.1 old-style starter battery's voltage drains away if the vehicle remains stationary for a couple of weeks or so. Trial and error has shown that the following steps greatly reduce that drain:
While engine still on
- turn off infotainment unit
- turn off aircon
- turn off engine with key (don't let stop/start do it)
- if you have a dashcam, turn it off too
- lock vehicle via remote, then use 2nd press on key to turn off alarm
Maybe leaving it plugged in via hook-up cable will help?

 

[Barry Chuckle]

I'm afraid you are confusing using a full EV vehicle with a PHEV vehicle.
They recommend the 20/80 system is for EV vehicles. If the EV battery drops below 20% then a sudden temperature drop can drop the battery output to Zero and vehicle will not function. The 80% rule is suggested as charging from 80 to 100% takes longer with a relatively small gain in predicted milage thus you get quicker long-distance travel times if you charge to 80% each time rather than waiting the extra time to get to 100% each time.

With the VW PHEV 0 - 100% charge actually relates to 0 - 90% of the Total battery capacity. 10+% is reserved for starting and initial moving of vehicle and low speed manoeuvring as you would in 1st and Reverse gears. This 10+% reserve is maintained via regenerative braking AND the IC engine kicking in.
I've had this happen once in winter. Parked with zero miles and temperature 2c a few hours later temperature was -7c and on starting the vehicle IC engine started immediately and was providing charge to the EV battery whilst i drove out of the car park. You could see on the dashboard the IC engine was providing charge NOT drive to the vehicle.

The Handbook states leaving the PHEV battery at 40-50% charge if the vehicle is not being driven for an extended time of 4 weeks or more.

This is really interesting as I too have a Golf GTE PHEV & and EV.

I was told the 80/20 rule is primarily to prolong the life of the battery that regularly charging to 100% damages the cells in the battery long term. The same if the charge is regularly below 20%.

I'm not sure if the PHEV Multivan is the same, but my Golf always defaults to using all the electric charge first then the engine kicks in. So unless you're charging it via a cable the charge will usually be around 1% - 5%. I'm hoping that won't damage the batteries long term.

 

[WelshGas]

This is really interesting as I too have a Golf GTE PHEV & and EV.

I was told the 80/20 rule is primarily to prolong the life of the battery that regularly charging to 100% damages the cells in the battery long term. The same if the charge is regularly below 20%.

I'm not sure if the PHEV Multivan is the same, but my Golf always defaults to using all the electric charge first then the engine kicks in. So unless you're charging it via a cable the charge will usually be around 1% - 5%. I'm hoping that won't damage the batteries long term.

I cannot categorically state the Golf Hybrid is the same as the Multivan , but chances are it is. The % display is the battery charge available for pure EV drive, not the same as total battery charge as there is a reserve that is kept topped up for low speed manoeuvring and starting off from stop before the engine cuts in.
When a full EV vehicle gets to 0% it stops, not so the hybrid.

 

[Jerrywho]

Are you talking about the EV battery? If so note that 0 and 100% only exists for the user's benefit. Hence you will have a battery size and usable battery size. The latter being smaller.

Most PHEVs will have a battery save option / button and management where a level can be set if the button is activated.

Yes the button is there but you cant avoid a drop down below the selected level. I will tell a clear example: last few days... when I select "mantain battery level" every time you start on the car ( I hadnt any chance to charge) after 400km aprox tje battery level will go from 80% to zero in hybrid mode while driving in short trips and town to town.

 

[Jerrywho]

Are you talking about the EV battery? If so note that 0 and 100% only exists for the user's benefit. Hence you will have a battery size and usable battery size. The latter being smaller.

Most PHEVs will have a battery save option / button and management where a level can be set if the button is activated.

Yes the button is there but you cant avoid a drop down below the selected level. I will tell a clear example: last few days... when I select "mantain battery level" every time you start on the car ( I hadnt any chance to charge) after 400km aprox tje battery level will go from 80% to zero in hybrid mode while driving in short trips and town to town

I'm afraid you are confusing using a full EV vehicle with a PHEV vehicle.
They recommend the 20/80 system is for EV vehicles. If the EV battery drops below 20% then a sudden temperature drop can drop the battery output to Zero and vehicle will not function. The 80% rule is suggested as charging from 80 to 100% takes longer with a relatively small gain in predicted milage thus you get quicker long-distance travel times if you charge to 80% each time rather than waiting the extra time to get to 100% each time.

With the VW PHEV 0 - 100% charge actually relates to 0 - 90% of the Total battery capacity. 10+% is reserved for starting and initial moving of vehicle and low speed manoeuvring as you would in 1st and Reverse gears. This 10+% reserve is maintained via regenerative braking AND the IC engine kicking in.
I've had this happen once in winter. Parked with zero miles and temperature 2c a few hours later temperature was -7c and on starting the vehicle IC engine started immediately and was providing charge to the EV battery whilst i drove out of the car park. You could see on the dashboard the IC engine was providing charge NOT drive to the vehicle.

The Handbook states leaving the PHEV battery at 40-50% charge if the vehicle is not being driven for an extended time of 4 weeks or more.

Yes... While waitting the power supplied to be installed at my parking lot.... My PHEV is at zero charge most of the times... And full electric mode operates regularly at low speed

 

[Jerrywho]

I cannot categorically state the Golf Hybrid is the same as the Multivan , but chances are it is. The % display is the battery charge available for pure EV drive, not the same as total battery charge as there is a reserve that is kept topped up for low speed manoeuvring and starting off from stop before the engine cuts in.
When a full EV vehicle gets to 0% it stops, not so the hybrid.

I would anticipate that latest PHEV models from VW would operate the same way??? So dealers should know and PHEV users also

 

[Jerrywho]

This is really interesting as I too have a Golf GTE PHEV & and EV.

I was told the 80/20 rule is primarily to prolong the life of the battery that regularly charging to 100% damages the cells in the battery long term. The same if the charge is regularly below 20%.

I'm not sure if the PHEV Multivan is the same, but my Golf always defaults to using all the electric charge first then the engine kicks in. So unless you're charging it via a cable the charge will usually be around 1% - 5%. I'm hoping that won't damage the batteries long term.

So... you mean you cant avoid mantain a minimum 20% charge according to VW recommendations? If being unable to cable charge....

 

[WelshGas]

Yes the button is there but you cant avoid a drop down below the selected level. I will tell a clear example: last few days... when I select "mantain battery level" every time you start on the car ( I hadnt any chance to charge) after 400km aprox tje battery level will go from 80% to zero in hybrid mode while driving in short trips and town to town.

When I visit my Daughter in the Fens, 200 miles away, I select Hybrid mode and then select 50% battery. I arrive at my destination with 50% battery remaining. But you do have to re select Hybrid drive and 50% each time the Ignition is switched off during your journey.

 

[Jerrywho]

When I visit my Daughter in the Fens, 200 miles away, I select Hybrid mode and then select 50% battery. I arrive at my destination with 50% battery remaining. But you do have to re select Hybrid drive and 50% each time the Ignition is switched off during your journey.

I am surprised! Does not happen to me... Yes I know you have to select it every time you ignite the car.
Might it be different when you drive in highways due to speed and therefore the reduced number of times the electric power takes over while driving hybrid??? Let me ask you the following: did you select "mantain the actual charge" or on the contrary "keep the percentage selected of battery charge till the end of trip"?

 

[WelshGas]

I am surprised! Does not happen to me... Yes I know you have to select it every time you ignite the car.
Might it be different when you drive in highways due to speed and therefore the reduced number of times the electric power takes over while driving hybrid??? Let me ask you the following: did you select "mantain the actual charge" or on the contrary "keep the percentage selected of battery charge till the end of trip"?

I select Hybrid Drive and then move the cursor to a point on the battery icon and then vehicle will not let the battery drop below that level. You have to do this each time ignition is switched On.
If you just select Hybrid Drive it will not keep a reserve.

 

[Barry Chuckle]

My Golf GTE doesn't have the option to specify at which % of charge it will move into hybrid mode. It always defaults to use up all the charge then the engine kicks in. I'd have to manually switch across modes manually which would be a right faff when driving.

Rightly or wrongly I'm assuming running the battery from 100% - 0% cannot adversely affect the life of the battery or surely VW wouldn't have this as their default setting?

 

[Jerrywho]

I select Hybrid Drive and then move the cursor to a point on the battery icon and then vehicle will not let the battery drop below that level. You have to do this each time ignition is switched On.
If you just select Hybrid Drive it will not keep a reserve.

Of course I did it that way and also selecting the other choice "maintain the current charge of battery" but still drops down slowly. Which California do you have? Is it a T7?

 

[WelshGas]

Of course I did it that way and also selecting the other choice "maintain the current charge of battery" but still drops down slowly. Which California do you have? Is it a T7?

I have a Hybrid Multivan.

 

[Jerrywho]

I have a Hybrid Multivan.

It could be different somehow; in fact e-hybrid Multivan 2025 and California Ocean made some changes compared to 2024 models: Do you know which Kw capacity your multivan has?

 

[Californication69]

The 4M hybrid has 19.7kWh battery
Although I just checked the website again and it says 23.1kWh now ?

 

[WelshGas]

It could be different somehow; in fact e-hybrid Multivan 2025 and California Ocean made some changes compared to 2024 models: Do you know which Kw capacity your multivan has?

13kw battery, 1.4 tsi engine.