I did a quick drive today with a friend's HEX+CAN logging some data. I was logging many parameters so the refresh rate was kinda low, but I was able to get visibility of some operational parameters.
Here are some of my observations:-
GTE Full Acceleration
Under full acceleration the electric motor is outputting ~50kW and engine load is logged at 99.5% or higher. Under full electric only acceleration the electric motor outputs ~81kW.
The 50kW of the electric motor corresponds to roughly 67 hp so combined with the 150 hp engine puts the total system power output at 217 hp. However this will only be reached by the engine at peak rpm. This compares to a pure e-car where the power is reached after peak torque rpm, and maintained continuously until a speed limit or other mechanical or thermal limit is reached.
I suspect the reason the full 81kW is not available in GTE mode, because the gearbox is torque limited. This actually corresponds well with the observation that the 0-30 mph of the vehicle is faster in e-mode than in GTE.
50-70 mph acceleration was sub 4 seconds. More testing needed
.
Creep
At low speeds, the electric motor drops to a low RPM and the gearbox sits in 1st gear. So the clutches are not used even when the motor speed is sub 200rpm. They may be used at very low speeds, I am currently unable to confirm this.
The engine does turn over in e-mode
VW do state this in the service manual, but it is interesting to get confirmation of this. I recorded two events in pure e-mode where the engine was turning over between 500 and 1000 rpm. More research is needed here to see under what circumstances it does this. But this seems to be intended to keep the engine lubricated.
Engine warm up during acceleration
Accelerating under GTE mode raised cold engine at 50C to 57C. Engine warmed from 17C to 50C by running on motorway speeds for 1 minute, so warming the engine up prior to vigorous acceleration does not take much time, and may be wise. I suspect the e-mode lock out after engine start is related to temperature of oil or coolant.
E-motor temperature/power limit
I got the motor up to a peak temperature of 98C and no power limiting was observed in the e-motor. I will need to test this more to determine whether it is the battery or motor that limits power on long uphill accelerations (e.g. 70 mph on the M621 uphill for me can hit the power limit sometimes.) I suspect it is the battery & not the e-motor.
Here are some of my observations:-
GTE Full Acceleration
Under full acceleration the electric motor is outputting ~50kW and engine load is logged at 99.5% or higher. Under full electric only acceleration the electric motor outputs ~81kW.
The 50kW of the electric motor corresponds to roughly 67 hp so combined with the 150 hp engine puts the total system power output at 217 hp. However this will only be reached by the engine at peak rpm. This compares to a pure e-car where the power is reached after peak torque rpm, and maintained continuously until a speed limit or other mechanical or thermal limit is reached.
I suspect the reason the full 81kW is not available in GTE mode, because the gearbox is torque limited. This actually corresponds well with the observation that the 0-30 mph of the vehicle is faster in e-mode than in GTE.
50-70 mph acceleration was sub 4 seconds. More testing needed
.Creep
At low speeds, the electric motor drops to a low RPM and the gearbox sits in 1st gear. So the clutches are not used even when the motor speed is sub 200rpm. They may be used at very low speeds, I am currently unable to confirm this.
The engine does turn over in e-mode
VW do state this in the service manual, but it is interesting to get confirmation of this. I recorded two events in pure e-mode where the engine was turning over between 500 and 1000 rpm. More research is needed here to see under what circumstances it does this. But this seems to be intended to keep the engine lubricated.
Engine warm up during acceleration
Accelerating under GTE mode raised cold engine at 50C to 57C. Engine warmed from 17C to 50C by running on motorway speeds for 1 minute, so warming the engine up prior to vigorous acceleration does not take much time, and may be wise. I suspect the e-mode lock out after engine start is related to temperature of oil or coolant.
E-motor temperature/power limit
I got the motor up to a peak temperature of 98C and no power limiting was observed in the e-motor. I will need to test this more to determine whether it is the battery or motor that limits power on long uphill accelerations (e.g. 70 mph on the M621 uphill for me can hit the power limit sometimes.) I suspect it is the battery & not the e-motor.
