Understand the Factors that Can Affect Range Estimates for Electric Vehicles
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry. BMW has been using AI algorithms to improve range estimation for some time now, so it's possible that the software upgrade you received was part of this process. This could explain why your car showed a jump in estimated range immediately after the software upgrade.
The discrepancy between the German BMW site showing 109 kW usable for the iX 50 while everything else I could find in the media (including some BMW literature) said 105.2 kW may be due to changes in battery technology over time, or even improvements made by BMW since the initial release of the vehicle. It is also possible that BMW has reduced the size of the buffer, unlocking 3.8 kWh of capacity for the 50s and perhaps something similar for the 40s.
Finally, changes in temperature can also have an impact on range estimates as colder temperatures reduce battery performance. Your predicted range going up with higher temperatures is likely due to this effect.
In conclusion, there are several factors that can affect range estimates for electric vehicles such as yours including software upgrades, changes in battery technology, reductions in buffer size and changes in temperature. By understanding these factors, you should be able to get a better idea of how far your car will go on a single charge.
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What is the difference between my iX40 before and after a software upgrade?
Before the upgrade, it was showing 160 miles range at around 90% charge (previous journeys had been in cold temps), and after the upgrade, it was showing 214 miles range and after a 5 mile drive, it was showing 209 miles.
Could my driving style be the difference?
It could be. If you have a relatively ‘enthusiastic’ driving style, that may be the difference.
Is there any reserve capacity beyond zero threshold?
Yes, Carwow just did a range test on the IX50 (and others). They were able to go 20 miles further after they reached the zero threshold.
What is the software version I should have received OTA for potential usable battery increase for the iX40 In the UK?
Assuming 11/2022.44. The release notes for 11/2022.44 do not state any range increase as part of the release.
What caused the car to show a jump in estimated range immediately after the software upgrade?
Maybe the update causes a reset of the prediction calculation that is depending on driving behavior or an increase of the usable battery capacity and one of those changes that's not announced.
Why is there a discrepancy between the German BMW site showing 109 kW usable for the iX 50 while everything else I could find in the media (including some BMW literature) said 105.2 kW?
It may just be the changes in temp in the UK. In London we have gone from -5c overnight to 7-8C. My predicted range has gone up a lot. It could also be that the German BMW site is using different software than the UK one.