I tried the preconditioning from the app today for first time - app didn’t seem as though it had turned on, but climate control was on when I got in the car. Great! But how do you set the desired temp / airflow for preconditioning - didn’t see any options in app … seems a bit basic if it only uses previous settings.
Also, when you are driving about in elec-only mode where does the cabin heat come from … I guess there is an elec heater, but does that work in parallel with the usual heat from the engine cooling circuit (e.g. elec one on whilst engine cold) or are they operated totaly independentlt. I guess any elec heater may have a lower heat output so as not to drain battery.
I think that the preset temp is more like 20-21c. Takes quite a while for the car to reach that temp.
But Yes - no way to see actual temp in cabin, already in 2004 webasto had a keyfob that gave that info. Should be a piece of cake to fetch and present this data in a new car.
Etense uses a heat pump, a miniature of what is used in a house. Electric and high effiency, also used in most electric cars.
It’s 21 degrees, and you set the temp when you want to leave, not when you want the heating to start (I’ve made that mistake myself).
Or you start it directly from the app, if the app works that day.
In electric driving mode, heat comes from the electric motor. However, before it warms up, the fluid is additionally heated by a heater for the cabin comfort.
The cooling systems for the combustion engine and electric motor are connected, but this is so complex that it’s difficult to explain.
In a PHEV, there are two reservoirs in engines cooling systems. Main is under the bonnet (for the combustion engine and electric motor) and the second is near the charging socket (for cooling the traction battery), hidden under plastic.
Preheating is certainly achieved by a heater, but this temperature does not pass through to the combustion engine cooling system. However, the temperature of the heated fluid from the combustion engine system is maintained even when driving in electric mode. Therefore, there must be a valve between them that controls the passage, opening or closing it.
The air conditioning compressor also acts as a heat pump and contributes to interior heating. It can cool or warm the vehicle’s interior. It’s electrically powered, so all the energy it needs comes from the traction battery. Generally, interior heating is a complex issue in electric mode in a PHEV. The heating method also depends on the outside temperature. It will be different at +5°C than at -15°C.
Thanks. I should have read the manual to see the un-modifiable 21degC for pre-conditioning. Seems sensible.
Re the cabin heating, yes sounds much more complex than my initial thinking was. Helpful to have a mental picture of a heat pump (elec powered from traction battery), which can work to heat or cool the cabin, but waste heat (ICE engine cooling, other) are also used to minimise elec load.
My last car was a nightmare with traditional heat exchanger for cabin getting blocked channels (silica bag in coolant expansion tank burst), meaning you would loose all heating in cabin and get coolant vented when pressure too high when it was doing a DFP regen.
So in the summer months when the cabin is roasting, the coolest temp you can pre-cool to is 20-21 degree’s.
And in the winter when the icy droplets hanging off your nose, the warmest you can set is the same 20-21 degrees.
Yeah but, when its a hot summers day you want the cabin pre-cooled lower than 21 , same when its a cold winter day you want the cabin pre- warmed more than 21
cold winter cabin pre-warmed to 21 degrees =
hot summer cabin pre-cooled to 21 degrees =
So the DS4 PHEV has two reservoirs that need manually topping up ?
I can see the obvious one under the bonnet but where is the second one on the DS4 PHEV ?
It’s under the plastic in the charging socket. This part with the button, sticker and rubber seal is removable.
The latches for this part are at the bottom, so you have to do it from the bottom. It’s not possible to do it from the top, as it could be damaged.
Wow,
Excellent tip.
How often does this need topping up, is there any indication on the dash when it needs topping up ?
Does it require antifreeze like the usual reservoir under the bonnet ?
I’m still amazed you knew about this.
I cant find any info in the manual regarding this hidden reservoir ?
There’s no information provided for this system. It’s worth keeping in mind, though. There is no indicator light either, there will most likely be some error in the traction battery cooling.
Another option perhaps as I’ve recently found out, is In cold weather you can pre heat the cabin by setting the heat to say 25, start the car, put it in hybrid mode and the ICE will automatically start at 1400rpm , dropping to 800rpm and will then tick over at 800rpm until the desired cabin temp is reached.
When you decide to drive off in hybrid the traction battery stills drives the wheels, but the ICE is ticking over in the background.
This works if the actual temp in the cabin is a lot colder than your desired temp set point.
If you set it low around 17 ish the ICE doesnt start up.
Same if you lower the temp when ICE is ticking over, it will shut off if your lower the heater temp down to 17 ish.
I found the trigger point that the ICE starts up is around 23, 24, 25 degree, but this might be different on another DS PHEV ?
I feel the ICE sort of backs up the heat pump if your desired temp is set high and the cabin temp is cold to start with, but ONLY in hybrid does this seem to be the case.
