Maxwell Vehicles
Maxwell Portal is your go-to interface for vehicle information. Portal displays the state of charge, estimated range, charging status, and alerts. Portal may also be used to locate your vehicle or adjust settings like maximum charge percentage and charge rate.
Portal has several levels of permissions which my be adjusted by the vehicle owner. A single vehicle may have multiple users assosciated with it. In this case, note that unless the additional users are not read-only users, multiple accounts may be able to adjust settings.
The key has 2 used positions; Off and On. With the key in the “On” position, the vehicle’s accessories will operate, but the vehicle will not drive. If the key is On and a charger is connected, Run mode will be disabled. With the key On and charger disconnected, pressing the brake pedal will put the vehicle into Run. When Run Mode is enabled, the Green Maxwell Vehicles “M” logo will illuminate. If this light is not illuminated, the vehicle will not drive, likely because a charging cable is connected.
The ePro is retrofitted with a custom instrument cluster backing to accompany its new powertrain. While most of the displays and functions remain the same, there are a couple of additions to enhance the ePro operation.
The large gauge on the right of the cluster displays the remaining range estimation. This range estimate is based on the energy consumed in the previous 30 miles of driving using a sophisticated driving prediction algorithm. This range is generally very accurate and updates continuously. Note that variations in speed and altitude will have the greatest impact on the estimate. If you don't believe you have enough range to reach your destination, decrease your speed as much as safely possible and locate the nearest reasonable charger.
The state of charge is displayed by the left small gauge in the center of the cluster. This indication reflects the remaining charge in the battery and will illuminate a 'low fuel' warning when falling below 30%.
There is a green M logo located in the center of the instrument cluster. This lights up when the vehicle is ready to drive.
The odometer will continue to operate normally. Trip settings will also operate normally.
Most of the ProMaster functionality remains unmodified by Maxwell. The error lights for the non-powertrain related functions remain functional as-designed.
Whether or not your vehicle is equipped with dc-fast charging hardware, the AC charging systems are the same. The only difference is the location of the port. AC charge only vehicles have a port located just behind the drivers door. Vehicles with fast-charge have a CCS combo outlet located in the front left fender.
Your ePro has an adjustable charge limit. This is to minimze degradaton caused by fully charging your battery and allowing it to sit at 100% charged. Maxwell reccommends daily use charge limits of 90% or less, with the last 10% reserved for long trips. In addition to the charging limit, the ePro charge rate may also be adjsuted. This feature is particularly useful when trying to minimize demand charges in areas where electricity is billed by power level. For fleets charging multiple vehicles at a single location, this feature may also prevent simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles from overloading a circuit.
Charge whenever convenient. Generally, if your ePro is plugged in overnight to a level 2 charger, it will recharge to the desired level.
Maxwell reccommends a 50A or greater J1772 charger for the most convenient vehicle charging. With a 48A onboard charger (32A for short-range vans) the vehicle is able to charge in approximately 6 hours. The higher-speed charger offers owners with more flexibility for last-minute charging.
Portal will display the charge time remaining and will update real-time as charging completes. Your ePro will reach a full charge in as few as 6 hours, or as long as 48 hours, depending on the charger power.
If equipped with CCS dc-fast charging, your ePro may be able to charge at up to 150kW. That translates to roughly 350 miles of charge per hour. Generally, fast-charging rates are limited by the charger. Most public fast-chargers limit charge power to approximately 50kW. Note that while fast charging at rates greater than 50kW, you may hear thermal expansion of the battery enclosure. While it may sound like someone is closing a door, or bumping the bottom of the vehicle, this is not unusual.
After starting your ePro, verify that the green Maxwell M ready light in the center of the instrument cluster is illuminated, and that the shifter is displaying "P" for park.
Place your foot on the brake and shift the ePro into gear. Note that the shift indicator on the shifter will blink until the vehicle has completed the shift. This transition usually completes once the vehicle completely releases the parking brake.
Emulating the familiar 'creep' feel of an automatic transmission, this feature applies a small amount of torque to maintain low-speed driving without either pedal pressed. This feature is helpful for parking and low-speed maneuvers.
Depending on whether or not the base ProMaster was equipped with cruise, your ePro may or may not have cruise control. If enabled, the cruise control system operates as the stock system with On/Off control, set, cancel and resume.
Your ePro has en electronically limited top speed of 75mph. This speed limit is enforced and adjustable by fleet settings in order to improve economy and increase safety.
Like all modern electric vehicles, the ePro features regenerative braking. The amount of regenerative braking is modulated with the accelerator pedal. Releasing the accelerator completely applies the most amount of regenerative braking until the vehicle slows down to within the target creep speeds.
With 7 levels of regen, the vehicle gives you control of the amount of regenerative braking available by moving the shifter to the left while in "D" and bumping it up and down. Note that returning the shifter to "D" restores the default setting of maximum regeneration.
While there are very few isntances where you should need to use N, the vehicle will usually take several seconds to complete a shift to neutral.
If you are going to idle the van for more than 10 minutes, turn the key to the On position (first notch, not "Run"). If the vehicle is left parked in Run (with the green M illuminated) and not charging for more than 10 minutes, an audible warning tone will sound until the driver presses the brake or restarts the van. This is to prevent the vehicle from being uninetntionally left in drive for long periods of time.
The ePro is equipped with an automatic parking brake. Always set the manual parking brake and turn wheels to the curb in addition to the automatic parking brake. Note that on some ePro vans, the instrument cluster will remind you to set the manual parking brake for additional safety. This brake lever is located on the left side of the drivers seat.
The heating and air conditioning is adjusted using the three knobs in the center of the dash. Note that the fan knob must be turned up past 0 to enable heating or cooling. The ePro produces audible feedback whenever the HVAC knobs are adjusted.
If your ePro completely runs out of charge, you should shut the vehicle down until it is able to be recharged. Once the high-voltage battery charge is depleted, your 12V battery will no longer by supported by the high-voltage system and will completely discharge if the vehicle is left on.
To preserve the 12V battery charge, disconnect the 12V system using the 12V disconnect switch located on the left side of the under-hood compartment. The vehicle should remain powered down until able to be supported by an external 12V power supply, e.g. a 12V automotive emergency jump pack.
Once a flat-bed tow truck is available to tow the vehicle to a charger, connect an external 12V power supply to the 12V battery in the under-hood compartment and turn the disconnect switch on to re-start the vehicle. Depending on how low the high-voltage battery charge is, you may be able to slowly drive the on to the bed of the truck or shift it into Neutral so it may roll.
If the vehicle will not drive or shift into Neutral, leave the 12V power supply connected to the 12V battery with the disconnect switch powered on while using a winch to slowly drag the vehicle up the tow bed.
CAUTION: allowing the vehicle to be dragged or roll without 12V power to the vehicle systems may destroy the drive system. Ensure that a 12V power supply is connected and the vehicle is powered on before dragging or rolling.
Once a charger is present, turn the disconnect switch back on. If the 12V battery is completely discharged, you will need an external 12V power supply connected to the 12V battery before turning the switch back on in order to allow the vehicle to properly power up for charge.
If you have connected an external power supply and the vehicle will still not power up, turn off the disconnect switch for 15 minutes and allow the external charger to recharge the 12V battery before attempting to switch back on again. If the vehicle will still not power back on or begin charging, check that the 12V jumper is able to supply a minimum of 30 amps to the vehicle and that it is adequately connected to the 12V battery terminals.
Flatbed Tow Only! Towing with wheels on the ground may cause severe damage to the drive systems. Contact Maxwell with any questions on proper towing procedures.