R2 highway efficiency (~3mi/kWh) is better than in the city (~2.5mi/kWh)

[evilyn]

After 10 days of driving my numbers are actually quite interesting:

- Highway at 75 mph: ~3.0 mi/kWh
- City: ~2.5 mi/kWh

That's about 20% better efficiency on the highway in my particular driving.

I think the key is that an EV's biggest advantage in city driving (regenerative braking) doesn't necessarily overcome the energy cost of repeated acceleration. R2 656hp motors are so powerful and quick, it's tempting to push the pedal. I just don't have the patience to slowly accelerating with the crowd.

I don't really complain, the range for everyday driving is aplenty, and home charging is cheap. Unlike an ICE vehicle, you can have fun guilt-free.

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[mkhuffman]

Shhh. There are people here who think you can't get even close to 3 mi/kWh on the highway. Don't embarrass them! (Or maybe it is just one person, probably a bot.)

 

[BCondrey]

Those are good numbers. I like your perspective on the range & charging.

Your positive post will no doubt spawn another AI-enabled "range" epistle from our resident expert on the topic.

 

[rvnxyz001]

After 10 days of driving my numbers are actually quite interesting:

Noticed this as well with collected data. I thought it was some data error and was very surprised. Also thought city driving was supposed to be more efficient.

Is this how all EVs work?

 

[tivoboy]

It DOES seem like it has to be more behaviour related than actually efficiency related. I guess the motors and electron delivery could just be poorly optimized at activation, but that’s not usually the way things are engineered.

At these low speeds, aerodynamics are next to nothing in the impact to efficiency, it’s all weight and performance/demand.

I know my TM3LR, at highway speeds of 75, I do ~ 320-330w/mile, or close to 3.3mpk.

but in TOWN doing 15-40, efficiency is between 175-185 w/mile, which is more than FIVE miles / kw.

At these low speeds and in stop, go DECELERATE driving, (just lifting off no brake) and the max regen set, I’m surprised that the 15-35 mile efficiency isn’t higher in your experience.. As you said, and i presume - it seems to fall to behavior. I wonder if a purposeful test for five days of town driving would give a different result.

 

[ZheWiz]

Those are good numbers. I like your perspective on the range & charging.

Your positive post will no doubt spawn another AI-enabled "range" epistle from our resident expert on the topic.

You guys haven’t /ignored him yet?

 

[VandalSibs]

If you're doing just quick little trips in the city without some sustained driving (5+ miles), then the motors and battery will have not warmed up a lot (outside of summer of course). So for example, my three mile commute to work isn't as efficient because of this. Granted for me it's compensated for as my drive to work is mostly downhill...

 

[VandalSibs]

You guys haven’t /ignored him yet?

I was close after he ignored me, but I like to think I have thicker skin than someone that went right for insulting my apperance.

 

[Qamera]

Are you measuring range from a full charge? (Say, 80 down to 20)? That can me quite different than the reading you are getting from, say, 30 to 50 miles of driving.

 

[ksurfier]

After 10 days of driving my numbers are actually quite interesting:

- Highway at 75 mph: ~3.0 mi/kWh
- City: ~2.5 mi/kWh

That's about 20% better efficiency on the highway in my particular driving.

I think the key is that an EV's biggest advantage in city driving (regenerative braking) doesn't necessarily overcome the energy cost of repeated acceleration. R2 656hp motors are so powerful and quick, it's tempting to push the pedal. I just don't have the patience to slowly accelerating with the crowd.

I don't really complain, the range for everyday driving is aplenty, and home charging is cheap. Unlike an ICE vehicle, you can have fun guilt-free.

If the city roads you frequently drive are in poor condition, that could be contributing to lower efficiency. Pitting, cracks, potholes, uneven pavement, etc. all have an impact, literally.
Edit: Seeing as you are in CA, have no worry that the poor road conditions are being addressed by state mandated tires, rather than fixing our decrepit roads

Edit 2: Got me thinking…this proposed tire law thingy is so completely stupid, we are putting tire efficiency on some kind of pedestal and ignoring other key environmental factors like tire longevity/wear which directly relates to how many tires end up in landfills/need to be dealt with…rant over…
Next time you make a typical drive, pay attention to the road surface. You may find that part of the efficiency difference is simply the road itself.

on the flip side, if the highways your getting good numbers on are in relatively good condition and are concrete, then you may be getting better than average highway efficiency…so road condition is important for both city and hwy efficiency…

Apparrently California, Hawaii, and NE are bad…SE wins…

 

[rvnxyz001]

If you're doing just quick little trips in the city without some sustained driving (5+ miles), then the motors and battery will have not warmed up a lot (outside of summer of course). So for example, my three mile commute to work isn't as efficient because of this. Granted for me it's compensated for as my drive to work is mostly downhill...

Good to know! but I assume it is not as bad as short trips with turbo cars. What if ev sleeps in a warm garage ?

 

[derekmw]

Good to know! but I assume it is not as bad as short trips with turbo cars. What if ev sleeps in a warm garage ?

Just make sure you wrap it nicely in a good blanket...

 

[ksurfier]

It DOES seem like it has to be more behaviour related than actually efficiency related. I guess the motors and electron delivery could just be poorly optimized at activation, but that’s not usually the way things are engineered.

At these low speeds, aerodynamics are next to nothing in the impact to efficiency, it’s all weight and performance/demand.

I know my TM3LR, at highway speeds of 75, I do ~ 320-330w/mile, or close to 3.3mpk.

but in TOWN doing 15-40, efficiency is between 175-185 w/mile, which is more than FIVE miles / kw.

At these low speeds and in stop, go DECELERATE driving, (just lifting off no brake) and the max regen set, I’m surprised that the 15-35 mile efficiency isn’t higher in your experience.. As you said, and i presume - it seems to fall to behavior. I wonder if a purposeful test for five days of town driving would give a different result.

Just our $hitty roads methinks…

 

[VandalSibs]

Good to know! but I assume it is not as bad as short trips with turbo cars. What if ev sleeps in a warm garage ?

A warm(er) garage does help! I remember seeing better numbers in my Model 3 (way back when) after my wife and I insulated our garage - even with the garage being just a few degrees warmer than it had been before.

I don't know exactly what battery and motor temps are the 'happiest' for those components, but warmer is better than cooler for sure.

 

[140 degrees]

If you're doing just quick little trips in the city without some sustained driving (5+ miles), then the motors and battery will have not warmed up a lot (outside of summer of course). So for example, my three mile commute to work isn't as efficient because of this. Granted for me it's compensated for as my drive to work is mostly downhill...

This is the best insight. Short little trips in town are terrible for efficiency. It will be even worse when cold weather hits. However, with charging at home, efficiency doesn't matter so much.

This is still a great outcome compared to short trips in an ICE vehicle. ICE vehicles get terrible mileage on short city trips, plus it is bad for the longevity of your engine. Plugs are fouled and your oil never warms up. EVs are much better for this type of use.

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