EV up & down, seasonal effect

My estimate jumped to 14.3. Warmth has made a major difference. Was down to 12 in the winter.

 

All roads 30-35 mph, all city. Leave my home go 0.4 miles one stop light, then down hill about 300 foot drop with two stop lights to river, cross bridge, Four stop lights thru downtown, then up 300 foot hill, now rolling roads with one stop light and three stop signs.
Reverse route to home.
20.3 round trip! I know , didn't even get close last year (17.2 last years high, did it once).

 

Yea! mine was down to 9.1 for awhile.

 

Are you able to time those lights fairly well?

 

Have to stop at about half of them, They just set them to catch you.

 

I assume no AC on?

 

Correct!

 

Finally got my first 20+ mile EV trip. It was pieced together and I wasn't thinking ahead, so unfortunately, no pics.

 

sweet! 18 is my best. 16 mph, but we have a lot of hills and stop signs.

 

OK, so that's my next weekend project sorted out - just need to plot the flattest, quietest route I can!

 

Sorry, this is a basic question, but I did look and couldn't find the answer (at least not how I could understand it as a non-Elec-Eng).

When looking at the battery part of the increase due to warmth, as opposed to the air resistance, is it the temperature at the time the battery is charged which matters, or the time it is being used? If the former, presumably there is an argument for charging early evening before the chat of the day fades, rather than timing it for early morning? i should say I don't use enough overnight electricity to make it worthwhile getting a cheaper tariff.

 

I live in VA and got my PiP on January 3 of this year. The Estimated EV range dropped from 12.5 to 9.8 by February. where average highs were in the 40s. With recent temperatures in the 80s and 90s, it has crept back up to 12.8.

I have two different commutes, one of just 4 miles in city; and another of 16.7 mixed hwy/city which has a couple of hills both ways. During the winter on the longer commute, I could get about 130mpg on a full charge; now that it started getting warmer and the EV range increased, I have been able to drive in city and make it all the way (reducing distance to 14.4 miles b/c the highway makes a few bends) on a single charge. It adds about 5-10 minutes to the ride, bt I don't mind. After about 200 miles on the current tank of gas, I am averaging 951mpg.

 

The way I understand it is that batteries operate at peak performance when it comes up to temperature. I noticed electronic devices like my phone warms up when I charge or when I use the Internet. I assume this is true with the PiP as well. It won't matter what the temperature is when you charge it because the battery will warm up anyway. And of course, when it gets too hot, then it shuts down.

So my speculation is that the increased distance reading is due to increased temperature at time of use. The battery doesn't need to use as much energy to warm up.

Therefore, bang for your buck is to have it fully charged right before you leave in the morning. The battery is already warmed up.

 

This question first needs to have 'peak performance' defined. IIRC cold battery holds less charge and has a lower charge/discharge rate, but I am not at all sure that efficiency is better in warm weather.

 

astolat, what is the 'chat of the day'?

 

Presumably the hot air improves battery performance

 

It's all about where you define nominal performance. I'm not gonna go into syntax with you as I know you will best me. But if cold decreases performance then not cold performs better. Performance is not better in warm weather. Performance is better in warm weather than cold weather.

Did I get that right? Probably not but oh well.

 

Ok! I was down to 8.4 to 8.6 in the middle of winter. The highest I seen sign the return of warm weather is 10.1 and 10. 2 using Chelsleyn's down hill trick.

Despite my low EV range I have averaged 700+ mpg (gas only) since my last fill up.

I recommend that in addition to report your EV range without also reporting your PIP's fuel efficiency.

 

Tires are 40 front 39 rear or 41/40? Seems low EV range for summer.


iPad ? HD

 

I don't know how the car calculates the value, but IMO it certainly isn't based on the current temperature. If this was true you could charge your car a night...hours later when it is cold see how many EV miles are shown, then let it sit in the hot sun and the value would go up. I haven't exactly done this, but I have charged at work and need to go move the car a space or two to allow someone else charge. Never has the EV value gone up from when I moved the car in the cool morning and gone back to go home with the interior at over 100.

Mike