Why does my current range with a fresh charge keep creeping up ?

Temperature will do that

 

Lots of possible factors, such as:

• Are (outdoor) temperatures moderating, requiring less power to go to the heat pump?
• Are your driving habits becoming more conservative?
• Has traffic gotten less congested, meaning less time stopped in traffic burning climate-control, to go the same distance

Temperatures rising can have the effect of inflating the tires slightly (pressure goes up with temperature), which can improve mileage a bit.

 

I started with 27 point something EV miles after first charge in late November, now up to 33.9 EV miles after charge.

Indicating 93% EV usage on vehicle.

 

Some batteries need a few charging cycles before they deliver their full capabilities. Just another possibility...

 

Yes and yes.

 

I've experienced this as well. my first charge up estimated 24 miles of range while yesterday when I was fully charged it estimated 30

 

if it didn't, it would be even more useless than it already is.

 

It means you were not satisfied with the initial number so you drove slowly and more carefully. Then the car noticed. It changes the number. In my case I disregard the number and drive whatever style I prefer. The number actually creeps up a bit, still.

 

25 miles EV range is the default range when the car is new. When you start driving the car depending on how fast you go and for how long at that speed could be lower than Toyota's default EV range speed. Toyota probably learned their lesson when on the 2012-2015 PIP the EV range would creep downward.

 

Admit it: you're gloating, lol.

Seriously, the main thing that's changing is the car's estimation of range, it's revising it's defaults to suit your driving style. Sounds like you're doing good things, though.

 

The trick will be to measure the kWh put in the car after the estimated range settles. But this means my 'rule of thumb', 10 mi/hour, is likely to increase to 12 mi/hour. The reason this is important is the Plus trim does not appear to have a wireless link to monitor the SOC. So I use an iPhone timer to know when it is done.

Bob Wilson

 

Could the improvement be due to the predictive stoping feature? I understand the navigation system accumulates a record of past stops and then the car can do a better job at regenerative breaking when you approach those stops each time after that. We'll be picking up our Prime this weekend and I'm interested in learning more on how that feature helps improve efficiency.

 

The only accurate way to check battery capacity is to meter the charge it can accept (hold) by an external meter. If you plan to do this, best accuracy will be achieved when measurements are taken from same starting SOC point and same temp.