Rav4EV Range Considerations

· darelldd · 1 year ago

It was 106 degrees F today. And I had a doctor's appointment 30 miles away. I took the Rav4EV, of course, and ran the AC on high the entire way. And contrary to the general public's perception - my range wasn't reduced even a tiny bit.

How could that be? I've heard car company reps say that just running the headlights and wipers will cut your range in half! I've heard it said that turning on the radio and tooting the horn will leave you stranded!

Well, here's the deal folks: The traction motor uses a HUGE amount of energy (no surprise there) and the HVAC system comes in a very distant second in terms of energy consumption. And all the other accessories combined (lights, radio, power windows, etc) barely register on the scale. Really traction and HVAC are the only real considerations for range impact.

So how do I drive the Rav4EV in the blistering heat with the AC on high and NOT lose any range? By driving 1-2 mph slower than I would have without the AC on. Yes, one or two mph slower makes up for all the energy that running the AC consumes. So every driver has a choice: Lose (up to) 10% of your range by driving your normal speed with the HVAC system on, or simply slow down a tiny bit and enjoy the same (or greater!) range.

(As a side note, I was thrilled today to drive my Rav4EV under the first full-size billboard advertisement of an electric car (Nissan Leaf) that I have ever seen in real life. I even tooted my horn and suffered the range loss...)

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· Tom M. (not verified) · 1 year ago

Darell,

I have found the same to be true with my MINI-E. However, the heater seems to be more of a draw for me than using A/C. I have done many tests with my car on range vs. speed and it is really amazing how driving only a few mph slower will radically improve your range. It's funny, when I have no concern for range I find myself on the highway blasting away at 75 or 80mph, but if I know I don't have lots of juice to spare, I keep it under 65 and I can go much further. You just need to be cognizant of your travels a little more with an EV, but you get used to it like anything else.

· darelldd · 1 year ago

Hi Tom -

Each car will be different of course. And if I recall correctly, the Mini-E went with a resistance heater where my Rav and the EV1 before it had heat pumps for both heating and cooling. Relatively efficient systems.

As you point out, range and speed are intimate with each other. I regularly hear folks claim that traffic jams would scare them in an EV... because of "running out of juice" while going so slow. But of course an EV's range is so dramatically increased with slower driving, that traffic jams almost assure that you'll have more in your tank when you finally get to your destination. Gas cars stink and slow and go - but in some cases "slow and go" is an EV driver's best friend!

· Tom Moloughney · 1 year ago

YES!!! I hear that all the time also and it drives me nuts. I have a great story about this topic:

About three months ago we had a great amount of rain in a short period of time here in NJ. There was lots of local flooding, trees down and road closures. My commute to work is 35 miles and it usually takes me 40 minutes and I arrive at work with approximately 68%SOC. The day after the storm, it took me 4 1/2 hours to go the 35 miles. I arrived at work with 73% SOC! While I was sitting in traffic with all the other cars a guy walked past me carrying a gas can. No doubt he ran out of gas sitting in traffic for hours like the rest of us.

· darelldd · 1 year ago

Great story!

Yeah, I hear people talk about their fear of using the wipers and headlights. Jeez. Most folks just have built-in fears about the unknown.

· Nick Chambers · 1 year ago

Love the post Darell! It's important that we have all you old hat EV drivers from the California crowd to give us a good dose of reality. After all, you guys are really the only ones with the experience in this realm... well you, and the Roadster and Mini E drivers that is... but you guys just have so much more of it :)

That's part of what I was so impressed about with Nissan, they're actually engaging some of you in a truly meaningful way as they develop and market the LEAF.

· darelldd · 1 year ago

Hi Nick -

We "classic EV drivers" are somewhat amused at how little the new EV makers really want to hear from us, actually. Most of us have lists of what is important to keep, and what seriously needs to be changed between the initial production EVs and this next generation. Yet, the new EV makers don't seem to REALLY want to hear from us. There have been a few gestures... but wow... here's all this free, relevant input that really isn't being taken advatage of.

Most of the people involved with the modern EV programs haven't been driving an EV as their primary vehicle for 10+ years. The few hundred of us who have would like to help get this new batch right. We aren't that hard to find, but nobody has asked me yet!

· bryan38401 (not verified) · 18 weeks ago

ok guys here goes. im setting up level 2 charging stations in tennessee and I am using 25 and 50 miles as my between station points most will be located at these intervals from interstates along major hwys to connect rural areas back to other major hwys and interstates. most will be located at gas stations and restaurants,hotels does this seem like a resonable distance if you need to get a quik 20- 30 min charge to get to your final distanation.we will also be offering road side assitance charging will level 2 to charge people up enought to get home or to a charging station.will a 30 min charge get 10-15 miles?

· EVNow · 18 weeks ago

@bryan38401

L2 should be located at a place where one can spend time - like a coffee shop, restaurant or a shopping mall. While people will use L2 in gas stations - but only in emergancy.

The 25 to 50 miles is along freeways is exactly what we need - but not L2. We need CHAdeMO quick chargers. With Nissan selling them for just $10K, they are cheap enough. But the problem is getting enough power to the charger - and depending on how the utility bill the usage - can become prohibitively costly. That is where the problem really comes.

Here is my suggestion. Work out real life scenrios of people living in a particular community & driving out to work / shop etc and see how the chargers can come in handy. That should tell you where to place the chargers. You should probably open a separate thread here or in mynissanleaf.com to get more responses & suggestions.

· bryan38401 (not verified) · 18 weeks ago

the level 2 that we are installing now are future locations for level 3 and the nissan chargers are not ul listed yet and when they are they will not be sold to the average electrician they will be following the same biz model as columb and ecotality and have already choosen there installers. how ever eaton,sq d, and siemans are all just 2-3 months from ul listing on there level 3 and will be avilable to us who dare compete with the big boys! we already have the locations locked down for 75 stations that will cover 3 states so you will not be farther than 25 miles from a level 3.will be installing one of the aboved mention american made products.the leaf will also be made in america.

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Rav4EV Range Considerations

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