Maximum Miles Driven on One Charge

[JoeS]

Trying to get a feel for the "i"'s realistic maximum range, I'd appreciate posts by owners of significant distances achieved with their iMiEV and a brief insight into average/maximum speeds, terrain, traffic type (city, highway, %-mix), and weather. Thank you.

[Wee John]

I picked up my car last night and drove home the 40 miles from the dealership, 37 miles freeway the rest surface streets. I got home with 4 miles of range left and one dash on the battery guage. I had it floored the whole way with speeds between 75mph an 82mph, I also had the heater on for about half the journey but figured I wouldn't make it if I kept the heater on. Once I hit the surface streets my range did not go down any, it stayed at 4 miles until I got home. I was happy with the range considering I did not try to conserve energy apart from switching the heater off, I did notice when I switched the heater on and off that the range would instantly jump by 10 miles.

[jjlink]

Interesting I was hoping to get 60 miles a day on the car with a mix of surface streets and 65mph on local freeways (using the heater in the mornings). It sounds like it would make it without a problem based on your observations.

[Wee John]

I got it for 47 miles a day 50/50 freeway and surface streets and I reckon it'll do 60 miles no problem with heater.

[JoeS]

WeeJohn: I cringed at your description of your flat-out maiden voyage from the dealership. I guess you've never owned an EV before, as I'd perhaps have wanted to determine how much range I had left AFTER first getting home. Looks as though you really relied on the miles-remaining gauge, and it sure worked for you!

[Wee John]

WeeJohn: I cringed at your description of your flat-out maiden voyage from the dealership.

You would imagine a logical approach would be expected in a case like this, here's my logic.

Right from the dealership I would be driving at freeway speeds for 37 miles so the range meter should not be compensating for different driving conditions (it was 8pm and against commute) so I was expecting an empty freeway with constant speeds. I knew I had to drive 3.5 miles home after the freeway and my range should go up when I hit the streets, so basically it did go according to planned. The only thing I did do for conservation that I did not mention was I put it in ECO mode for going up the Sunol Grade at 65mph and putting it in B on the way down the grade. I have not owned an EV before.

Wee.

[JoeS]

WeeJohn: thank you for the explanation. That Sunol grade is a tough one, but at least it has a truckers' right lane so one can ease up without backing up traffic. Over time, all of us will develop tricks for extending the range when we need to.

[Wee John]

Some more real world driving range, I don't have any maximum range yet as I haven't been able to fully charge the battery. 120V and time restraints.

I got in my car with 23 miles range and 20 miles to home with a side trip to Target making a trip total of 21.5 miles.

51°F, wet roads with frequent showers and 15mph wind gusts. Heater and AC were off the entire journey.

Started off in Eco driving 7 miles on surface streets with a lot of traffic lights and stop signs, speeds were between 25mph and 40mph and not much stop and go traffic. Range went from 23 miles to 21 miles over these 7 miles.

Keeping it in Eco I hit the freeway and traveled 7 miles at 60mph to 65mph. Range went from 21 miles to 12 miles over these 7 miles.

Back on to surface streets still in Eco traveling mostly 35mph with some traffic lights and the range went from 12 miles to 3 over these 7.5 miles.

I am very happy with the range meter so far and will be relying on it, I think it will be accurate as long as you don't change your driving habits too drastically during a single trip.

I did notice that if you hold the brake pedal just enough to stop the car rolling forward it will use power with the creep feature and if you press the pedal with slightly more pressure the creep feature turns off and the power meter shows no power consumption.

[JoeS]

WeeJohn: good data points, thank you. Sounds like the range meter is learning your driving style. Bear in mind, Lithiums are happiest being kept at the middle of their State-Of-Charge (SOC) and not at either extreme. For myself, I plan on normally maintaining my "i" at 40%-80% SOC (roughly 7-13 bars), only fully charging when I anticipate a long trip. How's the correlation between "miles-remaining" and number of bars?

[Wee John]

Lithiums are happiest being kept at the middle of their State-Of-Charge (SOC) at 40%-80% SOC (roughly 7-13 bars)

JoeS, this is the kind of information I need and probably most people on this forum, thank you. Once I get the 240V charger (any suggestions?) along with the remote I will be able to better control the SOC. The 120V is really debilitating. To be honest I don't really watch the battery gauge, maybe if it was a percentage I would take more notice.