Optimum battery use

[Slarti]

What is optimum speed to minimise battery drain with headlights on full? Do you put your foot down and get home in a short time or ease back and take a bit longer?

 

[jaapv]

The headlights do not take that much power, but putting your foot down increases consumption exponentially.

 

[WattCar]

To avoid big delay on M25 last Friday I drove up from Brighton via south London, something I haven't done for years. Awful journey in so many ways. Still, I learnt a great deal about the car (and south London). I set to Charge whilst still able to move on the A23 so by the time I reached the urban stop/start bit I was circa 80% charged.

1) This car is the easiest drive I have had in urban stop/start areas in terms of smooth take up and delivery. Obviously very quiet too but with sunroof slightly open you have to suffer all those other noisy/smelly ICE's.
2) Use of the paddles makes a big difference in recharging even at relatively low speeds. Going down even small hills can show an increase in battery range if you 'paddle' hard.
3) I drove 22 miles from S to N London (where A1 starts at Apex Cnr ) before the ICE cut-in.
4) I notice that battery rang has increased from 25 miles (when new) to 30 miles after a few charges.

So, after a week still lovin' it. Maybe one day I'll be able to get the app to work!

 

[Hypermiler]

I find driving at about 10-15mph gives me 5 leaves on my eco score! :mrgreen: :lol:

But the battery range definitely benefits from lower speeds - anything much above 50mph will start to drain the battery so if I'm on a journey where I won't quite make it all on ev, I press save when I hit the highway and then go back to normal mode when I reckon I can crawl home on battery. I've managed to get back on 1 mile range left a couple of times (not quite had the car a week yet).

I always use the eco mode - you have to remember to set it each time you turn on. In winter I will probably not do that, but on sealed roads in summer, I don't need the full 4x4 (I think eco adjusts the power to different wheels to maximise efficiency).

Having said that, your comment was really about headlights - but as jaap says, it is the driving that is the real battery drain, so go home slowly.
H

 

[jaapv]

Actually, no That is the big 4WD Lock button

The Eco button will "tone the car down" a bit, making the accelerator less agressive and using more frugal AC and heating settings. It is rather the opposite of the S setting on a normal automatic.

 

[Hypermiler]

Thanks for setting me straight - the dealer :roll: told me it adjusted the 4wd from 60:40 to 80:20 or something. Never mind. Can't see it in the manual (not in index under eco!!). Will find it eventually.
H