MartinChico said:
This is a 2015 Leaf S w/QC.
Yes, I set LeafSpy to 3.8mi/kWh, and it calculated 78 "Miles to rsrv", even though the car estimated 108 miles to go. I have noticed that my efficiency is still increasing, so perhaps I'm doing much better than my overall average of 3.8mi/kWh.
Thanks for the reply.
Buy some black electrical tape and cover up the calculated range, aka "DTE" or Distance To Empty gauge. It is derisively also called the "GOM" or Guess-o-Meter.
The number shown will almost universally be optimistic when you first get in, the algorithm appears to calculate the number using some inflated efficiency number, psuedo based on recent driving history, but mostly by consulting a magic 8-ball on antidepressents. It then gradually updates this number based on the last few miles of driving (go up a hill and the number plummets, go down and it skyrockets), and finally it has a healthy reserve at the bottom end, so you might have 25-30% left when it is barking at you with a low battery warning and showing only 8 miles left.
Basically it is a gauge optimized to cause elation, horror, and anxiety along every long'ish trip you take.
Leaf Spy simply takes the best available number correlating to kWh left in the battery (GIDs) and displays a simple calculation of kWh remaining minus a reserve (5% default I think) times the efficiency you select. If you put in a typical number based on your driving and the time of year you get a sane estimate of expected range that steadily drops as you use up batter power. Obviously nobody but you can know if you are headed for hills, going to drive 90 mph, or hit headwinds, but it is far better range estimate than the GOM will provide.
3.8 miles/kWh is not terribly hot. As your tires break in it will get better, also consider increasing your air pressure from the factory 36 psi to at least 40 psi. There are tons of threads on this subject. If you run the heater during winter, especially on an S with a resistive heater, you will lose range fast. The heater commonly draws 1.5-3 kW which can easily reduce your efficiency and range by 10-20%.