luchaks
Member
One of the many worries out there in the press and with peers is what happens when you run out of power. Well, I wanted to find out so I went to find out on Monday. My Independence Day from Big Oil!
I was taking my daughter to my parents who were meeting us halfway in Brookshire, TX. We frequently meet there to save both of us from having to drive the whole way. I knew our meeting location was 45 miles away from my house because I have used the trip odometer many times in the past driving our Prius. CarWings, using the route I programmed in, verified the distance. Since many of the miles were going to be rural highway, I thought it would be a stretch to get there and back, but I wanted to try it.
I started with a full charge out of the house and the car was pre-cooled using the plug-in and being in a garage. It was an extremely hot day, nearly 100.
I followed all speed laws along the way. I encountered very light traffic travelling through Tomball, a small rural town near my home. On the other side of Tomball, about 11 miles from the house, the Leaf was still showing 90+ miles. As I got into the more rural areas toward Waller and beyond, travelling 55-60 mph, as I watched the mileage peel back quicker and quicker, I knew it was going to be close getting back home. I reached the meeting spot which was right on 45 miles according to the odometer. The car was now showing 37 miles to empty. My young son was also travelling with me, and he began to worry we were not going to make it. I assured him that it would be ok since everyone has electricity and if need be, I would simply stop and plug in somehwere. This is when it hit me, my modified cord was still in the garage at home.
I was taking my daughter to my parents who were meeting us halfway in Brookshire, TX. We frequently meet there to save both of us from having to drive the whole way. I knew our meeting location was 45 miles away from my house because I have used the trip odometer many times in the past driving our Prius. CarWings, using the route I programmed in, verified the distance. Since many of the miles were going to be rural highway, I thought it would be a stretch to get there and back, but I wanted to try it.
I started with a full charge out of the house and the car was pre-cooled using the plug-in and being in a garage. It was an extremely hot day, nearly 100.
I followed all speed laws along the way. I encountered very light traffic travelling through Tomball, a small rural town near my home. On the other side of Tomball, about 11 miles from the house, the Leaf was still showing 90+ miles. As I got into the more rural areas toward Waller and beyond, travelling 55-60 mph, as I watched the mileage peel back quicker and quicker, I knew it was going to be close getting back home. I reached the meeting spot which was right on 45 miles according to the odometer. The car was now showing 37 miles to empty. My young son was also travelling with me, and he began to worry we were not going to make it. I assured him that it would be ok since everyone has electricity and if need be, I would simply stop and plug in somehwere. This is when it hit me, my modified cord was still in the garage at home.