LEAFfan
Well-known member
TonyWilliams said:I used the hyper accurate technique of driving 15mph, then 10mph, noting no significant difference, and proclaiming the middle, 12.5mph.
Oh, I see! I understand now. Thanks for making that clearer.
TonyWilliams said:I used the hyper accurate technique of driving 15mph, then 10mph, noting no significant difference, and proclaiming the middle, 12.5mph.
Thank you for the explanation. Actually, when I need to stretch the range of the LEAF, I drive in what seems to be a very similar manner. And I generally feel no obligation to exceed the posted speed limit unless I am in the HOV lane, which I haven't yet used in the LEAF. Over the years, I've annoyed more than a few drivers by sticking to the speed limit. So you can't please everybody. It is pretty cool that you're able to maintain such high efficiency. But it can also be cool to smoke ICE cars at times. :mrgreen:Stoaty said:I agree 100% and never impede the flow of traffic. However, here is my definition of impeding the flow of traffic, and what is not impeding the flow of traffic (although others may not like it) ...abasile said:But I'm not convinced that impeding the flow of traffic is worthwhile just for the sake of saving some kWh.
abasile said:But I'm not convinced that impeding the flow of traffic is worthwhile just for the sake of saving some kWh. I'm not just saying this because of "haters" out there. At this point, we are the ambassadors for a new way of driving, using electricity. Some of us, like my family with our Christian-themed license plate frames, use our cars to promote other causes as well.
TomT said:My goal is to be at the absolute bottom of the list in Carwings, drive as hard and as fast as I can, use maximum A/C, and always arrive home with as low a battery as possible! :lol:
TonyWilliams said:I used the hyper accurate technique of driving 15mph, then 10mph, noting no significant difference, and proclaiming the middle, 12.5mph.
I may have to add that to my list at #14. Thanks for contributing an advanced technique!TomT said:After a careful, scientific, and very detailed experiment, I found that I use the least battery power when the car is Off. I now plan to only use the car downhill and in that mode, and then have it towed back up. Extensive number crunching shows that I may be able to achieve 100 M/KwH using this new and exciting mode of driving! :lol:
JPWhite said:I agree, the car is for DRIVING, not tree hugging.
There are several different numbers that people use. 30% would be at the high end for the overall efficiency increase but too low just for the efficiency of turning kinetic energy into chemical energy. Of course it can't be greater than 90%. A guess of 70% at the highest end wouldn't be bad (80% drivetrain efficiency X 90% charging efficiency).Stoaty said:I am pretty sure I saw that 30% number on MNL. When I looked up Prius regen efficiency, best guesses were 30-50%. If it is better than that, I would like to see a reference. Don't know the real answer, but doubt the 80%. That would be phenomenal.
planet4ever said:Does the transaxle really radiate that much heat? It doesn't have active cooling, does it?
Ray
All the losses going from the battery to the wheels. That would include the reduction gear and the other mechanical linkages as well as the chemical-magnetic-electrical-mechanical conversion losses. I don't know about the Leaf specifically but 80% is usually assumed to be the efficiency over a range of speeds for an EV. Obviously at low or high speeds you'd have more losses.planet4ever said:SanDust, can you explain that "80% drivetrain" number. Are you literally talking about losses in the reduction gears and differential?
Does this mean that the Prius uses the friction brake more often than the Leaf?SanDust said:The Prius battery is considerably smaller which will limit the amount of regen it can handle.
Volusiano said:but I have to believe that the Prius battery is designed to be large enough to recapture most of the energy from a typical stop from 45 miles to 0, no?
Yes, unless one learns to brake gently and gradually, the Prius will generally end up using the friction brakes more than the LEAF. With the Prius, regen maxes out at about 20 kW, compared to 30 kW with the LEAF.Volusiano said:Does this mean that the Prius uses the friction brake more often than the Leaf?SanDust said:The Prius battery is considerably smaller which will limit the amount of regen it can handle.
That is correct. However, the Prius does have one sort of advantage over the LEAF on long descents. The ICE (internal combustion engine) can provide compression braking, thereby eliminating or reducing the need for friction braking when going down mountains. With no ICE, the LEAF is forced to rely on friction braking if the battery is too full. So, in the LEAF, one should avoid higher states of charge prior to big descents; then you come out way ahead of the Prius in terms of being able to recapture energy.Volusiano said:Also, I can understand the Prius battery can't handle the last amount of regen from going down hill for a long time
Yes, the Prius battery is more than large enough for that. But you need to brake gently and gradually to recapture that energy.Volusiano said:I have to believe that the Prius battery is designed to be large enough to recapture most of the energy from a typical stop from 45 miles to 0, no?
If one accelerates very gently, it is possible to go as fast as 45 mph in the third-generation Prius (2010/2011) without using the ICE. The only problem is, if you drain the battery too far, the Prius will be forced to run the ICE as a generator to recharge the battery, which will reduce overall efficiency.Volusiano said:But then again, if the switching point from battery to ICE is 15 miles...
I use a couple of hints for this:Stoaty said:For those like me who want to conserve as much energy as possible I offer my recipe [...]
6) Look ahead at the speed of traffic and the next 1-2 stoplights. Note whether the lights are "stale" (have been green for a while and likely to change soon) [...]
You post this a lot, and I have tried this several times but it never works. The car soon slows down 1 mph and starts using power at much the same rate as before.LEAFfan said:7. To stay in the neutral bubble and to keep your speed constant once up to speed, you can use the CC by going one mph over what you want, then push down quickly on the button and it will put you in the neutral bubble.
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