[Omkar]

With the advent of EVs in the global car market, new sets of parameters are being tested every day. Which is the fastest-accelerating EV? What is the maximum range you can get in a single charge? Single motor or dual motor? Big battery option or a regular battery? And more. Let’s talk about the EV range, and specifically the range on the highways. We all know that you will get less range on the highway as compared to driving in the city. EVs don't do high speed very well and there is a drastic drop in range if you're cruising at 110 - 120 km/h Vs 80 - 90 km/h. However, the jury is out on whether it makes more sense for EVs to drive at a little higher speed on highways and charge more frequently OR stick to efficient speeds, make slower progress and charge less.



Of course, various factors and conditions will affect this test starting from which car is being used, what is the battery chemistry, what is the motor rating, etc. But let’s consider a mid-size EV and consider that all the external factors remain exactly the same. What would be the outcome then? Certain factors to consider -

Driving at higher speed (within the limit) and charging more frequently –

• The motor works more and hence, drains the battery more.
• Higher speed means the air resistance would be higher, hence more energy being utilized.
• India's public charging infrastructure is still poor & requires jumping through many hoops or ending up with the unexpected

Driving at efficient speeds and charging less frequently –

• Motor in the most efficient zone
• Lesser air resistance

So, what do you think is better? Higher speed, more frequent charging or economical speed, less frequent charging? Which scenario would have the better average speed? Looking forward to answers from BHPians and EV owners.

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[GTO]

Today: Efficient speed range, less charging. Main reason is that highway charging is still very unreliable, can work (or not), you have to download multiple apps, there can be waiting etc. etc.

In 5 Years: Option B. Drive faster, charge a little more. Cars will have longer-range batteries & there will be ample charging opportunities on expressways & highways. In the USA, a magazine (don't remember the name) did exactly this test with a Tesla and found that slightly higher speeds + more charging was faster. But that was also on Tesla's super awesome fast-charging network. There is no equivalent to that in the USA, forget India.

Added bonus of Option B = have more fun in the fast lane. Today, most Tata / Mahindra / MG EVs I see are cruising at 80 - 90 kmph in the middle lane on expressways.

[mally2]

Economy speeds less frequent charging

Great thread Omkar. This almost is never a contest for ICE cars but for EVs its a Boon and a Bane, I will explain

Boon - Because it makes extracting as much range possible a passive safety feature as one is driving at more controllable speeds 80-90kmph
Bane - Because one is not able to fully extract the potential of the superb acceleration of EVs on highways

BUT

The solution is the opposite, drive faster - charge sooner.
I recall seeing a post of a bhpian that economy speeds + less frequent charging's take about the same time to complete a trip as faster speeds and more frequent charging's for sub 400 km one way trip.

[Rajeevraj]

I am not an EV owner, so just my opinion. I think today an EV owner has no choice but to focus on efficiency if the distance is longer than the real range of the EV. Although charging infra is getting better and better, it is not at the stage where one can throw caution to the winds and drive hard. There will always be the nagging fear of the next charging availability.

As the ranges increases, charging infra becomes better, we may get to a stage where one can drive as one wishes to without have to do all sorts of scenario planning.

It also can be subjective. If my distance means that I have to do one fairly long charging in any case, I may as well drive as I wish. If I can eke out a the full distance on a single charge(or with one stop max), then I may focus on driving efficiently. I don't know how much the range drops if we cruise at 110kmph as opposed to 80kmph. I assume range will not drop by 50%.

[mally2]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

I don't know how much the range drops if we cruise at 110kmph as opposed to 80kmph. I assume range will not drop by 50%.

For reference my Tiago will @ 80-90kmph do 250km range & at 110kmph only 160km

[Shreyans_Jain]

Depends on the journey.

Case: my Nexon EV LR
Normal range: 280km
Range at 100-120kmph: 220km

If my destination is 300-350km away, I’ll go at three digit speeds. I have to make one fast charging stop anyway, coinciding with a snack and coffee break. Makes no difference if it is 20 minute stop or a 40 minute stop.

On a 400-500km journey, I’d rather cruise at 90kmph for better range. This will be the difference between doing the trip with just one stop or two.

In both cases, the assumption is that I am reaching my destination with approx 20% battery left, and I can charge the car fully once there.

Calculation can be made on similar lines for cars with different range and battery sizes

[SKC-auto]

As per my calculation it's always drive fast with more breaks if you have chargers available, even if the car can fast charge at only 20KW.

If the charger availability is less, better to drive efficiently.

[Shresth_EV]

For my usage, it’s mostly between LKO-PRYJ which is 210km door to door.

Driving at 70-75kmph on cruise (dropping to 60s in the single lane section due to traffic and avg trip speed it 50kmph) gives me a good 240km on Nexon EV prime.

It’s just way too unsafe to get into triple digits, outside of brief period during a semi truck overtake maybe but outside of that, not ideal.

So efficient and less charging it is. I can do it in one charge easily, at PRYJ where a hotel as Tata DCFC. There also also 3 chargers on the route (1 restaurant with Tata DCFC bang middle at 100km and 2 BPCL)

Driving faster is not only unsafe for this particular route (NH30 single lane with villages dotting it all over so lots of stray animals and jaywalkers) but also would increase my charging stop to 2. Either at the midpoint restaurant or at one of the BPCL

For all trips which are within the range of the vehicle at 80kmph (250km for mine) driving efficient is better

For longer trips like say 400km one way, it’s better to hammer down where possible because you’ll be stopping once anyway. Whether you charge from 20 to 80 or 40 to 80, it’s still one stop.

That is assuming availability of charger in between (in absence of which, even if you drive at 30, it would not let you do 400km anyway)

[neethi_raj]

I recently made a post in The Tiago EV thread which pretty much delved on the same topic. I had made 3 separate drives on the same route. one with a petrol automatic, the other two with my Tiago EV LR. I had basically inferred that the time gained by speeding up is always sacrificed by charging the vehicle for more time.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/elect...ml#post5709430 (Tata Tiago Electric Review)

With the current infrastructure of 25 and 30 Kw chargers, No matter how hard you optimize your trips, your charging time will always be greater than your break time. The only way the mass is going to enjoy EVs without a compromise is to increase charging speeds – Both Vehicle side and Charger side. Only if we can top up 100 km worth of charge in 10 mins, everyone is going to enjoy EVs on the highways with out complaining.

[speedmiester]

Personally, my speeds depends on the distance that I have planned for the day.

If I am driving a distance that is more than the range of my car, I tend to stick to saner 80-90KMPH to maximise the range and charge at the first available/reliable charger to make the best use of my time, often I time my meal during this stop to reduce overall travel time.

On my trip to Gujarat, I did 878KMs on the first day which involved two charging stops. I stuck to speeds under 100KMPH and I was able to extract 300+ kms range from my car and I only needed to charge twice for about 40Mins each at 50KW chargers to topup to 90%.

It's a different matter if my travel is within the range of my EV

[ferrarirules]

For me, I drive at the allowed speed limit, usually 90-100 kmph, except for expressways (cannot go above 100 kmph as it drains battery way too much).

The routes I have travelled on have had ample chargers so you could drive at maximum allowed speed and charge when you stop for a meal or tea/coffee. It doesn't add time.

I have been documenting my highway trips in various posts

1. Trip to Jaipur via Delhi Mumbai Expressway
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/elect...ml#post5662266 (Tata Nexon EV Max Review)

2. Trip to hills via National Highways
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/elect...ml#post5709000 (Tata Nexon EV Max Review)

[bblost]

I drive a Turbo petrol.

It displays the real-time mileage of the car. My daily commute is 18 kms of which 10 kms are on a road with 120 kmph speed limit.

The first few days of owning this car, I was fascinated by the mileage display. I once achieved a high of almost 22 kmpl.

But the amount of stress that this kind of driving caused me was insane.

I have huge respect for those who are able to drive with the range of the battery in mind. Personally I will go mad if I had to keep worrying about this.

So until there are a lot of charging points available, I will stay away from the EV cars.
I am choosing the more charging option because that is possible in future. The economy mode will send me to a mental asylum.

[Avsd_bg]

As a Tiago EV owner for the last one year for my daily as well as long trips I have come to conclusion that with speed of around 80+ km/hr one can get the best range. I usually maintain speed of 80-90 km/hr without regen on highways and get good range of around 220+ kms but if I maintain a speed below 70 km/hr to extract more range I get less range with more time consuming. Frequent charging and driving @80+km/hr will give a good range while saving time also. Most important you will be a part of the regular traffic.

[shankar.balan]

I ll remain conservative here. With EVs or with even my Turbo Petrols, I find it more efficient and less stressful and definitely safer to stick in the middle lane within the prescribed speed limit. It is just more prudent to do so.