Efficiency Vs. Temperature: Data Update, Conserve Only Helps in Warm Temps.

[Budman]

Posting the latest findings from this large data set I'm acquiring.

Travel conditions: 165 mile trip on a mix of 70 mph interstate and 55 mph rural highways with several traffic lights and small town slowdowns. I travel this route repeatedly from my home near Minneapolis, MN to my cabin near Hayward, WI. I only record the data when temperature gradients during the trip is <8 deg and winds < 15 mph.

Vehicle: 2022 R1T Quad Motor, VIN 8xxx. 21" road tires.

Drive Mode: Some trips in Conserve mode at "Low" ride height and some trips in All Purpose at "Standard" ride height.

Results: Efficiency is a very predicable function of temperature when traveling in conserve mode. In All purpose Mode the behavior is a bit odd but gives the same efficiency as conserve mode in temperatures below 40 Deg F. Conserve mode results in better efficiency only temperatures warmer than ~50 deg F.
(NOTE: I am not claiming you will see similar efficiency data in conditions other than my use case of mixed freeway and rural driving).


Why is this behavior occurring? One guess is that based on the new gauge display, the battery seems to be kept around 50 to 55 deg F. In colder temperatures the motors are working to keep the pack warm so any efficiency benefit that comes from shutting down 2 motors is lost by the extra energy needed to keep the pack at 50-ish deg.

Side Note: I am still running the origin factory tires with 32,000 miles on them now. Will get new ones installed next week at Discount Tire, just in time for winter.

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[Mathme]

Interesting data thanks for sharing! Your hypothesis that when needing to warm the battery, having 4 motors working over 2 makes sense.

In the 8500 miles on my quad 20” R1T, I’ve only ever used conserve for one trip of about 200 miles as I didn’t see a noticeable improvement in efficiency when compared to other trips on the same path at the same relative temp. Since then I’ve decided to be nice to the tires and just leave it in all purpose

 

[LL75]

32k miles on the 21" is awesome. Hope mine can last that long

 

[R1Tom]

This is interesting. I have wondered if this might be case. They may be running motors intentionally hot to heat the battery. That would also indicate that the dual motors would not pick up much if any efficiency at the under 40 degF case as they would also be asked to warm that battery similarly.

 

[NC-Rivian]

32k miles on the 21" is awesome. Hope mine can last that long

Sorry, they won’t.

 

[Budman]

Sorry, they won’t.

People don’t seem to believe me on the tire wear. Photos of the factory originals and odometer, tires being replaced in four days.

 

[mikehmb]

People don’t seem to believe me on the tire wear. Photos of the factory originals and odometer, tires being replaced in four days.

J/K of course. Given the wear on my old 21s, I expected to easily see north of 25k. Swapped for ATs which I now drive like I’ve stolen them, so do not expect to see 25k on them.

 

[RivRyan]

Thanks for the curated data set. Great work.

Does anyone know how other EVs compare?

 

[Budman]

Thanks for the curated data set. Great work.

Does anyone know how other EVs compare?

We recently acquired a Volvo XC40 recharge and I am in the early stages of getting this same data on that vehicle. It will be somewhere around 25% more efficient but can’t say much about temperature trends yet.

one month of ownership and we like the XC40 so far. Does not qualify for tax credit so it is not the best value out there but it is a very nice, solid, comfortable car that fits my petite wife better than the R1T. We cross shopped the Model Y but quickly rejected it after a short test drive. A good value but oh so bland.

 

[Riviot]

Why is this behavior occurring? One guess is that based on the new gauge display, the battery seems to be kept around 50 to 55 deg F. In colder temperatures the motors are working to keep the pack warm so any efficiency benefit that comes from shutting down 2 motors is lost by the extra energy needed to keep the pack at 50-ish deg.

That would explain why we saw better efficiency in All Purpose and Snow than Conserve on our 0°F road trip in February.

 

[Riviot]

We recently acquired a Volvo XC40 recharge and I am in the early stages of getting this same data on that vehicle. It will be somewhere around 25% more efficient but can’t say much about temperature trends yet.

one month of ownership and we like the XC40 so far. Does not qualify for tax credit so it is not the best value out there but it is a very nice, solid, comfortable car that fits my petite wife better than the R1T. We cross shopped the Model Y but quickly rejected it after a short test drive. A good value but oh so bland.

Sidebar on this topic: does Volvo do lease cash instead of the credit? My better half is looking at a few plug-in hybrids and lower range EVs since we determined if she didn't get the R1S, my R1T will remain the road trip vehicle. Teslas, VW, and other shorter "EUVs" have been ruled out, coming from a Civic she wants to sit higher. The Volvo looks like it does.

 

[Budman]

Sidebar on this topic: does Volvo do lease cash instead of the credit? My better half is looking at a few plug-in hybrids and lower range EVs since we determined if she didn't get the R1S, my R1T will remain the road trip vehicle. Teslas, VW, and other shorter "EUVs" have been ruled out, coming from a Civic she wants to sit higher. The Volvo looks like it does.

Sorry, I don't know the answer. I have never done or looked into leasing a vehicle, always buy outright. The Volvo does have good ground clearance and AWD but is a bit short on range compared to some other options but it was the best overall package for our needs. I will be putting Nokian 5EV snow tires on for the winter, interested to see how that works out.

 

[Bristlecone]

Sorry, I don't know the answer. I have never done or looked into leasing a vehicle, always buy outright. The Volvo does have good ground clearance and AWD but is a bit short on range compared to some other options but it was the best overall package for our needs. I will be putting Nokian 5EV snow tires on for the winter, interested to see how that works out.

I've had Nokia Haqqa's on my Volvo XC 40 Recharge since winter of '21-22 and they are very good in snow.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Thanks for sharing this. What are your climate controls set at? Also, on the route what is the change in elevation?

 

[R.I.P.]

This is interesting. I have wondered if this might be case. They may be running motors intentionally hot to heat the battery. That would also indicate that the dual motors would not pick up much if any efficiency at the under 40 degF case as they would also be asked to warm that battery similarly.

Was thinking just the opposite. Since the Enduro has more efficient oil-bath cooling, and the heat transfer appears more efficient, it is likely to use less energy keeping the battery warm (less system loss).

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