1kw/m difference by changing driving style

[SadHill]

I am sure there are plenty of people who know this. I have been doing this for some time but I never really spoke about it before.
Today I went for a 240 mile drive (120 each way) to pick up some things. It was 95% highway, 65mph limit, upstate NY so not flat but no mountains.
The way there I did 73, had the heat set at 66 and it was 35 outside. There was a headwind of about 10-20 with 30 mph gusts. When I arrived my efficiency was 2.01.
On the way home I set cruise at 70, turned off the heat (still was 35 outside) and found a tractor trailer driving 70 and parked behind them. I had driver plus on and when he sped up going down hills i would speed up and then obviously would slow down going up hills. I stayed about 2 car lengths behind. I also had that tailwind (which does help a lot). When I got home i was pleasantly surprised to see my efficiency was 3.06. That is a huge difference. I have drafted trucks in the past but it is tough to find one not going too slow. 70 was a good speed and I was behind them almost the whole way.
Just a bit of info in case you wanted it. Drafting works amazing. Not sure if turning off the heat did a lot but it didn't hurt.
Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[emoore]

Gen 1 or 2? For gen 1 it will make a decent amount of difference turning off the heat. Also probably helped that you had a tailwind and the you weren't always doing 70. So I'm not sure how much you can really account for savings from drafting.

 

[COdogman]

What did you pick up? It was White Castle, wasn’t it? You didn’t want anyone in your hometown to see you eating it…. Understandable.

 

[DKM_R1S]

Did you mean to say in your title 1 mi/kwh and not 1kw/mi?

 

[SadHill]

Did you mean to say in your title 1 mi/kwh and not 1kw/mi?

Ha. Yes. Sorry about that.
and no, a new drum set for my son for Xmas.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Given the cost of windshields, I'll probably skip drafting any vehicle in favor of not dodging rocks. Great data, though!

 

[SadHill]

Gen 1 or 2? For gen 1 it will make a decent amount of difference turning off the heat. Also probably helped that you had a tailwind and the you weren't always doing 70. So I'm not sure how much you can really account for savings from drafting.

Gen 1 launch.
the drafting is a big difference. Have done it several times. As someone else said though, you do need to dodge rocks sometimes.
I have ppf on the front too which helps.

 

[DKM_R1S]

Ha. Yes. Sorry about that.
and no, a new drum set for my son for Xmas.

No worries. It can be a bit confusing especially if coming from Tesla because Tesla reports efficiency as watts/mile. I personally think Rivian’s method is easier to comprehend.

3 mi/kw is very unusual. You must’ve had the right combination of downhill and wind direction.

I’m very best case scenarios you will get about 2 to 2.4 mi/kwh.

I get about 1.6 to 1.8 mi/kwh, but that’s because I’m always driving with roof boxes like shown in my profile photo.

 

[SadHill]

No worries. It can be a bit confusing especially if coming from Tesla because Tesla reports efficiency as watts/mile. I personally think Rivian’s method is easier to comprehend.

3 mi/kw is very unusual. You must’ve had the right combination of downhill and wind direction.

I’m very best case scenarios you will get about 2 to 2.4 mi/kwh.

I get about 1.6 to 1.8 mi/kwh, but that’s because I’m always driving with roof boxes like shown in my profile photo.

My YTD is 2.16. That is a combination of towing my camper and boat too.

 

[DKM_R1S]

Given the cost of windshields, I'll probably skip drafting any vehicle in favor of not dodging rocks. Great data, though!

I am one of those who never drive with suspension low or lowest on the highway; less chance for rock and road salt to chew up the paint on the front end. I’ll take the hit in efficiency.

 

[DayTripping]

Ha. Yes. Sorry about that.
and no, a new drum set for my son for Xmas.

I never gave my kids drum sets. I gave them to the kids of my relatives who I didn't like.

I'd never draft a truck or anything else. The sandblasting and rock chips a Rivian would get isn't worth the minor energy savings. Just not worth the risk to save a few shekels in energy cost.

 

[Riviot]

Given the cost of windshields, I'll probably skip drafting any vehicle in favor of not dodging rocks. Great data, though!

I second this. My last chip came from a fucking mini Cooper!

I was not drafting the mini Cooper.

 

[HaveBlue]

I had over 4 mi/kwh the other day for over 45 min. It's amazing what down hills will do.

 

[Supratachophobia]

Gen 1 or 2? For gen 1 it will make a decent amount of difference turning off the heat. Also probably helped that you had a tailwind and the you weren't always doing 70. So I'm not sure how much you can really account for savings from drafting.

Drafting is A LOT, watch the mythbusters episode.

 

[emoore]

Drafting is A LOT, watch the mythbusters episode.

I remember that episode. They had to get really close for big savings.

Sponsored