Just how much does elevation change affect your efficiency?

[Jiji]

The results of a trip to the local transfer station at a higher elevation (~750') was not exactly unexpected but when I looked at the details I found the ride back was free.

Here is the overview of the trips out and back:

Not great efficiency but with temps near freezing (seat and steering wheel on with the cabin temp set to 72ºF) and carrying a trash hauler on the trailer hitch are obvious hits to the efficiency. And before the complaints start, the efficiency result is an estimate since it is calculated from the change in SoC so while it may be off from the true efficiency the relationship of two efficiencies should be accurate.

Looking at the details of each trip, the elevation profile shows how the outbound trip did all the work and the return trip was a free ride. (And as an aside, the screenshots are cut and pasted since there is more information than can be viewed in a. single screen.)

Of course the actual distance is the same for both trips but the rated distance, which is the change in the distance to empty from the trip start to the trip end, are very different. The energy use and the change in the SoC dramatically show the effect of an elevation change on a single trip (but doesn't matter so much on a round trip).

Now for a cheap plug. This fun project is getting ready for prime time and I can use a couple of beta testers to expand the small pool I currently have. The only requirements are an iPhone running iOS 17, a Rivian, and a desire to explore all corners of the app (you will need to download the Apple testFlight app for access and provide feedbck). I have too much on my plate for any UI/UX feedback but do want to know that you can reliably log all your trips without drama or crashes while providing you some extra insight into your Rivian.

If this sounds like you, please send a private message with your name and email address and I will reply, thanks for taking a look.

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[Jiji]

This is just a fun winter project where I like to explore new software development tricks and techniques to exercise the gray matter. While I am happy to share the results there is no grand development plan or strategy other than my personal satisfaction.

Here is a peek at the next update which adds Live Activities so you can see the progress of a trip or charge in the lock screen and support for devices with the Dynamic Island:

 

[JeremyP]

I've been experiencing a similar result going back and forth working on a cabin and being at the same state of charge after losing 4k feet of elevation in 20 miles

 

[Cycliste]

I’m really sucking for oxygen while hiking above 4000 m and need to stop frequently for a brief rest

 

[Jiji]

I've been experiencing a similar result going back and forth working on a cabin and being at the same state of charge after losing 4k feet of elevation in 20 miles

I need to log a trip to Mount Washington or the Blue Ridge Parkway to get that kind of elevation change. I could easily add a graph of the SoC during a trip but the elevation profile is a proxy efficiency but it would miss the contribution of aero losses (caused by 70+ mph speeds).

 

[HenryThe8th]

Cool project. How are you getting the energy stats from the R1? I've never seen the percent charge in tenth of a percent before and would love to see that on the primary display [because I'm curious about elevation & SoC!]

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