Still missing a lot of info in order for this to be useful data. Weight/roof rack/tires/lift?
Range/mpg on realistic trips
Not a particularly unique post here, but I figure I'd share the data I collected this past trip from Reno, to SFO, to Santa Rosa, and back to Truckee. Reno of course sits at about 4500' above MSL. Truckee is about 6500', with Donner Pass about 7k' above MSL and air density about 12% less.
The headline here I was able to keep the trip MPG above 17 the whole time, even after climbing the Sierras.
I set the cruise control no higher than 58mph, canceling it to cruise downhill, but otherwise chilling in the slow lane. It's actually nice in it's own way... traffic proceeds ahead, less need to change lanes constantly since you're not speeding into the next car. Mostly just hanging out with truckers, except the psycho ones that go 75mph+ in all conditions. Being a big van, people kinda expect it will be slower and give space, passing readily. Sometimes. But they tend not to ride you, wondering why you're going so slow. The tend to just pass and they're gone.
Reno to SFO was 18.3mpg (includes the long downhill from 7k ft).
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SFO to Santa Rosa has some small climbs, and headwinds, but mostly a lot of stop-and-go through the city. Actually got a slight increase to 18.4mpg.
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I topped up while going from Santa Rosa back to Truckee. Gas is at least a dollar cheaper in the flatlands than the Sierras. Was pretty satisfied to have gotten the mpg to 17.3. If I'm paying less attention, it's normally at like 12-13.
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So the conclusion is taking it easy obviously costs time, but it can also reduce stress, and save money! (if money != time.) Basically I was able to get from ~400mi to 525mi on 34gal tank. Some fuzzy math shows that extra 125mi range is like a 30% increase for "free". Or at $5/gal, about 6-7 "free" gallons or $30-35 worth. Whatever way you want to look at it
Time-wise, going 58mph instead of 65mph costs about .93hrs over 500mi, almost a whole hour. But we were traveling with a baby anyway, which has plenty of it's own stops and starts and potty breaks. Best to take a relaxed approach in either regard.
Just some real-world data, thought I'd share.
Edit: Wanted to add, this is with no AC running, no B2B charging, no Espar sipping gas etc. Pretty much just the engine doing it's thing. '22 ELWB Ecoboost Transit.
The headline here I was able to keep the trip MPG above 17 the whole time, even after climbing the Sierras.
I set the cruise control no higher than 58mph, canceling it to cruise downhill, but otherwise chilling in the slow lane. It's actually nice in it's own way... traffic proceeds ahead, less need to change lanes constantly since you're not speeding into the next car. Mostly just hanging out with truckers, except the psycho ones that go 75mph+ in all conditions. Being a big van, people kinda expect it will be slower and give space, passing readily. Sometimes. But they tend not to ride you, wondering why you're going so slow. The tend to just pass and they're gone.
Reno to SFO was 18.3mpg (includes the long downhill from 7k ft).
SFO to Santa Rosa has some small climbs, and headwinds, but mostly a lot of stop-and-go through the city. Actually got a slight increase to 18.4mpg.
I topped up while going from Santa Rosa back to Truckee. Gas is at least a dollar cheaper in the flatlands than the Sierras. Was pretty satisfied to have gotten the mpg to 17.3. If I'm paying less attention, it's normally at like 12-13.
So the conclusion is taking it easy obviously costs time, but it can also reduce stress, and save money! (if money != time.) Basically I was able to get from ~400mi to 525mi on 34gal tank. Some fuzzy math shows that extra 125mi range is like a 30% increase for "free". Or at $5/gal, about 6-7 "free" gallons or $30-35 worth. Whatever way you want to look at it
Time-wise, going 58mph instead of 65mph costs about .93hrs over 500mi, almost a whole hour. But we were traveling with a baby anyway, which has plenty of it's own stops and starts and potty breaks. Best to take a relaxed approach in either regard.
Just some real-world data, thought I'd share.
Edit: Wanted to add, this is with no AC running, no B2B charging, no Espar sipping gas etc. Pretty much just the engine doing it's thing. '22 ELWB Ecoboost Transit.
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Nope, don't add to the story, haha. Probably only running fairly light compared to others, like 7000-7500lbs... still a lot in the garage to install! I'll certainly collect data again once we have it fully kitted. Somewhat consistent message with others: drag is just a massive factor. A little slower means muuuch less fuel. I could even feel going west through the farmland that a small headwind would drop the mpg to 12-14. I'd imagine even a 7mph wind head on would be like going 65mph, then the benefit at 58mph is negated.
If 65->58mph is 25% benefit, just makes me wonder what 65->55mph is, though to me 58 felt "safer" with traffic. Less made me feel like too much of an obstacle. If we could feed the data into a computer to analyze, we could likely write a script involving the road angle, headwind, minimum mph, and maximum mpg to produce a best speed for maximized mpg. As a software engineer, you have time to think about these things while driving for 8+ hours
I think a ~3 degree grade was enough to keep the van at speed or accelerating with no engine output. I wish cruise control had a setting to let it coast though instead of braking (though I doubt those short downhills at 70-75mph saved much time overall).
Wind resistance is square function of speed.
Weight is a bigger issue around town when accelerating/decelerating frequently. Less of an issue on the highway to the extent that you can avoid downshifting on the up hills (or having to brake speed on the downhills
).
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