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What The Heck is My Range?

rehutton777_98408662rehutton777_98408662
edited November -1 in Model 3
One of the most common comments I see on this forum is "why is Tesla misleading me about my vehicle's range". There are actually four "ranges" which are critical to consider, and the descriptions below may be helpful for those confused as to what "range" means.

Rated Range: The advertised range for the vehicle as determined by the EPA under defined and controlled operating and ambient conditions.

Projected Range: The remaining vehicle range shown on the energy chart screen determined by dividing the remaining usable battery capacity (watt-hours) by the average efficiency (wh/mi) over the chart’s displayed mileage range.

Estimated Range: The range displayed on the main screen green bar determined by dividing the remaining usable battery capacity (watt-hours) by the efficiency factor (wh/mi) established for the vehicle by the EPA (e.g. 220 wh/mi for the SR+). Note that when the energy chart efficiency (wh/mi) over the chart range displayed is equal to the efficiency factor established by the EPA, the "Projected Range" is equal to the "Estimated Range" at that time.

Actual Range: The actual range of the vehicle is equal to the Estimated Range divided by an “efficiency modification factor” (EMF). Where the operating and ambient conditions are identical to those under the EPA range/efficiency-determination testing, the EMF equals 1.0, and the Actual Range is equal to the Estimated Range. Where operating and ambient conditions are more favorable than those in the EPA test procedure (e.g. “hyper-miling”), the EMF is less than 1.0, and actual range will exceed estimated range. Where operating and ambient conditions are less favorable than those in the EPA test procedure, the EMF is greater than 1.0, and the actual range will be less than the estimated range. Such negative factors include: higher speeds, uphill driving, stop-and-go driving, rain/snow, head winds, tire pressure, etc.
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Comments

  • TeslionaireTeslionaire
    edited November -1
    Your forgot the

    Porsche range: Lowest for the price paid
  • rehutton777_98408662rehutton777_98408662
    edited January 2020
    Should have included heater and A/C use (and others) as additional negative factors.
  • WW_IсefreeWW_Iсefree
    edited January 2020
    Finally decent write up about range. Good job
  • kevin_rfkevin_rf
    edited November -1
    I just charge to 80% and stop at the super charger when the car tells me.
  • rehutton777_98408662rehutton777_98408662
    edited January 2020
    @FISHEV: "...that will give them a range 75% less than EPA Rated Range".

    If, as you say, they start off with a range "75% less than the rated range", then lose another 25% due to weather as you said, that pretty much is a loss of 100% of their range. I think I know what you meant, but what you said is nonsense.
  • WW_IсefreeWW_Iсefree
    edited January 2020
    rehutton777
    Fish is known for nonsense.
  • jamilworm_98037331jamilworm_98037331
    edited January 2020
    Re:Fish - First of all, I don't think anybody limits charging to only 75%, so that is a nonsensical comment intentionally meant to mislead. The lowest I have heard of is 80%, and many people charge to 90%.

    I drive 75-80 mph most of the time (pretty much always in good weather) and my actual range is about 93% of the rated range. So that might give an idea of how much the high speed driving affects range.
  • DirkFirkinDirkFirkin
    edited January 2020
    @ Rehutton777:
    Loss of 100% is nothing left. I think you mean 50%...
  • gmr6415gmr6415
    edited January 2020
    @jamilworm, For almost the first year of ownership I charged to 75% and then didn't charge again until below 30%. Those were Jeff Dahn's initial best practice recommendations although they have modified those recommendations slightly. https://ibb.co/HY76kMj

    I work at home, my commute is from the coffee pot to my macadamia orchard (our property) and most of my daily driving is local. I was plugging in roughly every 5 days or so.

    I went to charging to 85%, so I only have to plug in about once a week...long story with a lot of variables on why I only plug in as infrequently as possible.

    I'm waiting for Tesla to develop EV farm tractors and mowers;-) I'd love a Tesla ATVs.
  • FISHEVFISHEV
    edited January 2020
    " I don't think anybody limits charging to only 75%"

    If they charge to 85% and don't discharge below 10%, their effective capacity is 75%. Effective range would be 75% of Rated Range. Then another 20-30% duration for Winter. Charging above 85% on the road at fast chargers can take a long time so effective range for travel is similar.
  • jallredjallred
    edited January 2020
    It’s intuitive that 300 miles of range would mean that it is wise to “fuel” up before you get to less than 30 miles left. Wives have been telling husbands this for decades. A quarter tank means time to go to nearest gas station. But we never deducted that from our range.
  • andy_connor_eandy_connor_e
    edited November -1
    The illusive fear of different.
  • WW_IсefreeWW_Iсefree
    edited January 2020
    jallred, right on. That exactly what I do in my ICE SUV. As soon as I get to quarter it's time to fill up. I guess that is why I have never ran out off gas on the road. I did the same with Tesla , made a mark in my head to never go below 10% without means to charge right away. Problem solved and no range anxiety.
  • andy_connor_eandy_connor_e
    edited November -1
    Theres something relatively unknown about ICE vehicles as well. Its very good practice to let the gas tank get extremely low every now and then so that sediment does not build up at the bottom of your tank. I've known some people who have never let their tank get below 50%, and on the occasional long drive their tank gets near 1/8th of a tank left, the engine sounds like its not getting fuel. Kind of like when your lawnmower starts to run out. So its the opposite with EVs. Dont let it get too low too often. Its really not that hard if you have charging at home. Different mentality. If you could fill your gas tank from your garage, people would realize quickly that having such a large gas tank is only necessary about 1-2% of the year. Even then, half the gas tank size would be sufficient due to the prevalence of gas stations, the infrequency of long drives, and the available range of the vehicle.

    I know for a fact i would make out just fine with half the gasoline capacity i have now, with insignificant differences.
  • rehutton777_98408662rehutton777_98408662
    edited January 2020
    DirkFirkin: "@ Rehutton777: Loss of 100% is nothing left. I think you mean 50%..."

    It wasn't me that said it, it was FISHEV. Quote: ".... that will give them a range 75% less than EPA Rated Range. Colder weather operations, 40F and down, will take another 25% of range. Going over 60 mph starts to eat into overall range." If you start off with "75% less", then take away another 25%, you pretty much do have ZERO left. Fish just doesn't understand numbers.
  • BighornBighorn
    edited January 2020
    In days of yore, who besides folks with just $2 in their pocket would let their gas gauge get below 1/8?
  • andy_connor_eandy_connor_e
    edited November -1
    Before i graduated college, it was rare that i had half a tank at any given time.
  • jamilworm_98037331jamilworm_98037331
    edited January 2020
    I've only run out of gas twice, the first time was in my Dad's Explorer where the gas gauge was broken. We would use the odometer to decide when to fill up and I think he told me the range would be about 300 miles but I thought he said 400 and ran out of gas on the freeway.

    There was another time in a different car where I was just stupid and waited until the last minute to stop for gas, and the car literally ran out of gas as I was pulling into the gas station and I coasted up to the pump.
  • jamilworm_98037331jamilworm_98037331
    edited November -1
    "If they charge to 85% and don't discharge below 10%, their effective capacity is 75%. "

    Not really. If you went on a long drive and then reached 10% when you were 20 miles from home, you wouldn't just stop and call roadside assistance. You would keep driving and make it home just fine. You may not need that 10% most of the time, but your effective capacity is still all the way down to 0 because it's there if you need it.
  • andy_connor_eandy_connor_e
    edited January 2020
    I think the point is that when you are long distance traveling, you are going to stop and charge when it gets down to a certain point. Like a gasoline car people typically dont let it go lower than 1/4 tank, which is an effective "range" of only 75% of its maximum.
  • kevin_rfkevin_rf
    edited November -1
    Bighorn, having coasted into my fair share of gas station, hold my beer...

    The flashing light means start looking for a cheap gas station, even if you have to drive another 50 miles.
  • BighornBighorn
    edited November -1
    @kevin
    And how far did you fill it? ;)
  • majassow_98247060majassow_98247060
    edited November -1
    In an ICE, I always took it to the flashing light, and filled all the way. That means fewer stops at fuel pumps. Now with my Tesla, the only time I stop at a gas station is to fill my RV, Truck, or generator. And it kills me a little to do even that.
  • JoshanJoshan
    edited January 2020
    could be worse, you could have an I-Pace.
    twitter.com/Blue__Jay__/status/1215520978207494144

    My friends boss bought the I-pace, with heat on she can’t even get 100 city miles on a single charge

    She’s currently trying to return it, fighting with the dealer.
  • kevin_rfkevin_rf
    edited January 2020
    Bighorn, till it leaves a puddle.

    Probably can count on one hand the number of times I didn't fill an ICE until the pump clicked. And most of those where low on gas and the place was highway robbery.... So just enough to move on down the road to a real gas station. There are a couple of those traps in PA that I refuse to stop at.
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