Hypothetical Trip Info

[Gullwing]

Thought I'd use a recent trip a a hypothetical trip as part of my continued Lightning research. Over Labor Day weekend we made a trip and I got to thinking of how it would be if we had a Lightning since it would've been better to have a truck. Here are the details on the trip:

~170 miles round trip
25-30 miles of driving around while there
Total miles ~200
Temps between 85-90
Average speed was 60
Did I leave anything out?

My question is, assuming I charged at home to 90-100% I feel like I should have enough range to make the trip without charging on my trip. Or would the consensus be find a charging location in the area and top off? I did use Plugshare and found a couple of fast chargers in the area, but ideally if I didn't have to worry about it that'd be easier. FYI, looking at Lariat ER.

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[invertedspear]

I'm a "add 75 miles to be sure" type of person, so I'd have wanted to charge an SR to 100%, or would have wanted to do a few minutes at a fast-charger. But an ER I wouldn't have bothered with charging unless it was convenient, like an open charger at a store or restaurant. I know there's some additional range below 0, but the anxiety starts to stress me out if I'm below 20 miles on the GOM unless I'm starting to head downhill.

 

[RickLightning]

Thought I'd use a recent trip a a hypothetical trip as part of my continued Lightning research. Over Labor Day weekend we made a trip and I got to thinking of how it would be if we had a Lightning since it would've been better to have a truck. Here are the details on the trip:

~170 miles round trip
25-30 miles of driving around while there
Total miles ~200
Temps between 85-90
Average speed was 60
Did I leave anything out?

My question is, assuming I charged at home to 90-100% I feel like I should have enough range to make the trip without charging on my trip. Or would the consensus be find a charging location in the area and top off? I did use Plugshare and found a couple of fast chargers in the area, but ideally if I didn't have to worry about it that'd be easier.

Yes, you left out some stuff.

1) Weather - is it pouring rain? Strong headwind?

2) Incline - are you climbing a mountain pass, or driving downhill?

Here's the way I would do it.

ER battery is 131kW. Highway should yield 1.9 to 2.0. Assume 1.7. 131 x 1.7 = 223. You absolutely charge to 100% before leaving on the trip. Zero reason to not, except being foolish.

For that trip, I would make sure that there was a DC fast charger at my destination, so that as I went to head home I could decide if I needed some juice to make it. Or, conversely, is there a DC fast charger about 1/2 way home?

 

[Gullwing]

Yes, you left out some stuff.

1) Weather - is it pouring rain? Strong headwind?

2) Incline - are you climbing a mountain pass, or driving downhill?

Here's the way I would do it.

ER battery is 131kW. Highway should yield 1.9 to 2.0. Assume 1.7. 131 x 1.7 = 223.

For that trip, I would make sure that there was a DC fast charger at my destination, so that as I went to head home I could decide if I needed some juice to make it. Or, conversely, is there a DC fast charger about 1/2 way home?

Sorry about that, I edited my post that I'm looking at a Lariat ER.

Also, sunny weather with no rain or head/tail winds. Grade is fairly consistent without any significant hills or climbs, no mountain passes.

 

[RickLightning]

Sorry about that, I edited my post that I'm looking at a Lariat ER.

Also, sunny weather with no rain or head/tail winds. Grade is fairly consistent without any significant hills or climbs, no mountain passes.

Charge to 100%, know where a DC fast charger is at your destination, so when you drive a bunch of full throttles to show your family you can fill back up. And, know where they are on the way home. But you'd be fine.

 

[Gullwing]

And just for reference, if I decided to get some extra juice from the nearby EA station would a 15 min charging session be sufficient to get ~75 miles of range? Again assuming working fast charger and ideal conditions.

 

[RickLightning]

No charging curve in front of me. If you got 160 that's 2.67kW per min. 15 min = 40kW. 2 miles per kW = 80 miles. So yes.

 

[invertedspear]

And just for reference, if I decided to get some extra juice from the nearby EA station would a 15 min charging session be sufficient to get ~75 miles of range? Again assuming working fast charger and ideal conditions.

That entirely depends on how well the EA station is working at the time. If you're only getting 37kW cause the station is downgraded, you're going to need more time.

 

[hturnerfamily]

here's a hypothetical back to ya:

193 + 113 = ?

306 miles of range, on a single charge... PRO standard range battery. over 30,000 miles now, too.

 

[Gullwing]

here's a hypothetical back to ya:

193 + 113 = ?

306 miles of range, on a single charge... PRO standard range battery. over 30,000 miles now, too.

Now that's impressive!

 

[TaxmanHog]

At 27. mph he got that, assuming the entire 6:55:13 timer is in motion, you plan on some highway speeds at or above 60+......

Stick with Rick's projections, I also think you will be good, but definitely have a back up plan and have fun.

 

[djwildstar]

Thought I'd use a recent trip a a hypothetical trip as part of my continued Lightning research.
Total miles ~200
Temps between 85-90
Average speed was 60
Assuming I charged at home to 90-100% I feel like I should have enough range to make the trip without charging on my trip.

For a Lariat ER (which is what I drive) I would say absolutely YES — no problem to do this trip without charging. I have a Lariat ER and routinely charge to 90% and shows about 285 miles.

The detailed breakdown:
170 miles at ~65 mph (2.2 mi/kWh) = 77.3 kWh or 59% of a charge;
30 miles at ~35 mph (2.5 mi/kWh) = 12.0 kWh or 9% of a charge.
Total trip is likely 68% of a charge, so if you charged to 90% routinely, you should get home with about 22% or about 65-70 miles indicated range.

If this was a planned trip, I might:
- Charge to 100% to have an extra 30-odd miles available in case the 20-30 miles running around the destination turned into 50+ miles; and
- Know where the nearest fast charger is in relation to the trip, in case of “Honey, I’d like to run over to <place>, it’s only another hour or so”

 

[4Reeley]

I just did a similar trip, flat terrain, 185 round trip with an additional 50 miles around the destination over the weekend. Using A/C. I departed for home with 50% SOC. Your departing SOC on your return trip is really what will give you peace of mind for getting back. I knew, considering the additional miles spent at the destination, that I would have about that much buffer for my return trip on the same route. GOM was spot on.

 

[MacMike]

Thought I'd use a recent trip a a hypothetical trip as part of my continued Lightning research. Over Labor Day weekend we made a trip and I got to thinking of how it would be if we had a Lightning since it would've been better to have a truck. Here are the details on the trip:

~170 miles round trip
25-30 miles of driving around while there
Total miles ~200
Temps between 85-90
Average speed was 60
Did I leave anything out?

My question is, assuming I charged at home to 90-100% I feel like I should have enough range to make the trip without charging on my trip. Or would the consensus be find a charging location in the area and top off? I did use Plugshare and found a couple of fast chargers in the area, but ideally if I didn't have to worry about it that'd be easier. FYI, looking at Lariat ER.

Your trip is no problem with a Lariat ER which is what I drive. I live in Houston and travel to San Antonio and DFW on a regular basis. Houston to SA around 225 miles and to DFW around 275 miles one way. I can make the trip to SA without charging (depending on conditions) leaving my house with a 100% charge. My philosophy when traveling in my Lightning is never to pass up a DCFC charger. On my trips to SA there is an EA station in Columbus, TX. which is only 100 miles from my house. It's at a nice convenience store for a quick top off and food and drinks and a restroom break. Also with the Tesla agreement long distance travel will be easier to do in the near future.

 

[hturnerfamily]

At 27. mph he got that, assuming the entire 6:55:13 timer is in motion, you plan on some highway speeds at or above 60+......
...

no, not 27 mph, but a lot of the truck being 'on', but not moving... the average was more between 45-50, with no wind, some stop-n-go, etc.
I just posted this to prove a point - you 'can' go much, much farther - but, SPEED, and other factors, are not your friend. Slowing down will always get you 'farther'... although most folks don't want to go that route.

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