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Mileage understanding

HOTAS

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This subject has been a huge frustration for EV and hybrid Mfr’s for decades. The 2004 Toyota Prius was originally rated as a 60mpg car. That was true at 60mph or less and driven delicately.
But the average consumer didn’t drive like that, and complained like hell that Toyota was misleading. They later changed it to like 48mpg.
Sad, because I could consistently get 60mpg.

(If exploited with extreme driving techniques, hypermiling with outrageous speed fluctuations , it could get 100mpg. Yes 100mpg !)

It’s been the same struggle with consumers, conditioned by gas cars, ever since.
Bottom line, EV drivetrains are extremely efficient, but extremely affected by the “varaiables”…., which are many.
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VTbuckeye

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There was a time .... late 2022 or early 2023, IIRC when Ford adjusted the algorithm to show us the ideal range once the SOC was above 80%, many of us protested that was misleading when we could clearly see the projection was highly optimistic for extreme seasonal conditions.

Then came the onslaught of whiners complaining of the GOM dropping like a rock after the first 10 miles of driving, see Hoovies Garage video as an explainer....

Ford revised the calculus adding back a measure of pragmatism, I'd rather be told the reality of a situation then have smoke & mirrors.

The 300 or 320 mile range is for comparison of vehicles, giving us an insight as to the differences in ability and efficiency of one vehicle over another, how it performs in my hands with my leadfoot is another story.
December 2022...Just tell me how my vehicle is going to perform. You know it, I know it, lying to me is not going to change it. If it's 0F I am not going 300+ miles on a charge.
 

Calvin H-C

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When you drive an ice vehicle, do fill up the tank based on your fuel gauge or what the "miles to empty" indicator says? How many Ice drivers even ever use their "miles to empty" screen?
I did this with the last three ICE vehicles I owned, but I realize I'm more of an exception rather than the norm. Even though the GOM is an educated guess, for me the numbers it provides is more real-world appropriate than a percentage, especially the VERY rough percentage that ICE vehicles provide...

Remember, the traditional gas guage we all looked at for years, was also a % meter.
A very rough percent meter, with a resolution of 12.5% (if you had eighth tank graduations) or perhaps only 25% (quarter tank marks that some cars have). You never REALLY knew what the actual percentage was in the tank, but nobody ever complained. Not to mention that completely filling the tank would usually put the needle above "F" and give you about 30+ miles of driving to get it down to "full". 😉

Now that we have actual percentage readings, everyone holds it as the holy grail. Sort of like a couple who were perfectly comfortable in their home with an analog thermostat that start to lget into arguments over the setting once a digital one is installed. One is freezing at 70 while the other is sweating bullets at 72. (Shout out to Corner Gas fans!)

I never think of my distance from home (or wherever charging is to take place) as an SOW percentage, but I do know if I'm 10 miles from home, I better have a GOM saying I have a few extra to feel comfortable about making it.

My FFE has a feature that has it display "surplus" range when you enter a destination on the nav system as a charge point. It's just the GOM range minus the distance to the charging location, but it's really helpful. Start a trip with a surplus about 10% above the actual distance, and you'll rarely have range anxiety, even with the FFE's 100 mile range in mild weather.
 

rembrant

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Lets use your analogy, and I'll use real world. I have a goldwing as my primary vehicle. It has a 6 gallon tank and I know I can get 40-45 miles to the gallon, I know because I have driven it to 240+ miles. This is my starting point. SO, I know I can always get 240 miles on a full tank.

So every time I top my tank off I will get 240 miles. Now that is effected by rain, wind, co-rider, trailer, etc. (within that 240 miles), But lets assume I am by myself, when I top my tank off again, I know I can get 240 miles.

This is my point, everytime I top my tank off my starting point is always 240 miles.

But for some reason the computer in my truck is telling me everytime I top my battery off to 100% I will NOT get 300 miles I will get a different value each time and each time it is always lower. I want to know if 300 miles like Ford and the EPA is my 100% starting point

When I got my truck in September I got 299 miles to a 100% charge and now I get 249 miles to a charge, I don't want a average of my driving habits, I want to know what estimated mileage will be on a 100% charge each time I top off the battery. That is my point.
I noticed the same thing in my truck. I found out on this forum that the truck does way better when you set the leave time on the ford pass app to precondition the battery. I also learned that you should pay attention to the kWh rate. I had not preconditioned the battery before and was getting 2.4kWh and after I started conditioning the battery I was able to get 1.8kWh Which is a huge improvement. Also I learned here that charging every day to 80-90% is better than charging to 100%. Research this here on the forum. Tons of great info from guys who know a lot about this topic! Happy travels
 

hturnerfamily

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EV really stands for 'Efficiency Vehicle', and not for those with heavy foots, or otherwised just determined to drive the speed limit, plus 10, EVERYWHERE they go... Always.

having said that, even Gas vehicle EPA numbers don't hold up to certain driving styles and habits, either... oh well.

When you believe advertising, on it's face value, you are subject to 'learn' the hard way...

EPA numbers are advertising, just like everything else...

if you are not convicted to drive conservatively, and cautiously, and slowly, especially for long trips - then an EV is not for you. My LIGHTNING can go faster than anything else on the road, especially in the first 1/2 mile, but I don't drive like that 'just because' it can.
 

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Rocket808

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I noticed the same thing in my truck. I found out on this forum that the truck does way better when you set the leave time on the ford pass app to precondition the battery. I also learned that you should pay attention to the kWh rate. I had not preconditioned the battery before and was getting 2.4kWh and after I started conditioning the battery I was able to get 1.8kWh Which is a huge improvement. Also I learned here that charging every day to 80-90% is better than charging to 100%. Research this here on the forum. Tons of great info from guys who know a lot about this topic! Happy travels
Huh? 2.4 to 1.8?
 

XENOILPHOBE

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Hey all,

I've read some of the threads on mileage and things are not to clear, so need some simple clarity. Purchased my 2024 Platinum in September. My understanding is that I should be getting 300 miles (or a few more) on a 100% charge. BUT.... When I charge my truck to 100% I have gotten 296, then 287, then 276 then 268. So my understanding is the computer is taking into account some other variables to give me my estimated mileage. I don't give a care about that, I want to know that regardless of what it says I will get 300 miles on my 100% charge?

Why doesn't the computer give you the estimated mileage on 100% period and then another screen or another setting give you the estimated mileage with all the variables?
I have a 2024 Ford Platinum too, in the summer expect 250 miles @ 100% in the winter 200 miles @ 100%.

What impacts range:
1. 80 MPH in the HOT lanes
2. 4 Second 0-60 every time I can.
3. tires inflated to 45+ PSI
4. the stupid 22 inch wheels on the Platinum kill range, I plan to go to 20's with better tires once I smoke these 22's off.
5. cold/rain
6. not preconditioning the cabin.

I hope DOGE cuts the EPA, they test these EV's with very lenient standards, so they present with better than they actually perform add in the forever chemicals coverup and they should be done.
You will never get 300 miles, unless you want to get rear-ended, freeze without cabin heat, or pump your tires up to 50 PSI and have your molars fall out due to the jarring ride.

Your Goldwing is a good comparison with its 6 gallons of gas in the tank. Your Lightning has a 3.9 gallon "gas" tank. But can do the same range as your motorcycle in a 7000 lbs truck with almost half the fuel that your Goldwing needs to go the same distance.
 
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TaxmanHog

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Scorpio3d

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I noticed the same thing in my truck. I found out on this forum that the truck does way better when you set the leave time on the ford pass app to precondition the battery. I also learned that you should pay attention to the kWh rate. I had not preconditioned the battery before and was getting 2.4kWh and after I started conditioning the battery I was able to get 1.8kWh Which is a huge improvement. Also I learned here that charging every day to 80-90% is better than charging to 100%. Research this here on the forum. Tons of great info from guys who know a lot about this topic! Happy travels
Higher number is better hopefully you just transposed those numbers?
 

Karlos

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The GOM is just another % "fuel" gauge - miles to empty, believe it, but don't blindly, mindlessly rely on it as you drive the "fuel" off. Treat it just like the fuel gauge on any vehicle. As Reagan famously said "Trust but Verify"
 

sfringer

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The GOM is just another % "fuel" gauge - miles to empty, believe it, but don't blindly, mindlessly rely on it as you drive the "fuel" off. Treat it just like the fuel gauge on any vehicle. As Reagan famously said "Trust but Verify"
But the GOM isn't just another percent "fuel" gauge; we've had a percent "fuel" gauge since day 1 (though only through OTAs did we get the numerical indicator) that being the right-side outer ring. Using that and your current efficiency rating (m/kWh)you can determine your distance to empty.
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