Increase range on GT for long trips

[SWO]

I like to drive fast. And I like a warm cabin in the winter. Anything less is a compromise. It's like we are back to horse and buggy days, when we plodded along and had to bundle up or freeze to death. I realize that is an exaggeration, but still. We are willing to accept less because we want to drive a BEV.

Don't get me wrong, I Iove my car. I won't slow down but I do turn the heat back a lot more than I did in my previous ICE vehicle.

I like to (half) joke that a long distance trip in an EV is analagous to Oregon Trail.

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[Secret Sauce]

I like to drive fast. And I like a warm cabin in the winter. Anything less is a compromise. It's like we are back to horse and buggy days, when we plodded along and had to bundle up or freeze to death. I realize that is an exaggeration, but still. We are willing to accept less because we want to drive a BEV.

Don't get me wrong, I Iove my car. I won't slow down but I do turn the heat back a lot more than I did in my previous ICE vehicle.

Yeah, that's an exaggeration, but you pays your money and you makes your choices. When I hear people complain about things they could very easily change, I guess I'm not hugely sympathetic.

 

[Mach1E]

Yeah, that's an exaggeration, but you pays your money and you makes your choices. When I hear people complain about things they could very easily change, I guess I'm not hugely sympathetic.

Show me this no compromise vehicle and I’ll write a check now.

 

[ARK]

It is amazing the compromises we put up with to drive this car.

Most people overthink the whole range thing, it's really not a big deal and could be solved by spending a bit more time at a charger, e.g., leaving at 85%, 90%, or even 95%, instead of pulling away at 80%, if they are really somewhere without much charging infrastructure.

 

[Secret Sauce]

Show me this no compromise vehicle and I’ll write a check now.

Exactly.

 

[MadManMoon]

I like to (half) joke that a long distance trip in an EV is analagous to Oregon Trail.

 

[mkhuffman]

Show me this no compromise vehicle and I’ll write a check now.

A reasonable compromise is a car without cooled seats. Regressing to a car that requires you to be cold in winter is not a reasonable compromise in the 21st century. IMO. And yet I still do it. Sad.

 

[JSeis]

I spend 86 miles a day on typical winding 2 lane US-SR101. Quite pleased to have speeders past me and clear the road of elk & deer & occasional bear, porcupine, beaver, and trees. And I average 4.1 mi/KWh cruising at 53-55.

 

[thekat03]

A reasonable compromise is a car without cooled seats. Regressing to a car that requires you to be cold in winter is not a reasonable compromise in the 21st century. IMO. And yet I still do it. Sad.

I choose to keep the heat on in the winter and take the hit on efficiency, because it's still better than in an ICE car, which loses so much energy to heat all the time, that the car heat is just the excess heat from running the car. Even at winter efficiency rates, an EV is still more efficient than an ICE vehicle. But it's a matter of perspective.

 

[mkhuffman]

Yeah, that's an exaggeration, but you pays your money and you makes your choices. When I hear people complain about things they could very easily change, I guess I'm not hugely sympathetic.

I am willing to deal with it because I really like my car. That doesn't mean the compromises are reasonable. It is yet another reason why most car buyers are not ready for a BEV. They are not ready to be cold in winter when their current cars blast out free heat.

 

[mkhuffman]

Most people overthink the whole range thing, it's really not a big deal and could be solved by spending a bit more time at a charger, e.g., leaving at 85%, 90%, or even 95%, instead of pulling away at 80%, if they are really somewhere without much charging infrastructure.

It isn't a big deal if you can charge at home. But public charging sucks, and when traveling, I have had to slow down and maintain an uncomfortable cabin temperature to make it to my destination. Fortunately my wife hasn't been with me those times. She already has had enough bad charging experiences with me that she said she never wants to take my car on a trip again. And I don't blame her.

 

[Mach1E]

Exactly.

Your post made it sound like the solution is easy. But it really isn’t because every car has its compromises.

Want a good looking, fast, fun to drive somewhat affordable BEV?

Mach E GTPE.

But no cooled seats, weak heater, 5 sec limit, so so stereo, no leather seats etc

Want all of the above? Possibly the Macan EV GTS……. But it’s no longer somewhat affordable.

The sad thing is that Ford could have given us everything we ask for and the price wouldn’t go up that much.

Maybe in 2026 refresh?? One could hope.

 

[silverelan]

Besides driving at under 65mph on adaptive cruise control and keeping the AC off…

if I swap to different wheels and tires, can I approximate the range of. CA RT 1 or Premium AWD on a base GT?

An EV-specific tire with low rolling resistance might be the best move. Bridgestone just released a new touring tire for the GT, the Turanza EV. That might give another 3-5% over the stock Continental CrossContact RX tires.

https://www.thedrive.com/guides-and-gear/bridgestone-turanza-ev-tire

 

[bbulkow]

hypermiling. Tailgate a semi.

people keep leaving this out or think it is a joke.

go into adaptive cruise with a one bar spacing with any truckish thing. A large pickup, cement truck, rv, van, even a minivan.

I swear i get 10 percent back, pushes from 3.3 to 3.5 to 3.9.

the wake gets bigger as they go faster, too. Do it with a truck doing 60 and no climate control, i think it is the best you can do

 

[silverelan]

people keep leaving this out or think it is a joke.

go into adaptive cruise with a one bar spacing with any truckish thing. A large pickup, cement truck, rv, van, even a minivan.

I swear i get 10 percent back, pushes from 3.3 to 3.5 to 3.9.

the wake gets bigger as they go faster, too. Do it with a truck doing 60 and no climate control, i think it is the best you can do

Good efficiency but your windshield might take a few extra rock chips.

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