Recommended best highway cruising speed?

[krafty81]

Heading from SD to LA. 120 miles each way. What should I set as my highway speed? Would love to not have to charge.

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[macchiaz-o]

I'd set to match the speed limit, or follow a truck that's going slower than the limit.

 

[mdolan92869]

Heading from SD to LA. 120 miles each way. What should I set as my highway speed? Would love to not have to charge.

I just did that Sunday, but the other way around. Unless you're going at an off hour, it doesn't matter, traffic will limit your speed. I set mine at the speed limit, only got to do that for a few stretches.

 

[Jimrpa]

I’d still be interested in knowing the “optimal” highway speed to travel at (all other things, such as temperature road inclines/declines, etc being equal) is for the Mustang Mach E, assuming you can go at a relatively constant speed (in other words, you’re not on the DC beltway at rush hour or anything equally silly).

 

[agoldman]

Up to mid 60's and on auto pilot as much as possible. Then after that, it does take a hit. Heater or A/C will also affect it.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I’d still be interested in knowing the “optimal” highway speed to travel at (all other things, such as temperature road inclines/declines, etc being equal) is for the Mustang Mach E, assuming you can go at a relatively constant speed (in other words, you’re not on the DC beltway at rush hour or anything equally silly).

See almost identical thread just started a few days ago:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/most-efficient-highway-cruise-speed.6093/

 

[DocOfClocks]

I’d still be interested in knowing the “optimal” highway speed to travel at (all other things, such as temperature road inclines/declines, etc being equal) is for the Mustang Mach E, assuming you can go at a relatively constant speed (in other words, you’re not on the DC beltway at rush hour or anything equally silly).

"Optimal" doesn't mean the same for everyone. Is optimal minimum energy usage? Balance between usage and trip duration? Playing around with ABRP suggests that driving faster always gets you there faster, even with the need for extra charge time, unless you are using a route that has no L3 chargers within range.

 

[dtbaker61]

Heading from SD to LA. 120 miles each way. What should I set as my highway speed? Would love to not have to charge.

wind resistance squares with velocity.... so slower will always be more efficient.

But, it will make you crazy, bored, and fall asleep at the wheel in addition to embarrassing the entire Mach-e community. If you wanted efficient, you could have bought an old Honda Insight.

more seriously.... if you really want to squeeze out more miles:
- check your tire pressure
- drive at the speed limit, wait for a truck to pass, and draft the truck
- aero cover your wheels
- ask around work to see if they will add a charger in your parking lot, or let you construct/Lease a solar carport charge station at work so you can charge all day!

 

[Jimrpa]

"Optimal" doesn't mean the same for everyone. Is optimal minimum energy usage? Balance between usage and trip duration? Playing around with ABRP suggests that driving faster always gets you there faster, even with the need for extra charge time, unless you are using a route that has no L3 chargers within range.

Good point. When I’m alone, optimal means quickest. When I’m with friends, optimal means least whining about how much electric cars suck because you have to charge them ?

 

[DBC]

I’d still be interested in knowing the “optimal” highway speed to travel at (all other things, such as temperature road inclines/declines, etc being equal) is for the Mustang Mach E, assuming you can go at a relatively constant speed (in other words, you’re not on the DC beltway at rush hour or anything equally silly).

This is super simple. The optimal speed for range is probably around 28 MPH. The faster you go after this the bigger the hit to range. So 60 MPH will give you more range than 70 MPH, and 70 MPH will give you more range than 80 MPH. And so on. The faster you go the less distance you can travel.

There are so many DC fast chargers between San Diego and LA, and you won't need a whole lot of charge no matter how fast you go, that my suggestion would be just to drive normally and see what happens.

If you hit bad traffic that's a bonanza for range because you end up going at the 28 MPH optimal speed. You'll be getting 5 miles/kWh.

 

[Woeo]

I’d still be interested in knowing the “optimal” highway speed to travel at (all other things, such as temperature road inclines/declines, etc being equal) is for the Mustang Mach E, assuming you can go at a relatively constant speed (in other words, you’re not on the DC beltway at rush hour or anything equally silly).

Tom the NJ battery guy recently managed 286 miles at 70 mph on the NJ Tpk with no climate control in Cali weather.

EV Dave managed 320 miles at 56 mph.

 

[Jimrpa]

This is super simple. The optimal speed for range is probably around 28 MPH. The faster you go after this the bigger the hit to range. So 60 MPH will give you more range than 70 MPH, and 70 MPH will give you more range than 80 MPH. And so on. The faster you go the less distance you can travel.

There are so many DC fast chargers between San Diego and LA, and you won't need a whole lot of charge no matter how fast you go, that my suggestion would be just to drive normally and see what happens.

If you hit bad traffic that's a bonanza for range because you end up going at the 28 MPH optimal speed. You'll be getting 5 miles/kWh.

I’m really glad to hear that there are a lot of DCFCs between San Diego and Los Angeles, but they’re of limited use to me between, say, Philadelphia and Binghamton ?

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