I agree that if we make the simplifying assumptions that the vehicle speed going up is the same as that going down, and the road is straight enough and traffic low enough that no braking is required, then work done against drag and rolling resistance forces and drive train friction will be about the same going up as going down. Slowing for curves, slower vehicles, and to keep the vehicle within speed limits on the way down will cause additional energy loss, and efficiency of the motor/controller will be lower going up than down. It may well be that where you live the hills are not that large and the roads on them are relatively straight and traffic-free, so you can coast down unimpeded. Where I live there are mountain roads with 2000 to 4500 ft elevation changes and switchbacks preventing the idealized unimpeded coasting you imagine. Coasting down the smaller hills in the valley is often impeded by traffic.
My original comment was meant in contrast to the current tests where the driving is simulated in a variety of conditions. I find those results more difficult to use to predict range under varying conditions. I think that most vehicle energy use will fall between driving at 30 mph and 65 mph, so it seems it would be more straight-forward for me to bracket the range I might expect under a given set of conditions, such as a 50 mile drive, 35 of which are at 65 mph and 15 miles at 25 – 35 mph. -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Kia-Soul-EV-goes-global-and-aims-for-120-mile-driving-range-tp4666302p4666405.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
