Settings for Road Trips (other than default Range Mode)?

[TDinDC]

In preparing for my first longish road trip, I noticed that the time savings shown by Navigation was a mere 10 minutes for a 7 1/2 hour trip, which was surprising to say the least. I searched the forum for "Range Mode" and found a fair number of posts saying that it is not worth using and that it causes poor ride quality (I'm not sure why). I also wonder whether air conditioning will be negatively affected in the heat (as it was in my Tesla Model X for range mode).

This led me to wonder, if Range Mode isn't that much of a help and has downsides, what are the ideal settings for a road trip? Normal mode with very low suspension height? Individual based on Range with certain settings changes to eliminate the downsides to Range Mode? On a long trip like this, I don't care about performance so perfectly happy only using FWD and higher gear, but would like to optimize range and comfort.

Any experience with this or thoughts on the matter?

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[W1NGE]

Range mode default does a great job on its own without the need to fiddle.

Note that you can set max speed for range mode and that the car is lowered so be mindful of that.

With the various software tweaks to the motors since launch the difference now between Range and Normal in terms of efficiency is entirely questionable. Today I travelled 126 miles in Range had I not I would have 'saved' 3 miles of range. A year ago that would have been 15 miles or so (85% battery, 19C, dry).

Therefore Normal is perfect really but always good to experiment.

 

[TXAG]

I can't do Range mode when driving from Phoenix to Las Vegas in the summer because the air conditioning in Eco mode can't keep up even though I have tinted windows and thermal & noise insulated glass. And after seeing and successfully dodging a couple of one-bedroom-sized potholes enroute (I drove during the day), I would be wary of driving with a low or very low chassis height at night.

I plan to stay in NORMAL mode during road trips, but feel free to experiment until you find something to your liking.

 

[bsclywilly]

Normal mode for me too. The extra miles of range in range mode are made up literally in a minute or so of fast charging.

By far the most effective range setting I’ve found is adjusting the weight of my right foot.

 

[McgR]

Normale mode and normal AC. And just a bit above speed limit.

In my experience the difference between normaal and range is minimal. On some bad quality Belgian highways the range mode is a bit less comfortable one good quality highways not much difference. I have tried driving individual mode with lowest suspension, normal dampers, normal drive and that seems more comfortable than range mode.

Eco AC made a small difference. Too small to switch it on in hot wheather.

Like mentioned above, the differences are minimal with these setting and it only takes a couple of minutes fast charging extra to compensate. In general I don’t think it will economize enough to exclude one charge stop during the trip. And at the end I think that is what can make the trip faster.

The only way to do that is by reducing the speed. Traveling at 65 maybe 70 mph will increase the range vs 80 mph.

Driving 100 mph in Germany for a long trip will decrease range much and more charge stops are needed and doesn’t make sense (for travel time)

I recently did a 600 miles trip and needed 3 charges. And I needed those 3 stops anyway. For coffee, lunch, dog, restroom. The stops were longer than the charge time.

Most important for your trip is to know where the fast chargers are. And check if there is a region you cross with low coverage.

Have a nice trip

 

[BigBob]

What about the auto-regen function. Does that actually add much/any range?

 

[McgR]

What about the auto-regen function. Does that actually add much/any range?

I only switch regen on when driving down hill.

Regen is switched off when driving with (A)CC which I generally use on long trips.

 

[f1eng]

it causes poor ride quality (I'm not sure why)

Lower means less bump travel so the air springs either need to be stiffer or more rising rate or the bump damping needs increasing, all of these reduce ride quality. You can probably get a bit back in individual mode at the risk of bottoming the suspension on a big bump.
It is the main reason I chose the Cross Turismo and didn't change to a Sport Turismo when it was released, it has 20mm more bump suspension travel so in "Normal" it will have the best ride.

What about the auto-regen function. Does that actually add much/any range?

The most efficient is the default coast, so no it may add slight convenience in traffic but will lose range.

 

[BigBob]

The most efficient is the default coast, so no it may add slight convenience in traffic but will lose range.

I'm sure you're right, but seems somewhat counter intuitive that a regen setting actually reduces range! Made sense to someone with a pointy head i guess.

 

[f1eng]

I'm sure you're right, but seems somewhat counter intuitive that a regen setting actually reduces range! Made sense to someone with a pointy head i guess.

If the regen circuit was 100% efficient it would equal coasting, but it isn't so it isn't, if you see what I mean. It can never actually be better.

If you are braking it is because you need to slow down and then regen is more efficient than heating the discs so regen is always more efficient if you need to slow, but not if you don't.

 

[McgR]

I'm sure you're right, but seems somewhat counter intuitive that a regen setting actually reduces range! Made sense to someone with a pointy head i guess.

It depends of driving habits. If you anticipate and coast in stead of brake/regen it will be more economic. The deceleration will give some battery charge with regen but also means you could have starting coasting earlier and not using energy.

The regen function is always active when release throttle and slows the car down and probably more accelerating is needed afterwards compared to coasting.

 

[BigBob]

If the regen circuit was 100% efficient it would equal coasting, but it isn't so it isn't, if you see what I mean. It can never actually be better.

If you are braking it is because you need to slow down and then regen is more efficient than heating the discs so regen is always more efficient if you need to slow, but not if you don't.

Yes, i get the bit about coasting being better that slowing down and speeding back up again etc.

I just would have thought the purpose of the auto regen would be to maximise the period you coast and minimise the times you slow down too much and then blip the throttle again to remain in the flow of traffic. Basically being a bit better than a human and increasing range as a consequence. Otherwise, it just seems totally pointless. I guess, maybe it is.

 

[W1NGE]

What about the auto-regen function. Does that actually add much/any range?

Every little helps as they say but marginal gains. Brake recuperation is better but again minimal.

The biggest gain will come in UK winter when we are forced to heat the car interior. Using the HV heater saps energy. Switching to range mode will help and the gains greater than at this time of year.

Bottom line is to look on Range mode as a potential 'get out of jail' card should you be running on "fumes". I doubt any of us would run that close to the wind however.

 

[f1eng]

It depends of driving habits. If you anticipate and coast in stead of brake/regen it will be more economic. The deceleration will give some battery charge with regen but also means you could have starting coasting earlier and not using energy.

The regen function is always active when release throttle and slows the car down and probably more accelerating is needed afterwards compared to coasting.

I agree with an earlier post that driving style will make the most difference. I see a 2:1 ratio between pressing on and cruising using my knowledge of engine and aero efficiency in my petrol cars.

In normal driving, not driving for fun or in a hurry, I anticipate the road and traffic ahead and try to never use the brakes and use the throttle legato rather than staccato.

My wife drives as if she can only see 100 metres ahead as a result that even going relatively slowly (she doesn't average as fast as I do) she uses a lot more fuel because every roundabout and traffic light is almost an emergency stop. It is pretty scary to be a passenger...
It is not something I have ever been able to change (we have been together since 1970...)

 

[W1NGE]

I agree with an earlier post that driving style will make the most difference. I see a 2:1 ratio between pressing on and cruising using my knowledge of engine and aero efficiency in my petrol cars.

In normal driving, not driving for fun or in a hurry, I anticipate the road and traffic ahead and try to never use the brakes and use the throttle legato rather than staccato.

My wife drives as if she can only see 100 metres ahead as a result that even going relatively slowly (she doesn't average as fast as I do) she uses a lot more fuel because every roundabout and traffic light is almost an emergency stop. It is pretty scary to be a passenger...
It is not something I have ever been able to change (we have been together since 1970...)

Brave man to critique one's wife ??!

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