Difference between Eco, normal and sport modes

[decrep]

Thanks Seajays, that puts it in perspective.

Enjoying the ride is what it's always been about.

All you need is a positive mindset.

 

[wattmatters]

so how far off do you think 80% could be, you know a +/- number.

I have no sense of the conversion efficiency of the regen braking system. But the actual numbers are probably quite variable depending on a range of factors.

I notice the negative power % numbers on the driver's display when slowing down, and those numbers get larger up if I need to use the brake pedal to slow more rapidly. They don't exceed a certain % in my car, ~20% or so I think. Since I'm looking at where the car is going and not the display I'm not exactly sure what they peak at before the friction brakes are engaged.

All that matters is it recovers some energy and that's a good thing. Without access to high frequency power and velocity data loggers and a suitably controlled testing venue I doubt we'll ever know. Something like this facility:

Catesby Tunnel | Aerodynamic testing facility | TotalSim Ltd

The Catesby Tunnel is set to become the worlds premier full scale vehicle testing facility. Catesby Tunnel now has its own website which can be found at www.catesbytunnel.com Located in the Northamptonshire countryside, the project has been developed by Aero Research Partners of which TotalSim...

www.totalsimulation.co.uk

 

[decrep]

I guess, there are too many unanswerable questions in this universe to worry about this one. It's not as simple as I thought, so I'll just enjoy the regen I do get.

 

[siteguru]

-25% is the highest regen number I've seen.

 

[M44LCY]

I said on another thread somewhere that there seems to be a tendency for comments to get way down into theoretical considerations. Those might very well be relevant and interesting (to those who understand it, or who are motivated to learn more). But 99.999% of us just need the rules of thumb that will let us get the best out of our EV.

That was why I posted a link to the chap who does eco tests all kind of cars for a living - telling us how he does it, without going into too much of the 'why'.

But maybe that's only my view as a man of very little brain …

 

[decrep]

I'm sure there's space here for all of us.


Understanding what's going on, gives you more flexibility.

 

[M44LCY]

I'm sure there's space here for all of us.


Understanding what's going on, gives you more flexibility.

Absolutely. I contribute my view, Fred says what he thinks, Sue adds her thoughts. That's what makes forums so rich and, as I tried to suggest, wide-ranging.

I look at posts with what seems to be complicated formulae and my head goes into a spin. It's marginal information which I don’t (or don’t need to) understand. A level of detail which a small minority might be able to interpret and discuss.

I can skip past it and learn/contribute what I can of the more mainstream stuff.

 

[wattmatters]

I look at posts with what seems to be complicated formulae and my head goes into a spin. It's marginal information which I don’t (or don’t need to) understand. A level of detail which a small minority might be able to interpret and discuss.

In fields where I have dived in very deep technically, one of the things you learn is what is and is not important and importantly why. Sometimes it can appear obvious but often it does not emerge unless/until someone somewhere does a deep dive to understand the why.

 

[Kompakted]

Eco mode doesn't just adjust the throttle response it also switches a lot of other vehicle systems into their own eco mode (e.g. climate control) at the touch of one button. By the vehicle's own calculations Eco mode gives you about an extra 20-30 miles of range: not earth-shattering by any means and that's based on my X-Power so range in Eco may be increased by more in other MG4 variants.

Sport mode has a significantly noticeable difference in how the car handles and performs. Again, I think that will be more noticeable in the X-Power as it has more systems that can be modified by the driving mode selection: the torque vectoring, electronic diff. and where and how aggressively the front motor is engaged to provide supplementary power. The X-Power's launch control is also only active in Sport mode.

 

[M44LCY]

In fields where I have dived in very deep technically, one of the things you learn is what is and is not important and importantly why. Sometimes it can appear obvious but often it does not emerge unless/until someone somewhere does a deep dive to understand the why.

I entirely agree that the truth is often counter-intuitive - the sun does not orbit the earth. My point was simply that most of the participants in a forum such as this are not domain experts, and are unable to comprehend detailed formulae and associated analyses. Scientific debate has its place - I just think that this kind of forum isn't that place.

The original post asked about the "difference between Eco, normal and sport modes". Did the person asking the question expect an answer involving in-depth technical explanation and debate? Or were they looking for practical advice that they could make use of today? That's impossible for me to say. I suspect it was the latter.

It looks like you are a well-read technical expert, probably familiar with research papers. Think about the way many people approach such papers. Do they start by reading the 'meat'? No - in general, they start the overview provided in the abstract.

What is needed in a forum such as this is an abstract. Information at a level which the majority can understand. Advice we can put into practice and get on with enjoying our EV.

 

[decrep]

Depends if the forum is exclusively for the average user.
And people that want to go deeper, don't get a go?

It may not be exactly what the OP asked for, but it's still on topic.

Part of the appeal of this forum is it's flexiblity.

 

[M44LCY]

Well, I'm on the side of helping the 99th percentile at a level which is appropriate to them. I'd say deep-dive technical discussions on this forum are the opposite of that. But continue with what you think is best.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[siteguru]

Eco mode doesn't just adjust the throttle response it also switches a lot of other vehicle systems into their own eco mode (e.g. climate control) at the touch of one button.

Only if you've selected that option in the HVAC screen, otherwise Eco drive mode is independent of Eco HVAC.

 

[Rolfe]

This may be a bit off topic, but does anyone know what actually happens when you agree to "entering power saving mode" when you get to 10% charge? Sometimes I say yes and sometimes I say no and the car doesn't feel any different whichever I pick.

 

[Archev]

Never encountered this problem. Possibly because of my “training” during my diesel period.
I did encounter running very low and even had the vehicle stop a couple of times. This necessitated calling my wife at home (pre mobile phone so some walking practice came in to get to a phone box)
She would go to a filling station and fill a can and bring it out to me. When that was poured in it might start the engine but once needed the fuel to be bled through the system to get rid of the air.
So all that hassle has helped concentrate my mind on treating the falling power reserve indicator with reverence.
On one occasion did walk to a local supermarket and buy a large bottle of cooking oil. The diesel Renault Clio started and ran so well that I often ran it like that as it was so much cheaper ?
I can’t find the isle that sells alternative bottles of watts ?? so I try to watch the power level with reverence ?

 

[AlexC]

Avoid regen because it’s very inefficient. I saw an experiment where a guy drove up a very long mountain and it used 8% battery. Then he used regen all the way down and recovered only 2%.
Point is you can only recover a small amount of any energy expended.
So it’s more efficient to coast when possible and use zero energy rather than regen and slow the car down only to accelerate again.

Also the cruise control is so twitchy in anything except ECO, it’s horrid in sport mode.

Eco reduces the power to only 250bhp instead of the 435bhp in sport.
ECO mode is very useful in my XPOWER so as not to snap my wife’s neck.

Where do you get your info for ECO = 250BHP? And does Normal mode enable the full 430BHP or less than sport mode?

 

[Kompakted]

Where do you get your info for ECO = 250BHP? And does Normal mode enable the full 430BHP or less than sport mode?

If Eco limits power delivery to the rear motor only and prevents the front motor engaging then that is where he will be getting the BHP limitation from. 430BHP is achieved by both motors running at full pelt. The front motor engages where it interprets your inputs as requiring extra power which is possible in normal mode but more aggressively deployed in sport. I'm unsure if "snow" mode makes use of the X-power's AWD to deliver torque controlled traction across all 4 wheels. I have had mine since March so will find out this winter

 

[Kompakted]

Only if you've selected that option in the HVAC screen, otherwise Eco drive mode is independent of Eco HVAC.

Think that option is standard on factory delivery - it was for me anyway.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

If Eco limits power delivery to the rear motor only and prevents the front motor engaging then that is where he will be getting the BHP limitation from. 430BHP is achieved by both motors running at full pelt. The front motor engages where it interprets your inputs as requiring extra power which is possible in normal mode but more aggressively deployed in sport. I'm unsure if "snow" mode makes use of the X-power's AWD to deliver torque controlled traction across all 4 wheels. I have had mine since March so will find out this winter

If Eco limits power delivery to the rear motor only and prevents the front motor engaging then that is where he will be getting the BHP limitation from. 430BHP is achieved by both motors running at full pelt. The front motor engages where it interprets your inputs as requiring extra power which is possible in normal mode but more aggressively deployed in sport. I'm unsure if "snow" mode makes use of the X-power's AWD to deliver torque controlled traction across all 4 wheels. I have had mine since March so will find out this winter

Eco does not limit power, it simply dulls your inputs through the throttle pedal.

You can have the full 435bhp in Snow, Eco and Normal as long as you jump on the loud peddle.
Bring up your energy consumption screen to see this for yourself.

Snow does indeed use 4wd, but only going forward.

So don't drive into a tricky winter situation.

If you have time, get a cup of T and go back through the X Power threads.

Everything has been covered at some point and just needs re discovering.

Oh and when you get a mo add your car over here if you like ?

Thread 'MG4 X Power Roll Call.' MG4 X Power Roll Call.

 

[Kompakted]

Eco does not limit power, it simply dulls your inputs through the throttle pedal.

You can have the full 435bhp in Snow, Eco and Normal as long as you jump on the loud peddle.
Bring up your energy consumption screen to see this for yourself.

Snow does indeed use 4wd, but only going forward.

So don't drive into a tricky winter situation.

If you have time, get a cup of T and go back through the X Power threads.

Everything has been covered at some point and just needs re discovering.

Oh and when you get a mo add your car over here if you like ?

Thread 'MG4 X Power Roll Call.' MG4 X Power Roll Call.

To be fair I wasn't sure on Eco myself. I've only ever used it when driving the family to Scotland on the A1M, cruise control pretty much all the way, so no need for the front motor was merely trying to comment that the reference to limiting to 250BHP implies only the rear motor is in operation.

I've added my car to the roll-call. Only seen one other X-power in the flesh so far. Was in my wife's BMW at the time so couldn't even do the mutual brotherly nod haha