Miles/kWh

[Adee]

Sorry no pic of the dashboard, but I've been keeping an eye on my wife's commute to work as it is always the same, 85miles a week so the only variables are the weather, use of heating A/C etc and traffic; town driving occasional 40mph, mostly 30mph. I charge once a week.
This week was the best yet (charged to 100% last weekend to do a balance charge) and it shows 70% left. That would give 5.66kWhr for 'normal' driving, so roughly 280 miles of range.

If the charge meter is reasonably linear then it does seem that you are on track to getting 280miles from a single charge.

So your wife could be the first person to meet my challenge (which is to achieve a reading of 5miles/kWhr over a distance of over 100miles)

What you could do is to charge the car overnight to 100% as usual and don't forget to reset the accumulated trip counter - the other trip counter resets after an hour or two so probably won't work for this experiment. Then let her go to work for a week till you have 85miles on the odometer. Then drive the remaining 15miles as slowly as possible until your display shows the final result at 100miles or more if you are feeling ambitious. With luck it will show over 5mileskWhr.

The prize, of course, is knowing that you'll be the first to report the achievement on the forum. We need evidence though

 

[Adee]

I don't think you can rely on the figure the car reports. It seems to use a bayesian average to prevent wild swings in the initial stages of a journey. The only accurate method is to measure how much energy is used to return the battery voltage to the same level as it was immediately before the journey. This will of course include charging losses.

My car reports a total average of 3.8 miles per kWh over 5000 miles, but the measured energy from the meter of around 1500 kWh equates to 3.33 miles per kWh, with a little over 10% lost to heat in the charging process.

The meter to wheel consumption is in many ways more important than the battery to wheel figure; although the latter is more relevant for calculating range, the former shows actual cost and emissions per mile.

I suppose it depends on what you are trying to achieve. Trying to get the highest m/kWhr figure is fun and a good tool for optimising your driving for optimum efficiency. It's arguable, but I would tend to think that the energy drained from the battery during use (and as indicated by the on board meter) is probably fairly accurate (+/-5%) as the car measures both current and voltage at any given time. Obviously it depends on how accurate these two meters are and also how often the data is sampled and integrated, but, potentially, it ought to be pretty good. I have to admit that it is strange how the m/kWhr figure climbs for the first few miles after starting off. Maybe there are a few electrical systems (power brakes/steering) which consume power initially and then distort the initial figures?

As you rightly point out, though, the charging meter will give a better indication of the impact on the environment and the pocket. If saving money is an objective, then it's pointless trying to eke out 0.1m/kWhr if you're topping up on rapid chargers

 

[freewaymc]

Worst commute to work ever gave me the best miles per kilowatt ever wish I got that every day

 

[ArfurM]

Worst commute to work ever gave me the best miles per kilowatt ever wish I got that every dayView attachment 3993

Ay Caramba!

 

[Adee]

Worst commute to work ever gave me the best miles per kilowatt ever wish I got that every day

Electric car drivers are the only ones with smiles on their faces when they're stuck in heavy traffic!

 

[JonnyRed]

If the charge meter is reasonably linear then it does seem that you are on track to getting 280miles from a single charge.

So your wife could be the first person to meet my challenge (which is to achieve a reading of 5miles/kWhr over a distance of over 100miles)

What you could do is to charge the car overnight to 100% as usual and don't forget to reset the accumulated trip counter - the other trip counter resets after an hour or two so probably won't work for this experiment. Then let her go to work for a week till you have 85miles on the odometer. Then drive the remaining 15miles as slowly as possible until your display shows the final result at 100miles or more if you are feeling ambitious. With luck it will show over 5mileskWhr.

The prize, of course, is knowing that you'll be the first to report the achievement on the forum. We need evidence though

Sorry might not be able to do it this week, (I know getting my excuses in early). We live in a ground floor flat and use the granny charger through a window, so can't always charge when we would like. Also my wife's a school teacher, so nearly at the end of term (thanks MG for the affinity scheme)... Although it gives me an idea for a holiday activity...

"Darling, do you mind driving to work and back, you know so we can test the car...no I can't drive or come along for the ride it would change the 'variables'...Also you would have to wait around for a while to let the car battery return to a 'non-driving state'...No you can't sit in it to wait either that would change the 'variables'...." ?

 

[Adee]

Sorry might not be able to do it this week, (I know getting my excuses in early). We live in a ground floor flat and use the granny charger through a window, so can't always charge when we would like. Also my wife's a school teacher, so nearly at the end of term (thanks MG for the affinity scheme)... Although it gives me an idea for a holiday activity...

"Darling, do you mind driving to work and back, you know so we can test the car...no I can't drive or come along for the ride it would change the 'variables'...Also you would have to wait around for a while to let the car battery return to a 'non-driving state'...No you can't sit in it to wait either that would change the 'variables'...." ?

Hey, there's no hurry! I don't think anyone will be pipping you to the post!
The only other successful strategy I can think of would be as follows....
Set alarm clock for 01:00hrs. Drive aimlessly round local roads at 20-30mph for 4-5hrs (obviously pull in to let any milk floats get past) until odometer shows 100miles, whilst trying to avoid the possible risk of a prosecution for kerb-crawling. Come home and go to bed feeling very tired and rather narked that the meter only made 4.9m/kWhr
So I'm happy to leave it to your wife, however amenable she happens to be on the day!!

 

[Kithmo]

Electric car drivers are the only ones with smiles on their faces when they're stuck in heavy traffic!

Not with all those smelly fossil burning fumes around me

 

[JonnyRed]

Hey, there's no hurry! I don't think anyone will be pipping you to the post!
The only other successful strategy I can think of would be as follows....
Set alarm clock for 01:00hrs. Drive aimlessly round local roads at 20-30mph for 4-5hrs (obviously pull in to let any milk floats get past) until odometer shows 100miles, whilst trying to avoid the possible risk of a prosecution for kerb-crawling. Come home and go to bed feeling very tired and rather narked that the meter only made 4.9m/kWhr
So I'm happy to leave it to your wife, however amenable she happens to be on the day!!

Sorry, an attempt at humor that 'backfired' (no backfiring on an EV forum!?), but seriously I don't know how linear the percentage is; is 40% to 70% the same kWh as 70% to 100%? It seems pretty accurate, but without careful testing of what goes in and what comes out it would be hard to tell and it doesn't really matter if it is close enough. I currently have a very dumb leccy meter that only shows whole units so I am only getting a rough idea of units used in charging, but it does have a flashing LED, the faster it flashes the more units you are using. I have got pretty good at seeing when it goes from charging to balancing just by watching the flashing LED!
Anecdotally batteries feel like you get a little less miles the lower down the percentage you go, but this could just be some anxiety kicking in as you get closer to the dreaded 0%.

I will say again I am really impressed with the MG5. It may not be flashy, but so far it has been a very good and efficient EV, that happens to be comfortable, easy to drive and relatively cheap. Now I just have to work out why the black and silver grill actually has holes in it? Any ideas?

 

[Dickie0121]

3.4 best to date

 

[Adee]

Sorry, an attempt at humor that 'backfired' (no backfiring on an EV forum!?), but seriously I don't know how linear the percentage is; is 40% to 70% the same kWh as 70% to 100%? It seems pretty accurate, but without careful testing of what goes in and what comes out it would be hard to tell and it doesn't really matter if it is close enough. I currently have a very dumb leccy meter that only shows whole units so I am only getting a rough idea of units used in charging, but it does have a flashing LED, the faster it flashes the more units you are using. I have got pretty good at seeing when it goes from charging to balancing just by watching the flashing LED!
Anecdotally batteries feel like you get a little less miles the lower down the percentage you go, but this could just be some anxiety kicking in as you get closer to the dreaded 0%.

I will say again I am really impressed with the MG5. It may not be flashy, but so far it has been a very good and efficient EV, that happens to be comfortable, easy to drive and relatively cheap. Now I just have to work out why the black and silver grill actually has holes in it? Any ideas?

Keep the humour coming! I love it (even if I don't always spot it!).
I agree that the %meter is unlikely to be very accurate or linear.
However, I believe the consumption meter (in miles/kWhr) probably is quite accurate as the car continuously measures volts and amps, the product of which is power. At the very least it ought to be as accurate as the fuel computers in ICE cars, in my view.
I agree that the car is good and it has hugely exceeded my expectations in every respect. Just wish it had side cameras and then I wouldn't be having to fix the dent in the front of my sill/wing, which I caught on a big rock 1000miles from new ownership!
As for the holes in the grill, no idea. There is a big radiator at the front of the vehicle (presumably either for air-con or battery cooling) but it gets plenty of airflow from underneath so they can't be helping much.

 

[JoOLS]

Sorry, an attempt at humor that 'backfired' (no backfiring on an EV forum!?), but seriously I don't know how linear the percentage is; is 40% to 70% the same kWh as 70% to 100%? It seems pretty accurate, but without careful testing of what goes in and what comes out it would be hard to tell and it doesn't really matter if it is close enough. I currently have a very dumb leccy meter that only shows whole units so I am only getting a rough idea of units used in charging, but it does have a flashing LED, the faster it flashes the more units you are using. I have got pretty good at seeing when it goes from charging to balancing just by watching the flashing LED!
Anecdotally batteries feel like you get a little less miles the lower down the percentage you go, but this could just be some anxiety kicking in as you get closer to the dreaded 0%.

I will say again I am really impressed with the MG5. It may not be flashy, but so far it has been a very good and efficient EV, that happens to be comfortable, easy to drive and relatively cheap. Now I just have to work out why the black and silver grill actually has holes in it? Any ideas?

The holes are for flying insects to escape through in order that they don't get squashed on the grille.....

 

[ArfurM]

Trip back to dealer (again) in the ZS to collect the '5:

..Not too shabby...

Arf

 

[Valiant5]

So, a couple of weeks ago my 5 managed 6.9 on a downhill trip home from a pub meal in the Peak District, so close to 7!

Someone suggested going to another pub higher up and today, from the Barrel Inn, Bretton, Derbyshire's highest pub, with a descent of about 880ft this was the result...

 

[Les burrows]

So, a couple of weeks ago my 5 managed 6.9 on a downhill trip home from a pub meal in the Peak District, so close to 7!

Someone suggested going to another pub higher up and today, from the Barrel Inn, Bretton, Derbyshire's highest pub, with a descent of about 880ft this was the result...

Hi valiant5 Told yeh that would do the trick And get it past the 7 mark plus I see the temperature higher 16-22 degrees which helps
I did ask #157 if you could post a picture (to compare as we have very similar mileage on our cars ) of the other counter the accumulated one for your 3500 odd miles your cars done hope you enjoyed your meal at the Barrel
Les

 

[thefunkystoat]

I got very similar results driving home after a run out round the cat and fiddle. Still sat at 3.9 for the average over the first 3000 miles. Keep hoping it will pop up to 4 but I suspect I do a few too many short journeys.

 

[Johnny 5 is alive]

Don't think this qualifies for the genuine 100 miles at 5 m/kwh but not far off!
Halfway percentage on our 220 mile Carlisle to Skegness trip, which meant we didn't have to stop for a boost en route ?

 

[JoOLS]

Don't think this qualifies for the genuine 100 miles at 5 m/kwh but not far off!
Halfway percentage on our 220 mile Carlisle to Skegness trip, which meant we didn't have to stop for a boost en route ?

Great m/kwh! Did you keep KERS at 1 throughout?

 

[Valiant5]

Hi valiant5 Told yeh that would do the trick And get it past the 7 mark plus I see the temperature higher 16-22 degrees which helps
I did ask #157 if you could post a picture (to compare as we have very similar mileage on our cars ) of the other counter the accumulated one for your 3500 odd miles your cars done hope you enjoyed your meal at the Barrel
Les

Here you are Les, my overall rate, 4.2, so a little less than yours. It was a very cold winter in Derbyshire, so the rate was stubbornly in the lower 3s until March, then picked up nicely as the temperature rose.

We actually got to the Barrel too late for the food, they stopped serving at 2, so just a smallish bowl of peanuts! Will definitely go back, though, the view is fantastic

 

[Johnny 5 is alive]

Great m/kwh! Did you keep KERS at 1 throughout?

No, I toggle between D and N throughout and use KERS 1 2 & 3 to regulate my deceleration depending on road conditions.
ECO mode all the way but at 70 on cruise control the power mode makes no difference anyway, ECO just mutes acceleration spikes and therefore uses less amps.
Absolutely over the moon with this car, nearly 6000 miles in, never ceases to amaze me ?
Got to Skegness after 221 miles with a handful left!