Lightning Commuter Mid-winter to early spring 5-month chart on daily distance, kWh used, miles per kWh plus +++

[Jseis]

I roll 90 to 100 miles a day 5 days a week. And no real surprises here. Variable speeds per day 50-45-54-55 mph. Hankooks at 40K were toast as in 1/3 really worn to 2/32nds. Replaced them with Michelin Defenders. I roll at 44 psi cause heavy truck. 5 months is about 10k Miles. Red dotted trend line is a 10-day rolling average. Possibly a few outliers but haven't figured that out yet. I can have no wind in the morning and a 20-mph tailwind in the afternoon. Or 25 miles an hour wind w/driving rain head-on in the afternoon. A soaking wet road isn't frictionless either. "Winter" is low 40's to low 30's with "spring" up to 68-70 in afternoon though can be 42 in the morning. Have fun!

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[Rocket808]

you data matches my “sense”. Hankooks were good for efficiency but have a short life - mine rounded the outer corner early.


Have you tried sport mode vs normal?

 

[AI_Speed]

Thank you for sharing - are you satisfied with the results?

 

[Jseis]

you data matches my “sense”. Hankooks were good for efficiency but have a short life - mine rounded the outer corner early.


Have you tried sport mode vs normal?

I always drive in Sport ‘cause better “road” feel.

 

[Jseis]

Thank you for sharing - are you satisfied with the results?

Yes, one caveat: the Lightning is sensitive to speed, tail/frontal winds, tires, wet roads, air temp. With more traffic in the last year I find that I’ll consistently cruise at 55-57 mph to avoid most tailgaters, passers. Thus my mileage average 100% comes at 299-300 miles, dead on what I’d predict.

Summer weather, particularly warmer mornings would add .1-.2 mi/kWh.

Defenders are ever so slightly less efficient..

Typical winter range is likely around 270-280 miles but we can have crazy warm days too. Pouring rain, high 50’s.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Considering your (in my opinion) excellent efficiency during the colder months, I would assume that you precondition?

 

[Jseis]

Considering your (in my opinion) excellent efficiency during the colder months, I would assume that you precondition?

Yes. Noticeable difference in the morning. However, I don’t precondition in afternoon.

 

[topher10]

I love data and graphs, so thanks for showing this. Gives a sense of variability and the effect of temp.
I have one question. I wonder if you could get the temperature (low or avg) for each of those days? You could then run a regression and get the impact of temp on efficiency, graphing that in a scatter plot.

 

[AI_Speed]

Yes, one caveat: the Lightning is sensitive to speed, tail/frontal winds, tires, wet roads, air temp. With more traffic in the last year I find that I’ll consistently cruise at 55-57 mph to avoid most tailgaters, passers. Thus my mileage average 100% comes at 299-300 miles, dead on what I’d predict.

Summer weather, particularly warmer mornings would add .1-.2 mi/kWh.

Defenders are ever so slightly less efficient..

Typical winter range is likely around 270-280 miles but we can have crazy warm days too. Pouring rain, high 50’s.

Yes - the brick shaped Lightning handles headwinds poorly - tail winds really aid though!

 

[Jseis]

I love data and graphs, so thanks for showing this. Gives a sense of variability and the effect of temp.
I have one question. I wonder if you could get the temperature (low or avg) for each of those days? You could then run a regression and get the impact of temp on efficiency, graphing that in a scatter plot.

I do. The data is so variable as I can leave the garage and the outside temp is say 53 F. In 20 miles it drops to 38 F. Then up to 45 in another 24 miles. Worse, those early spring afternoons can be high 60’s, low 70’s.

I suspect wet pavement also impacts efficiency. I’ve done multivariate stat analysis before. The best dataset would be constant speed and constant temp and flat ground. An interstate or state highway stretch 40-50 miles long that is in a plateau or similar. My route is variable and then coastal storms & winds.

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