Experimental Data / Correction

[The Real Maverick]

Yes, I understand that, so again there are lots of times when on the highway the instant MPG goes from 9999 to EV,

Those cases the engine stops spinning.

You are probably regenerating a small amount, like enough to run the truck's lights, air conditioning, blower, entertainment, etc.

Consider it almost a neutral coast.

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[HeyBales]

But often times the ICE is off. This does not make since to me, are you saying that the generator is driving the truck forward?

Remember the scenario the response was too:

wax87 said:
Where do the electrons go when you are in regen and your battery is at 100%


So what's "driving the truck forward" is gravity or forward momentum if you are in regen and moving forward.
Nothing needs to drive it.
Perhaps some Go pedal to remove any regen so truly coasting with only wind and tire resistance.

In my RAV4 I could watch the OBD data for fuel usage and after coasting down a hill for so long that would go to 0 fuel used. I forgot how many seconds of no throttle was required to cause it, but it required a decent hill to overcome wind/tire/transmission resistance to get it.

Ya, it's a shame wasted energy, but at least the 12V system and any other electrical needs are fed 1st.
Also too bad it won't go up to 100% or closer than abouts the 70% at least. Seems like exercising rest of the battery capacity might be healthy from time to time.

 

[HeyBales]

I think they were saying that he could not get up to 50 mph in EV mode alone. In other words, no matter how careful you are with the throttle, on level ground, starting at 0 mph, the ICE will kick in around 35mph.

I've gotten up to 50 doing that test.
Boy is a long stretch of road needed for that initial getting up to 30 though, but after that seems easier as you watch the blue battery bar quickly disappear.

My son thought one of the scanner apps that had a 0-60 test would be interesting purely by EV.
Not sure interesting would be the term to use. Hard to toe that 10% power line.
Ya, electric motors and instant torque, not all it's made to sound like in this case.

 

[wax87]

You are the EV god; I have never been able to get much above 35 in EV mode.

 

[Darnon]

You are the EV god; I have never been able to get much above 35 in EV mode.

Low-50's MPH on flat ground is pretty comfortably sustainable.

 

[wax87]

Low-50's MPH on flat ground is pretty comfortably sustainable.

From a stop?
I must have a heavy foot then

 

[The Real Maverick]

It's doable but it ain't easy.

 

[wax87]

what is your 0-50 time? 1:13 LOL

 

[Darnon]

From a stop?
I must have a heavy foot then

Not at any pace I'd consider reasonable; you'd likely discharge the battery before you got there. Don't be afraid to utilize the engine; it's often better to accelerate somewhat briskly with the ICE the faster to switch to cruising in electric.

 

[HeyBales]

what is your 0-50 time? 1:13 LOL

Longer!

And yeah this ain't for normal driving on streets - I'd probably be getting shot at.

Though, last night coming back from sunset pictures at the park with son - one 45 mph road with 2 mile stretch of very gentle decline, that's hard to hit all greens because it goes thru 3 cities that don't time the lights - I started off the red light behind several cars so kept in EV mode the entire way, was up to 50 in about 1/2 mile and probably could have hit the 2 mile mark still in EV but slow car in lane, and while going to next lane to go around hit the Go pedal just a tad too much, when it was down at bottom of battery available. ICE was about to come on for steep incline as always, but that's about my only stretch of long road nearby to attempt that.

 

[AVC]

The generator CONSUMES the power by spinning the engine at an rpm proportional to the wattage being generated.

Generator spins the engine, other than to start it?

 

[HeyBales]

Generator spins the engine, other than to start it?

Electricity can't go to battery when it's full to limit.

So traction motor generated electricity goes to power the generator motor, which spins the ICE, which uses it up.

Since the generator motor also controls the gearing for the engine, it can waste whatever it needs to.
I've never looked at logs to see how high RPM it'll spin it, then again I can't say except for 1 exact hill I'm ever getting the effect.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Generator spins the engine, other than to start it?

You bet.

It spins it 900 - 1250 RPM before fuel is added to start it.

And it spins it 2500 to 4500 (as needed) to burn off energy the battery can't store on those long hills.

You can think of it like negative 40 horsepower (variable). Horsepower slowing you down vs. making you go.

 

[AVC]

You bet.

It spins it 900 - 1250 RPM before fuel is added to start it.

And it spins it 2500 to 4500 (as needed) to burn off energy the battery can't store on those long hills.

You can think of it like negative 40 horsepower (variable). Horsepower slowing you down vs. making you go.

Yeah, the spinning strategy to start, I get.

The 2500 ~ 4500 to "burn off" energy it can't store; where is that documented?

Using the ICE (running or not) for braking, I get.

Dissipating "excess" energy from motor/generator for extended downhill runs, I don't get. How does the ICE dissipate excess *electrical* energy from the generator/motor? Or is that not what you are implying?

 

[The Real Maverick]

Yeah, the spinning strategy to start, I get.

The 2500 ~ 4500 to "burn off" energy it can't store; where is that documented?

Using the ICE (running or not) for braking, I get.

Dissipating "excess" energy from motor/generator for extended downhill runs, I don't get. How does the ICE dissipate excess *electrical* energy from the generator/motor? Or is that not what you are implying?

The wheels are not directly connected to the engine. They are connected to the traction motor.

Going downhill and you want to slow:

Wheels turn traction motor. Traction motor can "freewheel" basically neutral coast and do nothing; or a load can be put on the motor and it can generate power, which creates resistance. Negative torque, which is "drag" that slows you down. But that power has to go to the battery or somewhere else.

When the battery is full, the somewhere else is the power goes to the generator that now acts as a motor. The same thing in the same way it starts the engine. This "motor/generator" spins the engine. Without fuel. But not for 2 seconds like when "starting" it, but it spins it continuously, for as long as it takes.

The generator has some mechanical resistance but the engine has a lot more. A lot more moving parts. Plus suction of air and/or compression of air, which creates the "work" for the generator to do to "use up" the excessive wattage.

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