Topic: Real-world fuel consumption

[quadzilla]

Toronto - Cambridge - Toronto

Did a lot of city driving (~80kms) in Cambridge then got stuck in bad traffic on the Gardiner coming home.

8.8 L/100

Happy about that. Can already feel how cold the roads are getting as I'm losing more traction in third gear now.

[bye]

1200 isn't worth driving a smart over a glk lol

Would you like to buy our GLK?  My wife no longer enjoys driving in it compared to the Smart ED!  I fully intend to replace our "final" gas powered car with a pure electric.

I far prefer the Smart ED.  I had to drive the GLK for a week as ironically the 12V battery on the Mercedes was failing, so my wife refused to drive it, as it wasn't "as reliable as the Smart".  I finished replacing the battery a few days ago (did it DIY style) and am very happy to be back in the Smart as I suffered from "gas anxiety" the entire time I commuted in the Mercedes.   

The Smart is such a blast to drive on city streets, and given that my recharge time is 10 seconds (the amount of time it takes me to plug it in, as I am asleep when it's charging), and I purchase 100% renewable electricity, it's very easy to like.

The Smart has enough room for a big weekly Costco run, and it is our preferred car for trips within the city whenever there is a choice to take it vs the Mercedes.

[Solstice2006]

Somehow I suspect your in the minority drive a Smart car or a GLK?  If we put a poll up, I suspect over 90% would be the GLK.  For some it's not a question of saving money at the pumps.  The way this country is, an electric is mostly suitable as a second vehicle only.  Guess you never towed anything with the GLK.  An going all electric will eliminate that.  And mostly likely AWD. 

[Fobroader]

Somehow I suspect your in the minority drive a Smart car or a GLK?  If we put a poll up, I suspect over 90% would be the GLK.  For some it's not a question of saving money at the pumps.  The way this country is, an electric is mostly suitable as a second vehicle only.  Guess you never towed anything with the GLK.  An going all electric will eliminate that.  And mostly likely AWD.

Dont bother.....he is way past saving.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[bye]

an electric is mostly suitable as a second vehicle only.  Guess you never towed anything with the GLK.  An going all electric will eliminate that.  And mostly likely AWD.

Wrong.
Tesla is coming out with an SUV with superior towing capacity.

http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/model-x-will-have-excellent-towing-capability-despite-photo-mo/

"Model X will have towing capability exceeding most SUVs in its class. With all-wheel drive, incredible torque and sophisticated traction control, it will be an excellent towing machine."

[bye]

Somehow I suspect your in the minority drive a Smart car or a GLK?  If we put a poll up, I suspect over 90% would be the GLK.  For some it's not a question of saving money at the pumps.   

Clearly.  The majority of households have two cars, at least one of which could be an electric.  Electric cars sales are on a rapid adoption curve, just like cell phones, laptops, flat screen TV's, and other high tech items, one day they will be ubiquitous.


I am an early adopter.

I was on Rogers beta program for HDTV having bought a $3000 tubed TV (not really a TV, rather, it was a high resolution monitor) and being one of the first to watch the Masters in HD.  That sounds ridiculous today, but more than 15 years ago, less than a few hundred homes had HDTV in Canada.

I used my summer job to buy a $3000 personal computer in the early 1980's when only two other students in my high school owned one.

I was the first person on my street with an electric car, now there are two (the other is a Leaf).  Things change, and change is good.

[Solstice2006]

an electric is mostly suitable as a second vehicle only.  Guess you never towed anything with the GLK.  An going all electric will eliminate that.  And mostly likely AWD.

Wrong.
Tesla is coming out with an SUV with superior towing capacity.

http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/model-x-will-have-excellent-towing-capability-despite-photo-mo/

"Model X will have towing capability exceeding most SUVs in its class. With all-wheel drive, incredible torque and sophisticated traction control, it will be an excellent towing machine."

This isn't science fiction, I am talking about the here and now.  The article you posted is more than 2 years old, and we have nothing yet. 

[wing]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a leaf as a second vehicle.  There is one listed locally for $20k. That's a good price.

But then I remember that in the winter I would barely get to work and back, and I could go to work but no very much further. 

Like if I wanted to go to princess auto, it is a 110km round trip for me.  On a sunny day in June, no problem.  But in the winter it would be parked as it wouldn't make it.

300km range would be good, 150 guaranteed even in the winter.  Otherwise its like driving with the low fuel light on constantly.

It's too bad, I kind of want one.

[me_2]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a leaf as a second vehicle.  There is one listed locally for $20k. That's a good price.

But then I remember that in the winter I would barely get to work and back, and I could go to work but no very much further. 

Like if I wanted to go to princess auto, it is a 110km round trip for me.  On a sunny day in June, no problem.  But in the winter it would be parked as it wouldn't make it.

300km range would be good, 150 guaranteed even in the winter.  Otherwise its like driving with the low fuel light on constantly.

It's too bad, I kind of want one.

That is why DC quick charge station free up EV driver minds, if ever required...
If you can have a L2 EVSE @208-240V 30 or 15A, is good enough to fully recharge a Leaf, Smart ED, Focus EV, BMW i3, iMiev during your workday & preheat the car before you leave.

http://api.plugshare.com/view/location/55291 DC Quick charge dual CHAdeMO & SAE combo CCS + L2
http://news.hydroquebec.com/en/press-releases/650/quebec-inaugurates-the-first-location-of-the-quebec-montreal-electric-charging-corridor/

[rrocket]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a leaf as a second vehicle.  There is one listed locally for $20k. That's a good price.

But then I remember that in the winter I would barely get to work and back, and I could go to work but no very much further. 

Like if I wanted to go to princess auto, it is a 110km round trip for me.  On a sunny day in June, no problem.  But in the winter it would be parked as it wouldn't make it.

300km range would be good, 150 guaranteed even in the winter.  Otherwise its like driving with the low fuel light on constantly.

It's too bad, I kind of want one.

That is why DC quick charge station free up EV driver minds, if ever required... http://news.hydroquebec.com/en/press-releases/650/quebec-inaugurates-the-first-location-of-the-quebec-montreal-electric-charging-corridor/
If you can have a L2 EVSE @208-240V 30 or 15A, is good enough to fully recharge a Leaf, Smart ED, Focus EV, BMW i3, iMiev during your workday & preheat the car before you leave.

Yea...you'd better hope there's one on your route or in your area.

I'm the same as Wing.  I'd be screwed.

[wing]

My work has parking for 2000 cars.  There are no plugs, lol.

[me_2]

My work has parking for 2000 cars.  There are no plugs, lol.

Not even (1) 120Vac utility receptacle ?  Yeah, maybe you're screwed after all ... 

[rrocket]

My work has parking for 2000 cars.  There are no plugs, lol.

Not even (1) 120Vac utility receptacle ?  Yeah, maybe you're screwed after all ... 

We have plugs...but they aren't for plugging in your car.

[Ex-airbalancer]

I keep thinking it would be cool to have a leaf as a second vehicle.  There is one listed locally for $20k. That's a good price.

But then I remember that in the winter I would barely get to work and back, and I could go to work but no very much further. 

Like if I wanted to go to princess auto, it is a 110km round trip for me.  On a sunny day in June, no problem.  But in the winter it would be parked as it wouldn't make it.

300km range would be good, 150 guaranteed even in the winter.  Otherwise its like driving with the low fuel light on constantly.

It's too bad, I kind of want one.

That why I like the volt , at least you also have a gas engine so you  keep driving, beside soon gas will be 50 cent a litre and off peak hydro will be up to $1 a KW 
The biggest question is why is there more Wally Marts then Princess Autos 

[wing]

Yeah but you can't buy a volt for $20k yet and when you can they will be old. 

[bye]

Yeah, I have a co-worker who really wants to drive electric, but would be out of luck on the 10 coldest days of the year due to the reduced range when it's < -10C out.  The other 250+ commuting days he'd be fine.

My 120km range electric car goes only 70km when it's -20C outside.  Most of that is due to heating the cabin and/or defrost, but some is due to the additional losses within the battery due to the electrolyte needing to be heated to be at operating temperature (the Smart ED has a heated and cooled battery) of > -10C.

As it is, my commute and side trips rarely top 90km in a day, so I'm fine.

Let's give this a few years and see what 300+km electric cars are on the market.  That would be a 200km car in inclement weather.  More than enough for most commutes plus some buffer for side trips (lunch, shopping, whatever).

[bye]

Not even (1) 120Vac utility receptacle ?

We have plugs...but they aren't for plugging in your car.

A single 120V outlet would be enough to add 50+km of range in the winter, and it would allow an electric car with a heated battery (like my Smart ED) to pre-condition the battery and cabin so the drive home uses a lot less energy from the battery, adding another 20km of range.

A car like mine with 120V charging at work would be easily able to go 140km round trip.

Perhaps you could ask for a 120V outlet?

Total cost of electricity to the company would be $0.20/kW * 8 hours at 1.4kW/h = $2.25 per day for those rare days in the winter when you need it.   Otherwise, the majority of the year you might not even need to charge, or if so, only for a few hours.

[rrocket]

Not even (1) 120Vac utility receptacle ?

We have plugs...but they aren't for plugging in your car.

A single 120V outlet would be enough to add 40+km of range in the winter, and it would allow an electric car with a heated battery (like my Smart ED) to pre-condition the battery and cabin so the drive home uses a lot less energy from the battery, adding another 20km of range.

A car like mine with 120V charging at work would be easily able to go 120km round trip.

Perhaps you could ask for a 120V outlet?

Total cost of electricity to the company would be $0.20/kW * 8 hours at 1.4kW/h = $2.25 per day for those rare days in the winter when you need it.   Otherwise, the majority of the year you might not even need to charge, or if so, only for a few hours.

No..they won't allow it.  There's a guy here who used to plug his block heater in for 2-3 hours before he went home.  They told him to stop.....

[jpd]

Got the Smart electric drive 3-months ago and have already done 3200 km!  Saved about $300 for not using the SUV.  With the newly installed EVC30T 240V charger I'll be ready for my first green winter!  Our best buy for sure as a car to commute in the city!

[blotter]

colder weather with a few days of frost and cranking up the defrost.
another day of towing, a bit too much idling from loading / unloading.

still under 12L at an official 11.7L / 100km with the Taco