2008 London to Brighton electric car run - Sunday 6th July

[Tim]

Tim, 122 miles in a day in the Gwiz - that is a fair old distance. Did you just have the 2 charging opportunities? I take it the second charge was a full one?

We also charged in Brighton at the Marina, so we had 3 charges during the day to between 80 and 90% SoC.

39 miles from White's Row to Handcross (for lunch) took it down to 20% SoC (red/yellow boundary). Lunchtime charging took it up to 85% SoC or so.

23 miles from Handcross to Brighton Marina (including driving up Ditchling Beacon) took the charge back down to 50%. So that's about 35% charge used for 23 miles which suggests about 52 miles projected range. I don't think that can be right as that including climbing Ditchling Beacon (admittedly at 15 mph in places). Charging at the Marina took things up from 50% to 90% SoC.

The first part of the return leg was 26 miles to Crawley which saw SoC drop from 90 to 50% - coincidentally another projected 52 miles range.

The final leg from Karl's to White's Row was 34 miles and took SoC down from about 90% to 43% - that's 34 miles for 47% charge - a potential range of 58 miles and that with headlights.

I thought yesterday that the charge gauge wasn't moving much, but it's only now as I work out the figures that I can see why.  

The final leg back to Basildon this morning suggested a potential range of 50 miles (based on 28 miles driving), and a return trip to Dagenham this evening a range of 48 miles (based on 33 miles driving).

These are the best projected range figures I've ever had.  Clearly yesterday the vehicle was getting quite warm - indeed the cooling fan was running at times.  But for the effect to carry on into today then I can only conclude that there's a significant battery conditioning effect at work.

[marctorrance]

I've also found that the range is much improved if you use up the batteries "in one go".  I guess the reason is that they stay warm, and the time available to self-discharge is minimized.  There's also less interference from the "guess the SoC" electronics.

[MB]

That's impressive range figures, Tim.  I can only assume you're a careful driver and your batteries are in tip-top condition.  Well done!

[edward]

back to White's Row at about 11:15 PM having completed 122 miles of Wizzing in one day.  Is this a record?

I bet it is, outside Indian testing tracks. Nice one Tim, that's really going some. Having had a few days around the 100 mile mark meself - hats off to that mileage.

Now the race to 200.

[ST]

Would 200 be possible without going to lithiums?

[edward]

Would 200 be possible without going to lithiums?

Assuming ideal conditions. And that you could get 50 miles on an almost full charge, ending halfway through the yellow each time. Warm day, flat road/track. Start the AC/GWizi fully charged:-

4 x 50 miles @ 2hrs   =  8hrs
3 x charge up @ 5hrs = 15hrs

An hour to spare!

[clickwhirr]

How about starting with a full charge. Doing the first 50 miles, then stopping to charge for 2.5 hours - this should give you an 80% charge which would be enough to do 40 miles.
So if it took 2 hours to do the first 50 miles
then 2.5 hour charge
then 1.75 hours to do the next 40 miles
then 2.5 hour charge
then another 1.75 hours to do the next 40 miles
then 2.5 hour charge
then another 1.75 hours to do the next 40 miles
then 2.5 hour charge
then another 1.75 hours to do the next 40 miles
then 2.5 hour charge
then another 1.75 hours to do the next 40 miles
then say about a 25 minute or so charge to get a 13% charge
then drive the last 20 minutes to do about 8 more miles
so in a 24 hour period you could do 258 miles.
Of course this assumes perfect conditions and a driving speed of about 25 mph.