It may be a conceit, but I believe I have a reasonable idea on how to get good mpg from an ICE vehicle, especially around our urban environment and without breaking laws.

I don't hyper-mile or drive slowly or do anything to annoy other drivers, I just allow a couple of extra metres and anticipate traffic conditions.

I'm also aware that there is a difference in best economy and best efficiency of an ICE engine.

I've got no real experience with EVs other than the occasional drive, but I am interested in them and read/view the reviews of any potential future purchase.

The reviews annoy me as they often make illogical claims regarding consumption rates. For instance, there is often the statement that highway consumption is compromised because 'they don't get the opportunity to execute regen braking like they do in urban stop/start traffic'.

Sure, regen braking will make some difference (recovering energy rather than wasting it with friction brakes), but surely the biggest influence is speed and overcoming the total drag (frontal area x drag coefficient) which increases fourfold when you double the speed.

Open highway and on our rigorously policed speed limits I'm happy to average 100kph (100/110 kph speed limits) around my urban areas I am lucky to average 30kph (40/50/60 kph speed limits) out of peak traffic.

Can anyone provide an idea of kw consumption is shown at various constant speeds? say 20/30/40 increments to 110 and I don't care if it is kph or mph.

Can you confirm that you are better off using low regen and maintaining a steady speed rather than heavy regen braking?

Similarly, can you coast (no regen, no current used) in an EV? Is it more economical to coast than using light regenerative braking?

Be interested to hear informed opinions.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Gerrycan

Well I'll give it a shot. 5 years / 70k miles in EVs, mainly VAG products.

33 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

The reviews annoy me as they often make illogical claims regarding consumption rates. For instance, there is often the statement that highway consumption is compromised because 'they don't get the opportunity to execute regen braking like they do in urban stop/start traffic'.

This is a fallacy in general as you point out. When driving in urban stop/start EVs will often perform better than comparable ICE in terms of efficiency, due mainly to the regen from constant braking but on the open road not so much. This is another pro in the urban EV argument.

36 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

Can anyone provide an idea of kw consumption is shown at various constant speeds? say 20/30/40 increments to 110 and I don't care if it is kph or mph.

For me, 50mph in my ID.3 will give around 4.8 miles / kWh. In my previous ID.4 this would have been 4.1 for the reasons you give (weight & frontal area). Note the most recent ID.4 models have a more efficient motor than mine did and will give better economy.On the motorway I cruise at 65mph and get 4.2 from the ID.3 and 3.8 from the old ID.4.

42 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

Can you confirm that you are better off using low regen and maintaining a steady speed rather than heavy regen braking?

Yes in my experience you are. I use heavy regen for downhill sections like you would change down and use engine braking on ICE vehicles.

43 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

Similarly, can you coast (no regen, no current used) in an EV? Is it more economical to coast than using light regenerative braking?

Yes indeed. Many EVs have coast as default. VAG cars have an 'intelligent' drive mode where the car coasts for as long as possible then regens to slow you down for roundabouts etc. It relies on the sat-nav data to know about bends, junctions etc. and the ACC to look out for obstacles in front.

Driving an EV economically is not witchcraft, but uses the same principles as you would in ICE. Speed above 60-65 really impacts consumption IME.

Edited 36 minutes ago36 min by Luckypants