> It is even more complicated for a Tesla owner because the range displayed on the dashboard does not factor in the effects of temperature, driving efficiency or post-sale modifications. It is only when driver requests directions to a destination that the vehicle begins accounting for temperature and driving conditions.
I can kind of understand why? But I also don't believe that it would be impossible to use a better estimate even when you don't have a destination set.
My Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provides a distance to empty number that "learns" based on your driving habits (probably just averaging your MPG over the last 3-4 tanks, or something like that) and IME at least it's usually extremely accurate. Several times I've driven the car down to just 5-6 miles left on the DTE. When I did that it took almost exactly 12.5 gallons to fill up, and the car has a 14.5 gallon tank with 2 gallons held in reserve.
If Toyota can manage do it, I'm pretty sure that Tesla can. I'm just not sure that they want to.
Is that actually true? Even the 2014 i3 estimates range based on past driving data. I don’t think Tesla would just program in a magic number and leave it at that.
Define better? Should it be the last 15 miles of downhill driving into Baker, CA? The last 20 miles of 85+ along a high speed interstate? The last 20 miles of city driving?
TBH, other cars tend to do some mystical formula that is some approximation of the above. There's a reason that they get called guess-o-meters.
I 100% understand that quite a few people prefer that, but it does come with some interesting downsides too.
I consistently beat every energy estimate given by navigation; maybe I just drive more efficiently than average? It also adjusts in real-time based on your actual driving.
> It is even more complicated for a Tesla owner because the range displayed on the dashboard does not factor in the effects of temperature, driving efficiency or post-sale modifications. It is only when driver requests directions to a destination that the vehicle begins accounting for temperature and driving conditions.
I can kind of understand why? But I also don't believe that it would be impossible to use a better estimate even when you don't have a destination set.