[exxxviii]

With all the recent posts about hypermiling and high efficiency drives, I thought I would start a thread on the topic to collect some data. The idea is to post efficiency along with the car details, car settings, road type, and climate.

The purpose is not to make this a contest, but to have some great examples to give folks insights into their theoretical potentials. I know there are a few folks that are masters that I could never match, but I like to see their numbers.

So, here is my starter...

I did a round-trip last week with the goal of getting peak efficiency. It was the highest I have ever recorded.

Drive 1 (outbound)

• Trim & Year: xDrive50 2024
• Wheels & Tires: Factory 21" with Bridgestone Alenza 255/50R21
• Distance: 9.7 miles
• Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads
• Climate: Clear and mid-60s F
• Average Speed: 23.6 MPH
• Drive Mode: D Mode
• MyMode: Efficiency (97% of the trip)
• kWh Consumed: 2.6 kWh
• Efficiency: 3.8 miles/kWh

Drive 2 (return)

• Trim & Year: xDrive50 2024
• Wheels & Tires: Factory 21" with Bridgestone Alenza 255/50R21
• Distance: 9.2 miles
• Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads
• Climate: Clear and mid-60s F
• Average Speed: 22.6 MPH
• Drive Mode: D Mode
• MyMode: Efficiency (99.5% of the trip)
• kWh Consumed: 2.3 kWh
• Efficiency: 3.9 miles/kWh

One of the metrics I watch is the # miles restored to the battery when in Efficiency mode. The higher this number, the more regenerative braking you needed and potential losses from both sides of the acceleration run. In my case, the # miles regenerated was about 10% of the total distance. Optimally, this would be 0%, which would mean you never used more energy than needed to arrive at cruising speed and could cost to a stop every time. I don't think this number shows up anywhere in the app.

[ricerboi]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

With all the recent posts about hypermiling and high efficiency drives, I thought I would start a thread on the topic to collect some data. The idea is to post efficiency along with the car settings, road type, and climate.

The purpose is not to make this a contest, but to have some great examples to give folks insights into their theoretical potentials. I know there are a few folks that are masters that I could never match, but I like to see their numbers.

So, here is my starter...

I did a round-trip last week with the goal of getting peak efficiency. It was the highest I have ever recorded.

Drive 1 (outbound)


Distance: 9.7 miles
Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads
Climate: Clear and mid-60s F
Average Speed: 23.6 MPH
Drive Mode: D Mode
MyMode: Efficiency (97% of the trip)
kWh Consumed: 2.6 kWh
Efficiency: 3.8 miles/kWh

Drive 2 (return)


Distance: 9.2 miles
Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads
Climate: Clear and mid-60s F
Average Speed: 22.6 MPH
Drive Mode: D Mode
MyMode: Efficiency (99.5% of the trip)
kWh Consumed: 2.3 kWh
Efficiency: 3.9 miles/kWh

One of the metrics I watch is the # miles restored to the battery when in Efficiency mode. The higher this number, the more regenerative braking you needed and potential losses from both sides of the acceleration run. In my case, the # miles regenerated was about 10% of the total distance. Optimally, this would be 0%, [...]

Great idea, but I would add wheel/tire setup (20-22”, Tire Brand/Pattern) for it to be apples to apples. I’m not sniffing 3.0mi/kWh so I’m not going to post my data but could be meaningful in steering would-be modders away from heavy forged wheels.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by ricerboi

Great idea, but I would add wheel/tire setup (20-22”, Tire Brand/Pattern) for it to be apples to apples. I’m not sniffing 3.0mi/kWh so I’m not going to post my data but could be meaningful in steering would-be modest away from heavy forged wheels.

Excellent point. And Car model too. Editing above post!

[exxxviii]

I got my first 4 mile/kWh drive (of a material distance). Surprisingly to me, I seem to get way better efficiency in D mode versus B mode. Like, I can consistently get 0.3 - 0.5 miles/kWh in D.

• Trim & Year: xDrive50 2024
• Wheels & Tires: Factory 21" with Bridgestone Alenza 255/50R21
• Distance: 9.7 miles
• Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads & some highway
• Climate: Clear and mid-80s F
• Average Speed: 32.1 MPH
• Drive Mode: D Mode
• MyMode: Efficiency (99.5% of the trip)
• kWh Consumed: 4.6 kWh
• Efficiency: 4.0 miles/kWh

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

I got my first 4 mile/kWh drive (of a material distance). Surprisingly to me, I seem to get way better efficiency in D mode versus B mode. Like, I can consistently get 0.3 - 0.5 miles/kWh in D.

• Trim & Year: xDrive50 2024
• Wheels & Tires: Factory 21" with Bridgestone Alenza 255/50R21
• Distance: 9.7 miles
• Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads & some highway
• Climate: Clear and mid-80s F
• Average Speed: 32.1 MPH
• Drive Mode: D Mode
• MyMode: Efficiency (99.5% of the trip)
• kWh Consumed: 4.6 kWh
• Efficiency: 4.0 miles/kWh

welcome to the Dark side

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

I got my first 4 mile/kWh drive (of a material distance). Surprisingly to me, I seem to get way better efficiency in D mode versus B mode. Like, I can consistently get 0.3 - 0.5 miles/kWh in D.

• Trim & Year: xDrive50 2024
• Wheels & Tires: Factory 21" with Bridgestone Alenza 255/50R21
• Distance: 9.7 miles
• Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads & some highway
• Climate: Clear and mid-80s F
• Average Speed: 32.1 MPH
• Drive Mode: D Mode
• MyMode: Efficiency (99.5% of the trip)
• kWh Consumed: 4.6 kWh
• Efficiency: 4.0 miles/kWh

Not to sound like a jackass, but you are probably driving smoother too. This is something many people won't admit cause they like B mode or one pedal driving, but get a sensitive passenger in the car and have them evaluate and you might be surprised.

Although you can in theory drive exactly the same using D and B mode, D IMHO makes it easier and more natural to drive smoother and thus more efficiently overall.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Not to sound like a jackass, but you are probably driving smoother too. This is something many people won't admit cause they like B mode or one pedal driving, but get a sensitive passenger in the car and have them evaluate and you might be surprised.

Although you can in theory drive exactly the same using D and B mode, D IMHO makes it easier and more natural to drive smoother and thus more efficiently overall.

This has to be it. Or I may be smooth, but I am constantly micro accelerating and braking. I am mostly shocked at the difference as I am playing with it.

[ubercruise]

I drive solely in B mode, but I'm also alone on 99% of drives. Maybe I'll try D for a week to see if it increases my efficiency at all, but I vastly prefer the OPD operation. So far, no comments from my typical passengers (and believe me, these folks were very open about how my previous car was uncomfortable to be a passenger in, so I'd wager they'd share if it were the same here).

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by ubercruise

I drive solely in B mode, but I'm also alone on 99% of drives. Maybe I'll try D for a week to see if it increases my efficiency at all, but I vastly prefer the OPD operation. So far, no comments from my typical passengers (and believe me, these folks were very open about how my previous car was uncomfortable to be a passenger in, so I'd wager they'd share if it were the same here).

It would be interesting to have them compare your driving using the two modes. Explain that you are doing a test between two settings or something vague but don't elaborate on the details and see what they say.

When you drive yourself, it is easy to believe that you are driving smoothly because you know when the car will jerk you around. As a passenger, it is a different experience. People who ride shotgun all the time are probably somewhat used to that just being the case, but most people can do better.

I had a similar realization some 20 years ago. I thought I was driving smooth back then too. Had a coworker sit in the back seat to go out for dinner one day and he was being tossed like a salad back there and was gently complaining. It took me a while to realize that he was not exaggerating or trying to be funny about it. The reality is that my driving at the time was not comfortable for passengers but my wife was accustomed to it and never complained. I made myself ride as a passenger a few times and even sat in the back just to see the differences and adjusted my chauffeuring accordingly.

[NomoTesla]

If you continue driving in this manner, you'll find that your tires last twice as long. That's why my OEM Pzero Elects still have 5/32-6/32" tread on them after almost 20,000 miles. You'll also note that when you drive with an eye toward efficiency, you are keeping pace with 2/3 of the ICE vehicles on the road. Accelerate slowly like they do, and you'll see great efficiency and tire life gains.

I've become quite familiar with the excellent range the car provides under an efficient driving style. I can easily and comfortably make it 250 miles between charge stops (10%-80%).

[thebishman]

I simply cannot understand the fascination with ‘hyper miling’ during normal day to day driving in an iX. For God’s sake one of the joys of driving these cars is being able to leave 98% of other vehicles in your wake when accelerating from 0mph, and doing it in a safe manner without drawing attention to yourself with booming exhausts; squealing tyres, etc.
Unless I am planning on driving a specific distance which might tax my current SoC; (which basically happens almost never), I just don’t give a damn whether I’m getting 2.4 mile/kWhr or 3.5 mile/kWhr.
It’s just so much more fun being able to drive an iX using more of its abilities. It’s not a Bolt or Leaf FFS! lol

[ubercruise]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

When you drive yourself, it is easy to believe that you are driving smoothly because you know when the car will jerk you around. As a passenger, it is a different experience. People who ride shotgun all the time are probably somewhat used to that just being the case, but most people can do better.

That's why I stated that my usual passengers, who have been very vocal in previous cars that I was jerking them around or that it was uncomfortable, bumpy etc. have made no such complaint in this car. I've even asked them directly, while on a road trip to make sure they were comfortable. They were surprised afterward to find out I'd barely touched the brake pedal at all. It's just modulating the pedal appropriately. If it gets treated like an on/off switch then it'll be jerky, if you can be fluid with it it's fine.

Originally Posted by thebishman

I simply cannot understand the fascination with ‘hyper miling’ during normal day to day driving in an iX. For God’s sake one of the joys of driving these cars is being able to leave 98% of other vehicles in your wake when accelerating from 0mph, and doing it in a safe manner without drawing attention to yourself with booming exhausts; squealing tyres, etc.
Unless I am planning on driving a specific distance which might tax my current SoC; (which basically happens almost never), I just don’t give a damn whether I’m getting 2.4 mile/kWhr or 3.5 mile/kWhr.
It’s just so much more fun being able to drive an iX using more of its abilities. It’s not a Bolt or Leaf FFS! lol

This is me when I'm alone lol. Probably fairly jerky driver then! But yeah, the instant torque is too much fun. Even using like 30% power just from the instant response leaves most other cars in the dust. Still get like 2.8 most of the time which is fine for me.

[NomoTesla]

Originally Posted by thebishman

I simply cannot understand the fascination with ‘hyper miling’ during normal day to day driving in an iX. For God’s sake one of the joys of driving these cars is being able to leave 98% of other vehicles in your wake when accelerating from 0mph, and doing it in a safe manner without drawing attention to yourself with booming exhausts; squealing tyres, etc.
Unless I am planning on driving a specific distance which might tax my current SoC; (which basically happens almost never), I just don’t give a damn whether I’m getting 2.4 mile/kWhr or 3.5 mile/kWhr.
It’s just so much more fun being able to drive an iX using more of its abilities. It’s not a Bolt or Leaf FFS! lol

I don't receive any particular satisfaction in leaving 98% of vehicles in my wake. That's just not something that interests me. I enjoy driving as stress-free and safely as possible. Just my thing.

[ubercruise]

For me, it's a lot less stressful to leave the other drivers behind me lol. The stress comes when I'm in the middle of the traffic pack on a 3 lane road with cars all trying to go different speeds, swinging in and out of lanes (often without signaling).

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

I don't receive any particular satisfaction in leaving 98% of vehicles in my wake. That's just not something that interests me. I enjoy driving as stress-free and safely as possible. Just my thing.

Have you considered a Prius?

[thebishman]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

I got my first 4 mile/kWh drive (of a material distance). Surprisingly to me, I seem to get way better efficiency in D mode versus B mode. Like, I can consistently get 0.3 - 0.5 miles/kWh in D.

• Trim & Year: xDrive50 2024
• Wheels & Tires: Factory 21" with Bridgestone Alenza 255/50R21
• Distance: 9.7 miles
• Road Type: Rolling suburban back roads & some highway
• Climate: Clear and mid-80s F
• Average Speed: 32.1 MPH
• Drive Mode: D Mode
• MyMode: Efficiency (99.5% of the trip)
• kWh Consumed: 4.6 kWh
• Efficiency: 4.0 miles/kWh

So I’ve been using ‘B’ mode exclusively in my home area since I bought the iX.

But after reading your post above I did a ‘controlled study’ today:

Driving at a steady 40 mph in B, and with a constant throttle application, I then switched to D. The car started to accelerate, and to keep it at 40 mph I had to slightly back off of the throttle.
I then switched back to B and immediately the car slowed even though I held a constant throttle.
It’s almost as if there is always a small amount of Regen active when in B; (I know that perhaps this is nonsensical).

So perhaps it’s no wonder that our best efficiency might well be in D if perhaps B always exerts a certain amount of ‘drag’.

Next week I’m going to just drive in D and compare efficiency, although my actual driving dynamics won’t change.

Interested in the thoughts of the hive.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by thebishman

So I’ve been using ‘B’ mode exclusively in my home area since I bought the iX.

But after reading your post above I did a ‘controlled study’ today:

Driving at a steady 40 mph in B, and with a constant throttle application, I then switched to D. The car started to accelerate, and to keep it at 40 mph I had to slightly back off of the throttle.
I then switched back to B and immediately the car slowed even though I held a constant throttle.
It’s almost as if there is always a small amount of Regen active when in B; (I know that perhaps this is nonsensical).

So perhaps it’s no wonder that our best efficiency might well be in D if perhaps B always exerts a certain amount of ‘drag’.

Next week I’m going to just drive in D and compare efficiency, although my actual driving dynamics won’t change.

Interested in the thoughts of the hive.

You slightly misinterpreted why the car slowed down in Be mode. The throttle map is completely different in D and B modes. Where you were in the pedal travel cruising in D mode was likely in the regen range of the pedal in B mode.

In B mode, the first X% of the pedal travel, including not pressing at all, is used for regen braking. Then there is a relatively small Y% of pedal travel where the car coasts. Then the rest of the pedal travel will take you from 0% to 100% power.

In D mode, no pedal travel is coasting. Then the entirety of the pedal travel is for going from 0% power to 100% (but perhaps not in a perfectly linear way, and this mapping is different if you change drive modes).

[ricerboi]

Originally Posted by ubercruise

This is me when I'm alone lol. Probably fairly jerky driver then! But yeah, the instant torque is too much fun. Even using like 30% power just from the instant response leaves most other cars in the dust. Still get like 2.8 most of the time which is fine for me.

I usually put it in Efficient with sensitive passengers so it dulls the acceleration a bit and it helps. If it’s really bad I just drive in D instead of B. I’m sure you all do this.

If you’re all worried about tire life, switch to aftermarket tires. They will last 2-3x as long as OE tires. OE tires are artificially made to be bad at treadlife because the tire manufacturer was the lowest bidder to the OEM and they make back the R&D money on overpriced replacements which sell faster if they don’t last as long.

[ubercruise]

Originally Posted by ricerboi

I usually put it in Efficient with sensitive passengers so it dulls the acceleration a bit and it helps. If it’s really bad I just drive in D instead of B. I’m sure you all do this.

If you’re all worried about tire life, switch to aftermarket tires. They will last 2-3x as long as OE tires. OE tires are artificially made to be bad at treadlife because the tire manufacturer was the lowest bidder to the OEM and they make back the R&D money on overpriced replacements which sell faster if they don’t last as long.

Yes I typically do all my driving in Efficient. Once in a while I’ll do sport but I actually appreciate the more muted throttle response so my starts aren’t as jerky. Not too worried about tire life, I figure I’ll have to replace sometime before my lease is up even though I don’t do many miles, I do lots of stops and starts.

[NomoTesla]

Originally Posted by ubercruise

For me, it's a lot less stressful to leave the other drivers behind me lol. The stress comes when I'm in the middle of the traffic pack on a 3 lane road with cars all trying to go different speeds, swinging in and out of lanes (often without signaling).

When I drive for efficiency, all the crazy drivers go around and cause mayhem down the road for others. They "leave me in the dust", as they say, exercising their prowess before rear-ending the car ahead of them.

That's fine with me. Darwin always wins.

Originally Posted by LVBMW

Have you considered a Prius?

I owned one for 7 years. Even today, that car would cost half as much to fuel as today's EVs on DCFC. Toyota was far ahead of its time.

Originally Posted by ricerboi

If you’re all worried about tire life, switch to aftermarket tires. They will last 2-3x as long as OE tires. OE tires are artificially made to be bad at treadlife because the tire manufacturer was the lowest bidder to the OEM and they make back the R&D money on overpriced replacements which sell faster if they don’t last as long.

That's quite a cynical take that I don't buy into. BMW star-rated tires may have reduced tread life, but not because of some conspiracy to screw their customers. They are tuned for performance without necessarily making tread life a priority. BMW puts handling and dynamics above economics.

The star-rated Pirelli PZero Elect summer sport tires are the best tires I've ever had. The car rides on rails and nothing phases them. I'm coming up on 20,000 miles with these tires and still have 6/32" tread left.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

That's quite a cynical take that I don't buy into. BMW star-rated tires may have reduced tread life, but not because of some conspiracy to screw their customers. They are tuned for performance without necessarily making tread life a priority. BMW puts handling and dynamics above economics.

The star-rated Pirelli PZero Elect summer sport tires are the best tires I've ever had. The car rides on rails and nothing phases them. I'm coming up on 20,000 miles with these tires and still have 6/32" tread left.

It is a generalized statement and is true for at least one of the tires that can come with an iX that multiple people have had to replace after very few miles. The Goodyear tires if I am not mistaken.

[ubercruise]

I mean I’m just talking about accelerating quickly to the speed limit (or whatever the prevailing 5-10 over sentiment is). Not going 80 in a 45 or something, or weaving in and out of lanes. I don’t really think it’s all that unsafe to accelerate to speed in 5 seconds instead of 8 in a straight line. Less efficient sure, but 99% of near misses and accidents on my commute are people not paying attention or weaving and being crazy, not people strictly accelerating quickly. When I drive slow I always get some aggro in their giant brodozer tailgating hard which stresses me out way more.

Different strokes is all, I can get the allure of trying to get max efficiency. But for me one of the draws was the sprightly feel of the car and its power compared to Audi/MB’s offerings so I like using the torque. Car has already slashed my fuel costs by like 85% as is compared to my old ICE.