Cruise control efficiency

[itsjon]

How efficient is cruise control on a long journey ?

Its a GREAT system which i'm using all the time, but we have a long journey/holiday coming up where i'm going to try to eek out as much range as possible.

Has anyone done any range tests with and without cruise activated ??

[davidwalton]

Not a range test as such, but did a 136 mile trip from home to North Wales just after Xmas, with ACC on, and pressed the brake pedal 4 times during the whole journey there. Incredible really. On the way back, I pressed the brake pedal about 8 times, but that included stopping for a charge.

Make sure you're in 'D' on A-roads/motorways and 'B' on B-roads/single-track-country/housing estates to get the best range while ACC is doing the work.

[G43FAN]

Not a range test as such, but did a 136 mile trip from home to North Wales just after Xmas, with ACC on, and pressed the brake pedal 4 times during the whole journey there. Incredible really. On the way back, I pressed the brake pedal about 8 times, but that included stopping for a charge.

Make sure you're in 'D' on A-roads/motorways and 'B' on B-roads/single-track-country/housing estates to get the best range while ACC is doing the work.

Whether you are in B or D makes no difference to how ACC works?

[MotMot]

It really depends how you use it.

If you ‘lock on’ to the back of a National express coach at the closest allowed distance - you’ll get a significant advantage over Sat at 65 on an empty motorway… I’ll often get better economy on a busy (but not slow) motorway than an empty one. Although the latter is far nicer to drive on!

Some believe coasting down steep hills rather than using the ACC to regen when it slows you down is more efficient. It may well be - but probably not much in it.

[davidwalton]

Not a range test as such, but did a 136 mile trip from home to North Wales just after Xmas, with ACC on, and pressed the brake pedal 4 times during the whole journey there. Incredible really. On the way back, I pressed the brake pedal about 8 times, but that included stopping for a charge.

Make sure you're in 'D' on A-roads/motorways and 'B' on B-roads/single-track-country/housing estates to get the best range while ACC is doing the work.

Whether you are in B or D makes no difference to how ACC works?

I've noticed a difference between D & B when ACC is active. Not how ACC performs, but with the amount of regen when ACC is slowing you down. And you get slowed more on smaller, twisty roads so B gives you more back to the battery.

[Warminster id]

When I’m on a long drive if I have to slow down due to speed limits or slower traffic and then come out of the restrictions I will increase speed gradually to be efficient, I’ve noticed the cruise control wants to get to the limit as quick as possible using more power.

[G43FAN]

When I’m on a long drive if I have to slow down due to speed limits or slower traffic and then come out of the restrictions I will increase speed gradually to be efficient, I’ve noticed the cruise control wants to get to the limit as quick as possible using more power.

Yes, it does seem to be desperate to show off.. ECO mode reduces that a bit.

[G43FAN]

Not a range test as such, but did a 136 mile trip from home to North Wales just after Xmas, with ACC on, and pressed the brake pedal 4 times during the whole journey there. Incredible really. On the way back, I pressed the brake pedal about 8 times, but that included stopping for a charge.

Make sure you're in 'D' on A-roads/motorways and 'B' on B-roads/single-track-country/housing estates to get the best range while ACC is doing the work.

Whether you are in B or D makes no difference to how ACC works?

I've noticed a difference between D & B when ACC is active. Not how ACC performs, but with the amount of regen when ACC is slowing you down. And you get slowed more on smaller, twisty roads so B gives you more back to the battery.

It's more a personal thing, if your driving around B roads and single track lanes and have to constantly brake then I personally would say you are driving too fast.

In B mode, Yes you get slowed more but that probably means you need to use power to speed up again. In D if you have to slow down you can use the brake pedal and you get the same levels of regen or you can coast. That couple of extra seconds of regen is probably negligible and coasting is probably a more efficient way to cover the miles. I live in a very hilly area.. B mode is dire in my opinion, I'd rather let gravity do it's thing.

[MotMot]

the ACC in eco mode is certainly less aggressive...

[itsjon]

Thanks everyone

[djkav]

I'm pretty sure 'D' mode works in conjunction with the nav data. It auto regens when it knows it needs to slow down for speed limit changes, approaching roundabouts and junctions and even terrain (inclines/declines) etc.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though, it might with Travel Assist only.

[sidehaas]

I'm pretty sure 'D' mode works in conjunction with the nav data. It auto regens when it knows it needs to slow down for speed limit changes, approaching roundabouts and junctions and even terrain (inclines/declines) etc.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though, it might with Travel Assist only.

You are correct, at least when eco assist and ACC are on. (As for inclines I don't think it's using nav data to specifically identify the incline, just using whatever increased or decreased power (or regen) is necessary to maintain the desired speed.)

[Daveion]

I'm pretty sure 'D' mode works in conjunction with the nav data. It auto regens when it knows it needs to slow down for speed limit changes, approaching roundabouts and junctions and even terrain (inclines/declines) etc.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though, it might with Travel Assist only.

You are correct, at least when eco assist and ACC are on. (As for inclines I don't think it's using nav data to specifically identify the incline, just using whatever increased or decreased power (or regen) is necessary to maintain the desired speed.)

Mine will regen brake when ACC is engaged in D in conjunction with satnav without eco assist. It will slow at mini roundabouts, bends etc.
My eco assist is definitely disabled
.

[monkeyhanger]

I never use B mode. It's more efficient to preserve momentum and plan ahead for slowing down than have the B mode constantly regen every time you lift off the accelerator. Whether you're in D mode and lightly use the brake pedal within the regen zone or you're in B mode and lift off.the accelerator to sliw down within the limits of regen,the effect is the same, but its more efficient to lift off the accelerator early in D mode and not need to regen than lift off the accelerator late in B mode to slowdown under regen.

Regen isn't free energy, it recovers wasted kinetic energy when you need to slow down, if you're not wasting it then there's nothing to recover.

In D mode, if you're not accelerating, the satnav mapping sliows you down with regen for a roundabout whether ACC is on or off and whether the satnav is actively navigating you or not.

[itsjon]

Excellent help y'all.

We have mapped out a 1000 mile UK road trip starting soon.
Will probably be using cruise on motorways in eco mode with eco assist on as well.

I can only imagine B mode would be beneficial inner city, traffic jams and descending a mountain pass.. So, probably in D most of the time.

In my local area (this weather) i'm getting a 200 mile range with a 58k 200hp id.3... really interested to find out what a longer trip will do to the figures as most of my journeys are 10/40 miles.