You are correct, however some folks have installed watt-hour meters upstream of their chargers and measured power from there. I don't believe many freeway capable conversions are getting 4 miles per kwh, I think John Bryant has a Ghia that might get close. Most get 2 to 3 miles per kwh from the outlet.
Most OEM EVs get less than 2 miles per kwh, especially the ones with NiMH packs. I believe the NiMH Ranger gets 700+ whrs per mile. IIRC the PbA version of the EV1 gets about 3 miles per kwh. >Most numbers I've seen people mention are watt-hours/mi from >their E-meter. The E-meter is measuring from a shunt, I believe >it is between the battery pack (negative pole) and the >controller, so the batteries, and their significant inefficiency, >are out of the picture; these people are measuring the efficiency >of their drivetrain and controller, as far as I can tell. I >don't have an E-meter and wish that I did - someday... I also >wish that when people cite a number like watt-hours/mi or >whatever, that they clearly state where in the system that number >comes from. It was only after a few years of being in the EV >game that I realized where in the system most people were talking >about - downstream of the battery pack. I suspect the RAV4 you >mention above is most likely the energy that's coming through the >AVCON charger port, but I certainly wouldn't bet my life on that. >I guess I'd have to try and decide what the EPA sticker is really >trying to say. On gas cars, the mpg gallon is the gallon that >goes in the tank - I don't think there are significant losses >till you get to the engine. > Yes but they get different octane numbers by mixing other ingrediants in with the gasoline and this DOES change how much potential energy is stored. They also mix differnt stuff in depending on where you live (MBTF?) and the time of year (different mix for cold vs hot), finally gasoline is not a fixed chemical composition it's a range (if you will) of distilants from crude oil so depending on who is distilling it and how it's distilled (or cracked from heavier distillants) it can vary slightly. >Hmm, I had more or less thought a gallon of gasoline (or diesel) >had a pretty set quantity of energy contained within, but I could >certainly have the wrong impression. The octane number is not >supposed to affect the energy you get from your gasoline, >assuming you are not dealing with detonation problems. > > >
