Reducing acceleration mode improves efficiency

[trentsize]

My Model 3 manual specifically said chill mode helps improve efficiency in cold weather because it does not try to keep the battery warm enough for peak acceleration. I couldn’t find similar wording in the Cybertruck manual until today.

“Improve the efficiency of the cabin heating or cooling by reducing your rate of acceleration. This allows the heat pump system to take more heat from the Battery to efficiently heat the cabin, instead of maintaining the Battery's ability to provide peak acceleration performance. Note that when subsequently increasing the acceleration mode, the Battery requires time to warm up before the increased level of acceleration is available.”

Model 3 manual says “This helps to maximize driving efficiency in colder weather” but Cybertruck manual does not. I don’t know why it wouldn’t improve overall driving efficiency on both though.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-CFA216A5-F2CC-416F-97E8-8560E0CC4161.html

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[Crissa]

It's probably just missing text. Or, the amount of heat it pulls is more than the efficiency gain because of the larger systems and/or cabin.

No way to know other than trying it a bunch of times.

-Crissa

 

[electricAK]

Good to know!

 

[henchman24]

I've tried this on a few longer trips I normally make and compared to without chill mode... we are maybe talking 2-3% (close enough that it could just be minor differences in weather/wind/day/etc). I'm sure there is a legitimate improvement by simply not putting energy to heating the battery, but I also don't think it will be all that noticeable in the day to day.

 

[trentsize]

I've tried this on a few longer trips I normally make and compared to without chill mode... we are maybe talking 2-3% (close enough that it could just be minor differences in weather/wind/day/etc). I'm sure there is a legitimate improvement by simply not putting energy to heating the battery, but I also don't think it will be all that noticeable in the day to day.

What outside temperatures are you seeing? I can imagine it’s more of an effect with extreme cold than just cool weather.

 

[henchman24]

What outside temperatures are you seeing? I can imagine it’s more of an effect with extreme cold than just cool weather.

Most of my trips so far have been in 10-35 degree weather. Maybe a couple slightly below and some into the upper 40s low 50s given the temperature swings where I live.

I'm sure it does change more as temps get lower, but there is still a limit. The cell chemistry the CT has, likely signals that they want to keep the battery at least -10C but likely over 0C to discharge without a lot of degradation impact. So there is probably a sweet spot... for us Americans in that 15-35 range it probably makes a larger difference than drastically above or below that. Below that, the battery will need heated anyway... above that, the battery gets warm enough quickly that it wouldn't make a ton of difference.

Theoretically it will make a difference, but it is probably rather minimal in the real world. Much like the turning off of the rear or passenger vents. It does make a difference, but likely so small it doesn't change much by itself.

 

[Bradpoi60]

My Model 3 manual specifically said chill mode helps improve efficiency in cold weather because it does not try to keep the battery warm enough for peak acceleration. I couldn’t find similar wording in the Cybertruck manual until today.

“Improve the efficiency of the cabin heating or cooling by reducing your rate of acceleration. This allows the heat pump system to take more heat from the Battery to efficiently heat the cabin, instead of maintaining the Battery's ability to provide peak acceleration performance. Note that when subsequently increasing the acceleration mode, the Battery requires time to warm up before the increased level of acceleration is available.”

Model 3 manual says “This helps to maximize driving efficiency in colder weather” but Cybertruck manual does not. I don’t know why it wouldn’t improve overall driving efficiency on both though.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-CFA216A5-F2CC-416F-97E8-8560E0CC4161.html

Just got done with a long road trip from Washington to Vegas and found that keeping my drive below 70mph helped increase my range projection. Mid 60s was optimal. Giving closer to 10% increase.

 

[Gaximus]

Just got done with a long road trip from Washington to Vegas and found that keeping my drive below 70mph helped increase my range projection. Mid 60s was optimal. Giving closer to 10% increase.

I don’t want to do the math, because someone else on here already did it, but 10% extra range, but loosing 13% speed,(assuming 65 in a 75) will actually be a slower overall trip, this includes the extra time it takes to charge. I’d like to find the post, but you had to go something like 110 MPH before the range loss started to affect the gain in speed, for the extra time at the charger.

 

[Bradpoi60]

I don’t want to do the math, because someone else on here already did it, but 10% extra range, but loosing 13% speed,(assuming 65 in a 75) will actually be a slower overall trip, this includes the extra time it takes to charge. I’d like to find the post, but you had to go something like 110 MPH before the range loss started to affect the gain in speed, for the extra time at the charger.

Could be my truck has a bad battery. I'd go from 80% to 15% in 130mile leg in my trip from Supercharger to Supercharger. Speed limit was 70. Temp range 25-34F.
If you have a better suggestion let me know. That was just my experience from my situation.

 

[Gaximus]

Could be my truck has a bad battery. I'd go from 80% to 15% in 130mile leg in my trip from Supercharger to Supercharger. Speed limit was 70. Temp range 25-34F.
If you have a better suggestion let me know. That was just my experience from my situation.

At that temp, I would expect to have much less range, not sure if that's a bad battery. I still think that overall, if time is what you're trying to reduce on the trip, going faster "should" reduce overall time. Say you go 84Mph, and arrive at the super charger with 8-10%. The charging rate will be faster from 8-75% vs 15-80%. So you'll have faster charging time, and faster travel time. And to be safe you could still charge to 80% which would take along from 8%, but not as long as the time made up from going 9Mph faster. But cold, unfortunately, still plays a huge factor in range and charging times in EVs currently, but for me, the benefits the rest of the year out weigh the one cold road trip I make year.

 

[Bradpoi60]

At that temp, I would expect to have much less range, not sure if that's a bad battery. I still think that overall, if time is what you're trying to reduce on the trip, going faster "should" reduce overall time. Say you go 84Mph, and arrive at the super charger with 8-10%. The charging rate will be faster from 8-75% vs 15-80%. So you'll have faster charging time, and faster travel time. And to be safe you could still charge to 80% which would take along from 8%, but not as long as the time made up from going 9Mph faster. But cold, unfortunately, still plays a huge factor in range and charging times in EVs currently, but for me, the benefits the rest of the year out weigh the one cold road trip I make year.

Ah I see the confusion. My concern was range not time. Perhaps the projection was misunderstood as time. I was referring to what the vehicle showed the percentage was estimated to be at when arriving at next leg of drive.

 

[Gaximus]

Ah I see the confusion. My concern was range not time. Perhaps the projection was misunderstood as time. I was referring to what the vehicle showed the percentage was estimated to be at when arriving at next leg of drive.

Ah, I see, for me as long as I can make it to my next destination(SC or Final destination) all that matters is how long it takes to get there. If I could get 800 miles on a charge, but only drive 15 Mph, it would be useless to me.

 

[Bradpoi60]

Ah, I see, for me as long as I can make it to my next destination(SC or Final destination) all that matters is how long it takes to get there. If I could get 800 miles on a charge, but only drive 15 Mph, it would be useless to me.

That would make sense to me if I got the free supercharging.

 

[eswimm]

I wonder if Chill acceleration has any connection to people complaining that they can't get the snowflake to go away. If it really does allow the heat pump to draw more heat from the battery loop, then it might explain why some could drive for 3 hours and not see it clear.

Personally, I don't use Chill, but I'm tempted to try it on the next winter drive where I'm not concerned about battery temps and see if improves efficiency.

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