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Let's call this the "A++/Hallowe'en 08" pack. (I picked the best 8 batteries from the 16 latest recruits.) The charger definitely works longer - more like 8 hours now to fully recharge the car.
Updated the car's fuel log. I've run it through four (recorded three) drive/charge cycles since putting in the A++ batteries. Averaging mid 130's MPGe / 250 Wh per mile / 150 Wh per km.
And that's with freezing weather for two of the cycles, and some uncharacteristically "hard" driving on the warm weather (probably 12C average) cycle.
Other efficiency considerations: I've been using the 100w DC-DC converter; because the car has a mugh higher range, it now goes more days between recharging so it's experiencing more self-discharge as a proportion of energy "used" than before.
But I think I'll cautiously say if you look at the previous entries in the log, these batts look like they have improved the car's overall efficiency. Which is a big "woo!".
Soon I'll be heading east for the winter so Ivan will get to babysit it for the duration. It'll be a long wait to next spring for more upgrades/refinement and curiousity about whether the best efficiency of summer 08 will be beaten!
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