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Old 03-31-2017, 10:57 AM   #369 (permalink)
Isaac Zackary
Full sized hybrid.
 
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Colorado
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Suzy - '13 Toyota Avalon Hybrid XLE
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oil pan 4 View Post
The problem with doing that is what about when you have a really bad head wind?
Basically if my max speed is 40mph but I have a 5mph head wind, my max speed is now 35mph. If it's 10mph then I'll have to go 30mph. If it's 20mph I'll have to go 20mph. If the wind is 30mph then I'll have to go 10mph. The electric motor had nearly the same efficiency at any speed. One problem besides taking much longer would be if I used climate controls along the way. If it takes me twice as long I'll have to use the heat for twice as long and end up using twice twice the energy. The last trip I did I had to use the defrost a lot more than I had anticipated. But lucky the heat pump only drew about 500W average the whole way. The effect was hardly noticed.

This is why I check the weather forecast first or try to travel in the morning when the wind is calm. The good thing about the wind here is that when I head west it's downhill and into the wind, and coming back it's uphill but with the wind.

Again, aeromods would help. If due to my aeromods I could go 60mph in the calm then I'll be able to go 30mph in a 30mph head wind.

One other mod I'd like to do is install an air speed gauge.
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