The attached graph shows shows the charge, speed and range performance of my S during the trip back. (Red = range, Blue = rate of charge, Green = speed)
The varying performance of the SuC's is clearly visible, with the Chasse sur Rhone SuC delivering the lowest output. The data also leads to a couple of observations/conclusions:
On the leg outward leg from Chasse sur Rhone to Aix, we cruised at 130 and had an average speed of 118kph. On the return leg yesterday for some reason the power consumption was much higher. I originally set out at 120kph, but had to chisel it back eventually to 100. I'm not sure what the difference was, there didn't seem to be much wind and the road was dry. But it was a big difference compared to the outward leg.
I could have charged less at Chasse sur Rhone, 60km range at the next SuC was more than enough, but because of the high power consumption during the previous leg I played it safe.
Same goes for the leg from Nuits St George to Metz. Because I was concerned at the power consumption I set the cruise speed to 110kph. In the end that could probably have been upped to 120, but during the second half of this leg the wife was driving while I had a snooze, so she continued to stick to 110kph.
The last leg I attacked with the knowledge that we would always reach Urmond. So I cruised at the speed limit. This worked out perfectly and we reached home without the need to stop at Urmond and with 9km range remaining.
I logged all of this in my planning spreadsheet, which has been very useful and damned accurate. The next time we make this trip I'll be able to plan even more accurately.
If the Nuits St George SuC was eventually moved to Dijon or north thereof, I reckon that it would be possible to travel pretty much the whole route at the given speed limits. Also, if the performance of the Chasse sur Rhone & Aix SuC was improved, all in all it would be possible to knock at least an hour off the total trip time.
For those of you wondering why I'm so anal about my spreadsheets and graphs, I should point out that I have +1300 more or less eventless flying hours and an instrument rating, so I tend to be pretty methodical about these things. And it adds to my enjoyment...
. I think you are lucky to even have 3fase power. We have a house in the Cevennes. For as far as I know we only have 1fase there. I'm planning to drive there with X-mas to test charging. SuC Nimes is "just" 60km away.
