Vestigial Tachometer - Page 2

deenko · 07-11-2008, 04:17 PM

I think the tach is useful for any ICE and/or anything that shifts gears. I found that you can get better economy/performanc out of an automatic if you monitor the tach to see the difference between speed and gear shifts. For example, when I drive long distances on an automatic, I set the cruise control just above a gear shift where the speed of the car and the rpm are within their optimal ranges.

As for the roadster, I feel that the change to the single speed trany has made the tach useless. I do not expect TM to redesign the dash when the 2 speed was dropped so late in the game. otherwise, they would not be in production yet.

WarpedOne · 07-12-2008, 03:07 AM

>> I feel that the change to the single speed trany has made the tach useless.

I'm still rooting for it to be replaced by a powergauge with some negative field for regen. Maybe an aftermarket mod?

WarpedOne · 07-12-2008, 05:57 AM

Something like this:

TEG · 07-12-2008, 10:09 AM

I guess that it a photoshop mock-up done by moving numbers around?

I suggested something like that a long time ago, after getting used to the kW gauge on my wife's highlander hybrid.

Vestigial Tachometer
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/futur....html#post2175

WarpedOne · 07-12-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

I guess that it a photoshop mock-up done by moving numbers around?

Actually, it is a Paint / Paint.Net mock-up done by moving numbers around with a touch of added color. :)

Has TM disclosed maximum regen power anywhere yet? I only remember that it is a tricky busines doing powerful regen (stability and such).

Do you find that power gauge in Highlander helpful for reducing the consumption/energy usage? In my diesel car I have a "travel computer" that besides other things can show current fuel consumption. By paying attention at that number I was able to noticably lower my fuel expenses. It's consumption is rated at 5l/100km (47mpg) in extraurban driving and I manage to average 4.1L/100km (57mpg).

TEG · 07-12-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarpedOne

Do you find that power gauge in Highlander helpful for reducing the consumption/energy usage?

To be honest, we don't spend a lot of time trying maximize efficiency when driving the Highlander.

On the LCD Nav computer it has various charts showing power flow, MPG, etc.
About the only thing I use is the display showing if it is running in EV mode or if the gas engine is running. At about 40mph if I hold the accelerator pedal just so it will stay in EV mode for a while. If I oscillate the pedal or push just a tad more it will cycle the gas engine even though it is going the same speed. Apparently if you let it spend more time using EV only then it helps efficiency.

At freeway speeds it needs the gas engine almost constantly. The highlander is no Prius. It has a much larger, non-atkinson gasoline engine. Highway MPG isn't all that impressive ( ~25 ), but the city MPG ( ~30) is good for a vehicle that can carry 7.

I sweat the details a lot more driving my RangerEV to work. The 9 year old NiMH pack has just enough capacity to get me there and back at about 62 MPH. If I drive too fast at any point then I have to draft behind a big rig or slow down more later to make up for it. My range is much longer if someone else helps push the wind, or if I slow down a bit. On the RangerEV there is an efficiency gauge showing +/-, and I do watch it a bit if I get to work and my charge gauge says I have less than 1/2 charge to make it back home later. I look forward when I can afford to replace it with another EV that has more range. Roadster and even 'S' are likely out of my price range now, so maybe I will end up with a 'Model 3', SmartEV, MilesEV, MiEV, or ?

---

Maybe I shouldn't have given up my moderator status here. I had hoped Tony would step in and split topics (like this) that strayed from their original subject.

I gave that up in part because I didn't want the responsibility of trying to police some of the more outrageous postings I was starting to see on this forum.

vfx · 07-12-2008, 08:50 PM

I might try the KW gauge with the TDC as the zero point.

malcolm · 07-13-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfx

I might try the KW gauge with the TDC as the zero point.

Great design already, vfx.

Can you put the negative numbers into green? Or maybe it should just be the curved scale markings - like the red section for 180 and 220?

Alpine Driver · 07-13-2008, 11:06 AM

As I was told, regenerativ breaking is a constant level. When you leave your foot from the right pedal, regen is active and delivers a constant energy flow back to the batteries. The amount was not numbered, but not to be that important big. Regen ist not combined with the brake curcuit; so the intensity of braking/speed reducing does not influence the energy flow back.
Therefore, in my understanding, the different negative kW numbers in the modified gauge would be of no use. Or am I wrong?

malcolm · 07-13-2008, 01:01 PM

With single speed they have one fixed profile; JB Straubel has said that homologation makes it difficult to allow owners to adjust this - but I think that the regen behaviour does vary with engine revs.

So the regen profile is fixed, but not the regen amount.