How accurate is your distance (miles remaining) meter?
- Thread starter DDBB
- Start date
My giant ( yamaha pwx) seems to at least try to calculate distance based on behaviour. As an example, if I rely on high assist levels for a couple of km, then switch to eco mode, it seems to have decided I'm lazy and significantly reduced my max range. It's still optimistic - on a good day I get an average usage of 8% battery per 10 km in eco mode so theoretically 120 km would be possible , but the bike thinks I should get 150 km before I start , then after 10 km it decides 130 is more realistic. Nb these are theoretical range - the reality is after 2 hours I use more assist irrespective of mode selected .
RabH
Well-Known Member
How many levels of assist do you have? my Giant with the Yamaha Syncdrive Pro with 500WH battery has 5 levels and with a full battery it shows the following range!
eco = 86 miles
basic = 63 miles
active = 55 miles
sport = 49 miles
power = 36 miles
For the most part it seems pretty accurate although when it gets to 20% battery left it can show about 16 miles range in eco but in reality it gets about half of that at most as it drops off pretty quickly!
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
My Fathom has no display. I'll try and keep an eye on the app.
Mikey-
Active Member
I've range tested at least 20 bikes, and I've noticed a pattern. They seem to have very conservative estimates for the first 50% of the battery, then things start getting goofy. Most of the time 50 to 10% holds firm at a certain estimate, then at <10 it starts to flash and panic.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
In the sense of being able to predict how much range I have I do not find them to be very "accurate" (in the technical sense) at all. However, I find the range estimates more useful than the battery meter or a battery percentage in estimating how far I am likely to be able to travel on a charge.
As many have noted, when the battery level is very low any and all estimates or even the battery voltage isn't necessarily a good predictor of how far you can go.
I ride a lot in quite varied terrain, and also often on less-than-optimal surfaces as well, both of which make it very hard to estimate range. Though in general, an "accurate" range estimator would need to be able to predict the future to be "accurate", and if I had a gadget that could predict the future I would use it in the stock market and not on my e-bike.
As many have noted, when the battery level is very low any and all estimates or even the battery voltage isn't necessarily a good predictor of how far you can go.
I ride a lot in quite varied terrain, and also often on less-than-optimal surfaces as well, both of which make it very hard to estimate range. Though in general, an "accurate" range estimator would need to be able to predict the future to be "accurate", and if I had a gadget that could predict the future I would use it in the stock market and not on my e-bike.
Alaskan
Well-Known Member
LOL
Over50
Well-Known Member
On my commute I've found the range estimate to be pretty accurate except when the battery is fully charged or riding conditions are changing measurably. Sometimes I'll start my commute in the morning with a 100% charge and the range estimate will say something absurd like 75 miles remaining. A mile or two into the commute this will adjust to a more normal figure like 55-60. My commute is mostly flat with only slight grade change so the only real change in riding condition I experience is wind and temperature (inbound ride at 5:30 am vs outbound ride at 6:30 pm). The first few miles of my return trip will not be accurate if conditions have changed measurably vs the morning's inbound commute.
I think there was a thread going about 'e-bike games'. In one stretch in particular on my return trip, I'll exit residential neighborhood riding with lots of stop signs and enter a 2 mile stretch of large urban park with recently resurfaced pavement and bike lanes. A few miles down the road after that stretch I find I've 'gained' mileage remaining - sometimes it can be a significant adjustment like 5-15 miles. I like to ride with a smooth and consistent cadence around 20 mph and see how much mileage I can "gain".
I think there was a thread going about 'e-bike games'. In one stretch in particular on my return trip, I'll exit residential neighborhood riding with lots of stop signs and enter a 2 mile stretch of large urban park with recently resurfaced pavement and bike lanes. A few miles down the road after that stretch I find I've 'gained' mileage remaining - sometimes it can be a significant adjustment like 5-15 miles. I like to ride with a smooth and consistent cadence around 20 mph and see how much mileage I can "gain".
Feliz
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't call that anywhere near accurate, maybe consistent!
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
My experience is the same as Richard's; and, until Coffee gets his 'gadget' to market, I'll use the one under my helmet to factor in terrain and wind to adjust distance remaining as, I suspect, we all do.
My first ebike (Kalhoff with Impulse motor and display) was also quite acceptable in predicting distance remaining.
... David
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D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
Apart from an accurate display, it also had quality Ergon grips and a nice bell. At the moment, I cannot think of any other complimentary thing to say about it.
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