dgpcolorado
Well-known member
It sounds as if you have things pretty well scoped out; I especially like your "plan B" to use charge stations along your route if you are unable to access the ones at work. That sort of thinking ahead is helpful.
But, for your question "Any tips on driving?", you might want to take a look at Stoaty's Guide to Energy Efficient Driving of the Leaf. It has tips on efficient driving (hypermiling), in case that stuff is new to you. With charging at work it shouldn't really be necessary but if you get in a bind it helps to know how to drive efficiently.
One concept that newcomers to EVs don't usually "get" is that more regen is not always better. Coasting is more efficient under most circumstances than regen braking because regen is somewhat inefficient. But if you need to slow or stop, regen is much better than using friction brakes. So: coasting > regen braking > friction brakes. Ideally, you want to use as little braking as possible and travel at a constant speed, where practical. And, of course, slower speeds are much more efficient than higher speeds because aerodynamic drag (friction) increases at the square of velocity.
So, driving efficiently has less to do with using B mode or Eco and more to do with how you drive. But one advantage of Eco is that the accelerator is mapped at constant power: if you hold the pedal at the same position you will get the same power, whether 10 kW, or zero (the equivalent of neutral), or whatever. The aggressive acceleration mapping of D makes efficient driving more difficult. It is easier to accelerate gently in Eco and keep at a reasonable speed. This helps with more efficient driving.
FWIW. Have fun with your LEAF!
But, for your question "Any tips on driving?", you might want to take a look at Stoaty's Guide to Energy Efficient Driving of the Leaf. It has tips on efficient driving (hypermiling), in case that stuff is new to you. With charging at work it shouldn't really be necessary but if you get in a bind it helps to know how to drive efficiently.
One concept that newcomers to EVs don't usually "get" is that more regen is not always better. Coasting is more efficient under most circumstances than regen braking because regen is somewhat inefficient. But if you need to slow or stop, regen is much better than using friction brakes. So: coasting > regen braking > friction brakes. Ideally, you want to use as little braking as possible and travel at a constant speed, where practical. And, of course, slower speeds are much more efficient than higher speeds because aerodynamic drag (friction) increases at the square of velocity.
So, driving efficiently has less to do with using B mode or Eco and more to do with how you drive. But one advantage of Eco is that the accelerator is mapped at constant power: if you hold the pedal at the same position you will get the same power, whether 10 kW, or zero (the equivalent of neutral), or whatever. The aggressive acceleration mapping of D makes efficient driving more difficult. It is easier to accelerate gently in Eco and keep at a reasonable speed. This helps with more efficient driving.
FWIW. Have fun with your LEAF!