4 ms·

I’d be curious to know how “range” is computed for ICE vehicles. Do you end when the gas gauge reaches “e” or until the engine stops? Seems to be perfectly anal

I’d be curious to know how “range” is computed for ICE vehicles. Do you end when the gas gauge reaches “e” or until the engine stops? Seems to be perfectly analogous to the two possibilities with the Tesla. Either when the cars says it’s out, or when it actually stops. Granted folks don’t seem to obsess over the range metric when it comes to ICE cars so the point may be moot.

xeromal 6y ago
Most cars keep a little gas under 0 miles left in order to preserve the fuel pump. If you run a car out of gas completely in a modern car, you can cause a lot of damage to the fuel system.
neogodless 6y ago
I was surprised how much of a buffer modern Mazdas keep. The "range" is based on 2 gallons hidden. At 3 gallons remaining, it appears as if you have 1 gallon remaining (i.e. 25-35 miles depending on your average gas mileage since the last reset.) So "0 miles remaining" happens when you really could go another 50-70 miles. This is based on the total gas tank size compared to how much it takes to fill, but also because I'm stubborn and have pushed it several miles past "0" out of curiosity (but not regularly, as I have no wish to overheat my fuel pump or run out of gas!)
- elihu 6y ago
  I have a Honda Element. The fuel light comes on when it still has about 3 or 4 gallons left.
bluGill 6y ago
People don't obsess over ICE range because it is hard for the average person to get more than 20 miles from a gas pump which can then fill the car to full in 5 minutes. As such the only time you run out of fuel is when you don't refuel despite multiple opportunities. Today if you buy an electric car you are mostly fine for in town - the 95% of trips. However that last 5% is a real problem: there are not many places to charge, not all of them actually work, and even if you find a place you need to wait a fairly long time someplace where you don't wish to be for it to recharge. Some of this will change as electric cars become more popular, but for now if you are looking at an electric car it either needs to be a second car (use the ICE for long trips), or you need to obsess about range. For electric cars with the least range the average commute in the US couldn't make it there, eat lunch, and back home on a cold day.

xeromal 6y ago

Most cars keep a little gas under 0 miles left in order to preserve the fuel pump. If you run a car out of gas completely in a modern car, you can cause a lot of damage to the fuel system.

neogodless 6y ago

I was surprised how much of a buffer modern Mazdas keep. The "range" is based on 2 gallons hidden. At 3 gallons remaining, it appears as if you have 1 gallon remaining (i.e. 25-35 miles depending on your average gas mileage since the last reset.) So "0 miles remaining" happens when you really could go another 50-70 miles. This is based on the total gas tank size compared to how much it takes to fill, but also because I'm stubborn and have pushed it several miles past "0" out of curiosity (but not regularly, as I have no wish to overheat my fuel pump or run out of gas!)

elihu 6y ago
I have a Honda Element. The fuel light comes on when it still has about 3 or 4 gallons left.

bluGill 6y ago

People don't obsess over ICE range because it is hard for the average person to get more than 20 miles from a gas pump which can then fill the car to full in 5 minutes. As such the only time you run out of fuel is when you don't refuel despite multiple opportunities. Today if you buy an electric car you are mostly fine for in town - the 95% of trips. However that last 5% is a real problem: there are not many places to charge, not all of them actually work, and even if you find a place you need to wait a fairly long time someplace where you don't wish to be for it to recharge. Some of this will change as electric cars become more popular, but for now if you are looking at an electric car it either needs to be a second car (use the ICE for long trips), or you need to obsess about range. For electric cars with the least range the average commute in the US couldn't make it there, eat lunch, and back home on a cold day.