What Causes the Range to Drop by Dozens of Kilometers at Once?
2 Answers
The range is just a reference value calculated based on the remaining fuel in the tank and fuel consumption, so there's no need to worry too much about it. The car's range isn't very accurate—when the displayed range decreases by one kilometer, it's actually calculated based on recent fuel consumption and doesn't necessarily mean the car has traveled exactly one kilometer. Here’s an explanation of the range: 1. Fuel Consumption: The range is calculated by the onboard computer based on the current driving conditions and fuel consumption to estimate how many more kilometers the remaining fuel can last. Therefore, as long as the engine is running, fuel is consumed, and the range decreases accordingly. The speed at which the range decreases depends on the driving conditions. 2. Constant Changes: No vehicle's range is perfectly accurate because it is closely related to average driving speed and instantaneous fuel consumption. Since it's impossible to guarantee that the car will always maintain the current speed, the range is always fluctuating.
I think this is quite common, especially when driving electric vehicles. When I first used this car, the range suddenly dropped by dozens of kilometers, and my heart sank. Upon reflection, it might be because I drove too aggressively, frequently stomping on the accelerator and brakes, forcing the computer system to constantly adjust energy output, which significantly increased power consumption and naturally caused the range to drop faster. Additionally, using air conditioning or heating in extreme cold or hot weather doubles the burden on the battery, and in winter, battery performance already decreases by about 30%. Now I’ve learned my lesson—maintaining a steady speed around 80 km/h and preheating the vehicle before departure saves a lot of power. Also, insufficient tire pressure increases rolling resistance and drains power, so regular checks are necessary. Overall, driving habits and environmental factors are the main causes, but switching to eco mode can help improve the situation.
