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Guess-O-Meter or Accurate Range Display?

3560 Views 21 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  Palouser
I see some refer to the Volts range display as a Guess-O-Meter (GOM). My range display is pretty darn accurate, so why do some refer to theirs as a "GOM"?

I suspect the issue is based on the driver not understanding (or forgetting) things that affect car range. The car's range display is based on the drivers last few trips, and it is basically saying, "Based on the last few days of driving, you should get this range, all things being equal."

That last part is important, if conditions change, the estimated range will be off. This is where people get tripped up.

Changes in condition include:
  • Tire Pressure. Low tire pressure will decrease range. It's very easy to loose 2-3 or more PSI when the outside air temps drop.
  • Weather. Cold, wet, snow will all decrease range.
  • Heater/A/C. Cranking these up will decrease range.
  • Aggressive Driving. The more aggressive the driver is in starts and stops, the more the range will be negatively affected.
  • Speed. Speed kills ...battery range. The faster you drive the more it will negatively affect the battery range.
The effective range of the car can drop (or increase) based on changes in the above compared to the previous days driving record. I think some people forget that, leading to calling the range display as GOM.
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Mine is not particularly accurate. Part of it is the climate, here, especially this time of year. One drive you need heat, the next some air-con, the next no climate control. Also, my driving varies between short trips to those using the entire battery. Except for the rare bursts of acceleration, my driving style is probably the most consistent thing about how the car is used.
All this reminds me of the battery in my G1 Insight. The car knows how much 'lectricity goes in and how much 'lectricity goes out, and sort of keeps track of that, but it never has no real idea how much is there is in there.

In the Volt, for me, I look at it after charging to see if the number's reasonable, sort of glance at it to be sure it's behaving in its regular fashion, and that's about it. Unless I need to reserve some juice for slower-speeds after a highway drive, I sort of ignore it.
just like a normal gas gauge - top half goes forever, bottom half not so much :)
I once drove a panel-truck (9 mpg) with a 90-gallon cylindrical fuel tank, mounted horizontally.
  • 1st quarter = gone in a blink
  • 2nd quarter = took forever
  • 3rd quarter = took forever
  • 4th quarter = why ain't you filling the tank?
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