How to use the 2012-2014 Toyota RAV4 EV Range Chart:
Download and print the Range Chart:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3bcv212xxsfd2vr/Rav4rangeChartV90.2.pdf?dl=0
On the car:
A. Reset Consumption meter:
1) Press mechanical "home" button below the center of the navigation screen.
2) Press "EV" softbutton
3) Then press "Energy Monitor"
4) Select "Past Record"
5) Press "Update"
B. Display Energy Consumption during Map display mode:
1) Press mechanical "home" button below the center of the navigation screen.
2) Select "MAP"
3) Select "Map Mode" in lower left corner of screen. If this is not available to select, press "On", then "Map Mode".
4) Select "Energy Monitor"
5) Press the "go-back symbol" in the upper right corner
6) Confirm that "Consumption" is at the top-right of the display. If it says "Past Record", change to "Consumption". At the bottom-right of the display, it will show the average consumption. This will read 0.0 miles/kWh if it was properly reset. If not, go back and repeat step A.
C. Then, reset the trip odometer (black mechanical button between speedometer and energy gauge):
1) Press and release until desired trip meter is displayed
2) Press and HOLD button until miles go to zero
After you have completed these steps, you are ready to plan your trip.
First, let's stipulate that the "GOM" / estimated range on the dash is not to be used. This seems to be the hardest thing to overcome for many people.
The controlling value for range are two values:
1) Average miles per kWh
2) Available stored kWh onboard
If you need to travel 120 miles, and the battery is fully charged, you'll start with about 37kWh with a typical somewhat degraded RAV4 EV battery, therefore:
120 plus a 15% buffer equals 138 miles range required.
138 / 37kWh = 3.7 miles per kWh required to complete the trip with a 15% reserve.
That's about 55-60mph, on cruise control, according to the chart, but it could be a higher or lower speed. There are MANY factors that affect range, and the ONLY thing that matters is the "Average Miles/kWh" from reset.
If you drive 40 miles or so into your trip, and you're no where near 3.7 miles per kWh for this planned trip, YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN!!! (Or find an alternate charging spot).
I recommend starting this trip with the cruise control on 60mph. If after 40-60 miles (just prior to the halfway point) the Average Miles/kWh are holding mostly steady at 3.4 miles/kWh for this example, the you MUST slow to 55mph.
If the Average Miles/kWh do not start climbing above 3.4 when you have reduced the speed by 5mph for the next 20 miles, you probably need to make sure that the heater is off, or start planning to find an alternate charging location. Slowing to 50mph on public freeways / high speed highways is probably dangerous.
Again, the GOM does not matter. If your battery is cold, it will consume more power to warm it up. If you run the cabin heater, you will consume more power. There may be a headwind. You may have a tire with low pressure. You may have a dog strapped on the roof. This is why the speed NOT a controlling factor in range... Average Miles/kWh is.
How will you know how much energy that your battery will hold? Do the "Tony-Test" to determine your approximate degradation:
