Ather has started to set up grids on highways!! What ride style would optimize the travel time on long rides that require multiple recharges?
Mumbai Pune highway now has three - Panvel, Chouk, Talegaon - see below. The distance is about 160km, but rider will need 2 stops to charge (Chouk and Talegaon), since the exact midway point doesn’t have charger yet.
- Dadar / Andheri E to Chouk grid: 60km.
- Charge at Chouk grid. Charge to 100% to enable #3 below.
- Chouk grid to Talegaon grid: 65 km with 15 km uphill. Almost equivalent to 80km on level road.
- Charge at Talegaon grid.
- Talegaon to Pune Deccan: 35 km
The variable that determines time for steps #2 and #4 are the Charging time for SoC change - depends on what SoC when rider reaches Chouk and Talegaon.
The variable that determines time for steps #1 and #5 is the rider speed.
Step #3 for now is not a variable for time. Rider will need to use SmartEco to cover 80km with assurance. With avg speed of not more than 40km/h in SmartEco, Step # 3 will take 2 hours.
The time optimisation problem
If rider rides faster in steps #1 and #3, the SoC at beginning of charge is lower for subsequent steps #2 and #4. Would you ride slow and save time in charge, or ride fast and use more time to charge?
- Assuming grid charges are operational AND available. In reality, I would suggest rider should first call ahead and confirm - another app feature request - can we get host phone number listed so riders can confirm?
- Assuming no time is lost for any other purpose other than ride and charge, rider is able to maintain desired average speed
- Assuming full charge at grid takes 60 minutes for 0% to 100% and is linear (incorrect, but makes calculation easier).
- Assuming single rider with 75kg weight riding at 40km/h average speed efficiently gets a range of 100km, same rider riding at 60km/h average speed efficiently gets range of 70km, same rider riding efficiently at 75 km/h average speed gets range of 50km, This assumption affects the time optimisation most - would like your thoughts.
Option 1 - ride conservatively at 40km/h average speed
Step #1 Mumbai to Chouk grid - 60km - 40km/h avg speed - 90 minutes - end SoC approx 40% Step #2 Charging at Chouk grid from 40% to 100% approx 36 minutes. Step #3 Chouk grid to Talegaon grid - 65km with 15 km uphill - equivalent to 80km - 40km/h avg speed - 120 minutes - end SoC approx 20%. Step #4 Charging at Talegaon grid from 20% to 35% approx 10 minutes. Step #5 Talegaon grid to Pune - 35km - 40km/h ave speed - 52 min - end SoC approx 0%.
Total time: 308 minutes or 5h 8m
Option 2 - ride fast at 60km/h average where possible
Step #1 Mumbai to Chouk grid - 60km - 60km/h avg speed - 60 minutes - end SoC approx 14%. Step #2 Charging at Chouk grid from 14% to 100% approx 52 minutes. Step #3 Chouk grid to Talegaon grid - 65km with 15 km uphill - equivalent to 80km - 40km/h avg speed - 120 minutes - end SoC approx 20% Step #4 Charging at Talegaon grid from 20% to 50% approx 18 minutes. Step #5 Talegaon grid to Pune - 35km - 60km/h ave speed - 35 min - end SoC approx 0%.
Total time: 285 minutes or 4h 45m
Option 3 - ride fast at 75km/h average where possible
Step #1 Mumbai to Chouk grid - 60km - 70km/h avg speed - 52 minutes - end SoC approx 0%. Step #2 Charging at Chouk grid from 0% to 100% approx 60 minutes. Step #3 Chouk grid to Talegaon grid - 65km with 15 km uphill - equivalent to 80km - 40km/h avg speed - 120 minutes - end SoC approx 20% Step #4 Charging at Talegaon grid from 20% to 70% approx 30 minutes. Step #5 Talegaon grid to Pune - 35km - 75km/h ave speed - 28 min - end SoC approx 0%.
Total time: 290 minutes or 4h 50m
Interestingly, most optimised time for this journey is riding at 60km/h where possible!! It will take longer time when riding slower or faster.
If the trip planner can include time optimisation as a feature for long rides, that would really make Ather a smart scooter!! Supriya GM spoke about possibility of doing this in the pod cast below (see min 30:15). Looking forward to that day when Ather can figure this out instead of users having to.