Best way of driving

Forum for the Nissan Qashqai e-Power
MontyB52
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Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:12 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by MontyB52 »

alexcrist wrote: Sun Apr 14, 2024 6:41 pm One thing that I don't remeber to be written in the manual about e-Pedal is that is also uses the friction brakes to achieve it's goal, not only regen.

Also, when going down on longer roads (like down a longer hill or mountain road), when the battery is full, B and D start doing engine braking using the gasoline engine (you can hear it start and roar, and also EV mode gets deactivated at that point). But e-Pedal doesn't do that, it compensates with the friction brakes instead. The engine is completely quiet, EV mode stays engaged, the speed is controlled very nicely BUT it should be used with major care because it could lead to brakes overheating on long descents - it basically goes down with the friction brakes permanently engaged, no actual engine braking at all (again, this happens after the battery is already 100% charged).

I'm not sure this implementation is optimal, honestly.
Using epedal I have noticed much less wear on the front brakes (less brake dust on wheels etc) compared to the rear wheels & considerably less compared to a petrol only version.

I’m sure I have read If the battery is at full capacity (never had while driving) & still receiving a charge from the regen, the ICE will kick in to dissipate some of that charge…certainly if I sit with the car running/on on the drive & the bonnet open, the ICE runs & won’t shut down even when the battery has reached capacity. It does shutdown soon after I shut the bonnet.
So it could be that reason why you’re seeing the ICE kick in on a downhill.
72 plate E-Power N-Connecta in Burgundy 8-)

Anglofinn
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Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2025 11:15 am
Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by Anglofinn »

Just recently got the Qashqai Tekna and loving the experience so far having migrated from a 20 yr old manual diesel Golf :D

However, I wanted to follow up on a previous post about best way to drive to be the most fuel efficient. When I filled the tank last week it gave me 635 total miles, and now Im sub 290 miles in just a week. So Im not convinced I'm driving the most smartest way.

Just to caveat, I do use the motorway once or twice a week. Trip is 60 miles in one direction (c. 100 miles total) on the M20 going into London. Otherwise I drive on semi-rural roads that are relatively flat. Q: Whats the best method for motorway driving when I do have to slow down sometimes due to slow traffic/roadworks, and then cruise at 70mph on the more faster parts?
And when driving on shorter trips (e.g. school drop off or shops within 3 miles?) which method is the best?

Also could you also kndly explain what do the letters D, B etc. mean in your posts? Sorry to be dumb but Im new to all this. Thank you so much
deccadick
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by deccadick »

D stands for DRIVE as in any automatic. B stands for BRAKE regeneration. In B when you lift off the accelerator the battery receives some charging current. You can see this happening on the blue battery charge meter at bottom of LH dial. This amount of braking does not switch on the brake lights. In heavy traffic use the epedal which produces mote battery charge and lights thr brake lights.

My ranges after tank reills vary from 590 (the very first one) down to 493 last week. Fill ups generally occur at 450 to 500 miles and the miles per tankful vary from a low of 41.1 (January) to a high of 50.8 (July). My average over the 4800 miles is 45.8mpg.
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roadster
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by roadster »

There is an element of choosing personal preference which should not be overlooked too. B mode provides a simulation of how a manual car could be slowed by going down through the gearbox and this is my preference in most circumstances. I particularly like the fact that the amount of deceleration increases at slower speed much as if the driver had started with gentle deceleration then selected low gears progressively. From the economy perspective ECO mode may change the accelerator responsiveness and certainly can change air conditioning levels etc.. Again a matter of choice for the driver.

I find E-pedal a bit too difficult to use smoothly but could probably learn to use it better with practice.
Anglofinn
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by Anglofinn »

roadster wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 9:19 am There is an element of choosing personal preference which should not be overlooked too. B mode provides a simulation of how a manual car could be slowed by going down through the gearbox and this is my preference in most circumstances. I particularly like the fact that the amount of deceleration increases at slower speed much as if the driver had started with gentle deceleration then selected low gears progressively. From the economy perspective ECO mode may change the accelerator responsiveness and certainly can change air conditioning levels etc.. Again a matter of choice for the driver.

I find E-pedal a bit too difficult to use smoothly but could probably learn to use it better with practice.
[
Thank you @roadster for the feedback. I assume B mode is the same as "Standard" driving mode? One thing I wanted to know is what is the best way of driving on a motorway, at speeds higher than 50mph to 70 mph? would you use standard or eco drive? Would you use cruising/autopilot? Its really useful on long trips but wondeing if this drains the battery with little regen happening? Thanks /quote]
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roadster
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by roadster »

Thank you @roadster for the feedback. I assume B mode is the same as "Standard" driving mode? One thing I wanted to know is what is the best way of driving on a motorway, at speeds higher than 50mph to 70 mph? would you use standard or eco drive? Would you use cruising/autopilot? Its really useful on long trips but wondeing if this drains the battery with little regen happening? Thanks
B mode and Standard/ECO settings are quite separate. B mode causes the car to slow down, and use regenerative braking to do this, when the accelerator pedal is released. I believe it works the same in standard or eco driving modes.

Eco mode affects the responsiveness of the pedal, so giving more gentle acceleration for a given position of the pedal during partial acceleration. If the pedal is floored completely you will always get maximum acceleration.

Regarding cruise control I find that when in eco mode its resumption of target speed can be very slow but this does improve fuel consumption. The use of B mode on a relatively traffic free motorway may be less useful because there may be few situations where the accelerator pedal needs to be fully released.

If you use the power distribution diagram on the drivers display you can see exactly whether the engine is in use and even at motorway speeds this frequently changes due to inclines either way. Driving without cruise control does allow the driver to anticipate by looking further ahead, and arguably could give better results if the driver is skilful and observant enough to avoid sudden changes of speed which waste fuel.

Use of heating and air conditioning in cold weather has a major effect on power drain and fuel consumption and although this drain may be electrical it will cause the engine to run for longer periods to keep the battery properly charged. Fuel consumption in winter is at least 10% higher in my experience.
Blaze
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by Blaze »

Whenever i enter a roundabout, instead of breaking, i use the lever to enable B mode to slow the car down, then as soon as i leave the roundabout, i move to D mode to drive normally. I find this usefull as id like to generate as much from regen braking as possible. Long term, is driving this way be harsh on the vehicle?
deccadick
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by deccadick »

Why not leave it in 'B' ready for the next time you brake>
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roadster
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Post by roadster »

Blaze wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 1:51 pm Whenever i enter a roundabout, instead of breaking, i use the lever to enable B mode to slow the car down, then as soon as i leave the roundabout, i move to D mode to drive normally. I find this usefull as id like to generate as much from regen braking as possible. Long term, is driving this way be harsh on the vehicle?
I don't see any harm in doing this if its what you prefer. But if the electronic braking cuts in harshly enough to cause drive line stress you should be able to feel it, in which case.... If you stay in B mode you can slow down very smoothly by anticipating well ahead as do F1 drivers when they need to conserve energy but you also have the sports mode option if fuel consumption is not your concern.
MontyB52
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Qashqai Model: Mk.3 Qashqai - J12 (2021+) New Model

Post by MontyB52 »

I’ve always found if I drive in B mode on the motorways this will hold the car back…test it yourself, have it in B mode & then take it out of B mode & you will notice it accelerates better.
In town I always use e pedal with B mode.
But Take it out off both as soon as I am a high speed road for a long stretch…50mph zones which are busy re-enage epedal so I can use EV mode more often.

Cruise control, keep an eye on the small green car on the display, nothing in front & it’s hollow, once the sensors pick up a vehicle in front this will change to a solid green car, if you don’t start to move to overtake soon, the car will start to drop speed & you’ll need to accelerate more. Engaging the indicators helps prevent the car from decelerating.
with motorway driving I was taught it’s about being alert to the traffic behind as much as it is in front, check the gap to the traffic behind you in the next lane & judge the time to move out, get it right & you won’t decelerate much or not all the other thing I was taught was don’t be a middle lane driver, but that’s for another day.
Eco mode is okay for normal motorway driving but for acceleration I always change to standard or sport so I accelerate faster, plus I think as eco holds back the power, trying to accelerate in that mode is slower & could use more fuel.
72 plate E-Power N-Connecta in Burgundy 8-)
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