I've finally got the 84V wired up. The performance is noticeably improved. It will hit a reliable 40 MPH now with higher speeds up to 43 on flat roads when it's in a good mood. The mid speed power between 15 and 35 is quite improved and keeps up with general traffic, and I even gently pass about half of it now.
There were a couple cars though that I had been pacing, who when they figured out I was driving an EV, they floored it to speed away at probably 55-60 on the 40 MPH posted road. Making a point, I guess that only ICE is 'merican and rules and how dare someone drive a silent EV that looks like it fell out of a cereal box. This did not happen to me when I was slower at 72V.
Going 41 on flat road I encountered a large overpass hill where the speed slowed but held steady at 35 on the incline. Going down the other side I sped up to 50 and it stayed at high speed back on the flat. After a mile, the speed had slowed to 46 and seemed to be holding (or at least decaying very very slowly) there except I came up to a light and had to stop.
The range is better now probably due to more battery capacity but also the Peukert effect whereby I draw fewer realtime amps while cruising.
The red Lo-Batt light used to come on while under heavier loads after 10 miles at 72V, but I drove 15 miles at 84V and the light had not flashed yet. Note that the Lo-Batt circuit is still only connected to the original 72V pack. The extra 7th battery is only connected between the 72V pack and the motor controller. The whole cab and 72V wiring still only sees 72V, so that fact that the Lo-Batt light did not come on means the original 72V pack is draining more slowly now.
This upgrade project seems to be well worth the effort.
There were a couple cars though that I had been pacing, who when they figured out I was driving an EV, they floored it to speed away at probably 55-60 on the 40 MPH posted road. Making a point, I guess that only ICE is 'merican and rules and how dare someone drive a silent EV that looks like it fell out of a cereal box. This did not happen to me when I was slower at 72V.
Going 41 on flat road I encountered a large overpass hill where the speed slowed but held steady at 35 on the incline. Going down the other side I sped up to 50 and it stayed at high speed back on the flat. After a mile, the speed had slowed to 46 and seemed to be holding (or at least decaying very very slowly) there except I came up to a light and had to stop.
The range is better now probably due to more battery capacity but also the Peukert effect whereby I draw fewer realtime amps while cruising.
The red Lo-Batt light used to come on while under heavier loads after 10 miles at 72V, but I drove 15 miles at 84V and the light had not flashed yet. Note that the Lo-Batt circuit is still only connected to the original 72V pack. The extra 7th battery is only connected between the 72V pack and the motor controller. The whole cab and 72V wiring still only sees 72V, so that fact that the Lo-Batt light did not come on means the original 72V pack is draining more slowly now.
This upgrade project seems to be well worth the effort.
