Ioniq 6, EV6, and Model 3 RWD

I wanted to check the latest Ioniq 6 versus the Kia EV6 review followed by the EPA metrics. My gold standard is the Tesla Model 3 RWD:

Like many commercial reviews, strong on style and light on engineering, but otherwise a fair comparison.

So starting with Fueleconomy.gov:



Hummm, the Ioniq 6 shows excellent efficiency better than the Model 3. But the EV6 seems significantly 'out of its depth.' But let's compare their drag force and weight per horse power (HP.)

Using the EPA Test Car Database, we can plot the drag force as a function of speed:

• Ioniq 6 - lowest drag across both low and high speed range. But the weight/HP ratio makes it the slowest to accelerate.
• Model 3 - higher drag at lower speeds which is probably due to tires used to handle the higher power (i.e., weight/HP) of the other two. It also has more electrical overhead with dual, high performance controllers sized to process Full Self Driving as well as Autopilot.
• EV6 - highest drag that rapidly rises above 40 mph and second best weight/HP ratio. It would be better in City than Highway travel.

Fast DC charging is critical for cross country driving. The Model 3 has the lead with reliable, native, 400 VDC Supercharger access. The Ioniq 6 and EV6 use the unreliable, 400 VDC and rare, 800 VDC, CCS-1 chargers. With extra cost adapters, each can charge at any station but adapters are an emerging technology that has risks.

I did not include Lucid or Fisker due to their business problems of high cost, low production numbers, and weak sales.

Bob Wilson

 

My methodology:

1. Verify the EVs of interest are in Fueleconomy.gov.
2. Download the model year Test Car Database file.
3. Cut and paste rows in working sheet with the header and all rows for the interesting models. Since I own a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, I keep the 'Standard RWD' model.
4. Column cut to retain:
   1. Model
   2. Weight
   3. Power
   4. Test identifier
   5. Roll down coefficients, A, B, and C
5. Add a column with drag force at 63 mph
6. Add a column with either weight/HP or HP/weight, preferred
7. Sort to keep the same EPA test identifier and cut the others
8. Select a row of interest for each model. For example I choose the lowest drag force

At this point, you have all of the useful data but it needs to transformed so it can be plotted:

1. Copy and paste special with 'transpose' into a new sheet so each row has become a column.
2. Add a column of speeds from 30-80 mph, a valid roll down speed range.
3. Use formulas to create the drag force at each speed for each car.
4. Add a row blank row.
5. Add a performance row at 85 mph with either k*(HP/weight) or k*(weight/HP) for power to weight ratio.
6. Plot the mph vs drag force for all models.
7. Adjust the "k" to put the values in the middle range of the drag forces.
8. Modify the graph lines to use a 'blank' for 'missing data'.
9. Other chart esthetics like color and line types to better show the interesting data.

This approach allows comparing efficiency between vehicles or even within trims. Being data driven, it works across the speed range without having to obtain sample cars.

Bob Wilson

 

You really have to find trustable reviewers which are sad to say, a small percentage. I like TFL (The Fast Lane) team and Edmunds head-to-head reviews. The other reviewers post and edit from their point of view which is too often, not mine.

Bob Wilson

 

Youtube plagerists!

I once had a device driver 'design document' plagiarized and am still pissed. Not at the employee given the task but the manager who directed it. The same manager who sat on my original when I sent it to her. I had extracted the driver design from the comments of the code so after integration and test, both were very accurate.

When the plagiarized document showed up in my 'in box' for review, instant white-hot anger followed by telling my supervisor 'I have to leave early.' The next day, I came in much more mellow and wrote:

This is the best design document I have ever seen. It could not have been any more perfect if I'd written it myself.​

Nothing more was ever said but there were a few smirks around the office.

Bob Wilson