Battery and Time Icons Estimates on Native Navigation Routes

[TakeDuo]

When we route somewhere, my kids and I have an ongoing argument about what the time and battery percentage means for each route. For example, if one route says +1 or says -1, we assume that means longer (+) route or shorter (-) route by time. Easy.

However, the argument comes with the battery icon when it is +1 or -1 for those routes. Is plus more battery used? Like more energy consumed? Or is it more range on arrival? Like you’ll see battery plus 1% or minus 1%.

Please help me prove my kid wrong

 

[Chrome]

I don't have official info on this, but as I regularly drive a 350-mile trip in my Air, I've got a general understanding of these estimates.

The alternate route blips are displaying the cost as compared to your current route selection. As you said, time as positive means it will cost you more time; time as negative means you will save time.

The battery usage, similarly, is estimating a greater cost as positive. You have to set aside the thought of SOC.

This is an ass-backwards representation since the entire step-by-step navigation log on the Pilot Panel displays SOC per Stop, and Charging Stops display [SOC] -> [Battery Percentage Replenished via Charging] -> [SOC]. There are no costs here. I don't know what they were thinking.

I should also note that the alternate route estimates (on battery consumption, specifically) are, in my experience, always wrong.
i.e.: Nav log will show arrival SOC as 5%, and an alt route will show -7% on the blip. I will switch to this route and the arrival SOC will then immediately update to 8%.
What happened to the other 4%? The math never checks out, which is strange, seeing as how my Arrival SOC number is always incredibly accurate and only becomes unreliable when I see a massive ambient temperature delta during the drive (Depart in 30°F and arrive in 78°F).