Cathy -

People HAVE to use the motor on flats due to environmental factors, e.g. wind. Most people won't even approach 12 miles on a full charge under most environmental conditions. And again, draining the battery more than 75% will significantly shorten the life of the batteries. I'm pleased that you and your husband get the range that you do, but most people will not even come close to that distance if they maximize the life span of the batteries. Your technique for maximizing the distance is admirable, however, and should likely be adopted if possible.

P.S. I asked the owner to verify the additional time on the charger. He stated that he couldn't really verify any improvement because his route doesn't demand it, but I, too, think it's a good idea to leave the battery on the charger for awhile after the green LED lights, probably a couple of hours.