View Single Post
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 12-07-2005, 10:50 PM
ElanC ElanC is offline
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Elan
Location: El Cerrito, CA
Hybrids: 2006 HCH Alabaster Silver w/Navi
Posts: 699
Default Re: Anyone else notice more aggressive assist when fuel low?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmg14213
I was hoping others had seen the same behavior, in part, because I would like to figure a way to cheat it into working that way all the time.

I love when I can use the assist for all the heavy work, and save the gas for just the light load of cruising. And I was getting good drivability for those miles that it was "low fuel". The only time I worry about saving the assist is when I have to climb the hill at Stony Brook Park, south of Letchworth on NY Rt. 36 southbound. Coming back, that hill can recharge the batteries from about 40% discharged (60% capacity) to full with regen cutting out just before the bottom of the hill.
Assist doesn't come free. For every mile you drive with assist you probably have to drive two miles with regen. It's not very efficient in general. The only good time to use assist is when you put more demand for power on the ICE than it can generate efficiently. Otherwise you're actually hurting overall FE as well as hurting the battery pack by over-using it.

.

2006 HCH Alabaster Silver w/Navi
2003 Honda Accord LX
Reply With Quote