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Old 04-28-2006, 07:17 AM
hihybrid hihybrid is offline
Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Bill
Location: Asheville, NC
Hybrids: 2006 Highlander Hybrid AWD Ltd.
Posts: 3
Default Re: who uses 'brake assist'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by caps04
My personal experience has been that driving in B has no efficiency benefit. It essentially means that your engine will be engaged when slowing down resulting in lower MPG. So if you are driving down a ramp in B, you are saving your brake pads a bit, but its like driving a regular vehicle. In D, your engines will be turned off, batteries will still get charged but you may have to occasionally engage the brakes to prevent acceleration.
My understanding is that when you shift to B, the ICE is turning over to slow the car (and charge the battery), but no fuel is being fed in, so it's not being burned. So it's not really like a regular vehicle. And coasting in D is no guarantee that the ICE has shut down. I often find that after coasting down a long exit ramp to a stop, that the ICE is still running when I stop. It gives me that oh-so-slight shutdown shudder after a few seconds of sitting still.

hihybrid

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Bluestone '06 HH AWD Ltd. w/nav
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