Here's a situation where we all encounter every day in our commute:
From stop light: speed up to ~40-45mph then coast to next red light, and maximize on regen to stop.

My question is: which is better for overall FE during the acceleration:

1. Slow and constant acceleration (not EV only "slow"), keeping the ICE reving 2000-2500 rpm only, for about ~25-30 seconds until 40mph is reached.

2. Apply harder acceleration for 2-4sec up to 3k rev on the ICE, then "FS - Fake Shift" by easing off on accelerator (so RPM backs down to <2k), then repeat for 2 more time until 40mph is reached. Basically, pulse acc. 3 times with 3 FS to get up to speed. The first acc. gets you to ~20mph, then 2nd to 35mph, then the third to 40+mph. The FS parts must allow for RPM to get below 2k.

The reason I ask is this: I notice that battery assist is used much more (on the battery power dail) on harder acc., and pratically none when using constant acc. (doesnt have to be slow, just constant acc). On top of that, when FS occurs, the battery is "recharged" from the high reved ICE energy (hence you have to FS back down to <2k rpm to maximize the charge recapture).

So if you slow acc. you use ICE energy only (or mostly) for long period of acc., and recapture only some of that back on the next red light by regen.

But if you pulse acc., you use a lot of battery power, which you get back in both the FS, and the regen when stopping. Sure your ICE revs higher, but in much shorter time period. And emotor is more efficient at low revs...oh and people behind you dont get mad and try to pass you up and cursing at hybrid drivers.

Maybe someone with scanguage info can answer the question?