GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post - Which acceleration is better for FE for FEH/MMH?

Tim K · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2006, 07:58 AM

I find highway mileage to actually be excellent in my Mariner Hybrid (4wd). I regularly get 33-35mpg just by cruising at the speed limit. In the city, due to all my short trips and red lights I am only getting about 28mpg.

As for acceleration, I wondered something similar....whether it was better to quickly accelerate to cruising speed and then level out or to gradually increase speed until you reach cruising. It seems to me that the longer you spend cruising at a more efficient speed the better.

Now, I just made up these numbers but maybe someone with a scanguage can actually test the fuel usage.

Accelerating from a stop to 60mph and crusing - distance of 5 miles.

Example 1: Hard acceleration
est. FE of 10mpg for 1 mile of acceleration = .10 gal burned
est. FE of 35mpg for 4 miles of cruising = .12 gal burned
total fuel used = .22 gallons

Example 2: Gradual acceleration
avg. FE of 15 mpg for 2.5 miles of acceleration = .17 gal burned
est. FE of 35 mpg for 2.5 miles of cruising = .07 gal burned
total fuel used = .24 gallons

Now, OBVIOUSLY these numbers are totally made up, but I wonder whether one method is better than the other. Personally, I wouldn't bother doing something like multiple FS's during acceleration, but if there is an advantage to gradual or rapid acceleration I would choose the better one.