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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 08:15 AM
Owner
 
Real Name: Chris
Location: Michigan
Hybrids: 2006 HCH
Posts: 87
Default New Driving Technique

I haven't found the EV Glide practical because too much speed bleeds off while I take my foot off the accelerator, wait for the MPG meter to get to 100+ and then gently pushing the accelerator to get to 1-3 assist bars. This whole process just takes way too long too.

Lately, I've been doing something different that has yielded better results.

I get to just above my target speed and then lighten up on the accelerator until the MPG meter gets to around 75. I can get to this point a lot faster than EV Glide and the speed doesn't bleed nearly as fast.

Now I get low 50s in 20 degree weather, on the way to work. I was getting mid-40s.

.


Not bad for an automatic, eh?
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  #2 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 08:35 AM
PCK PCK is offline
Active Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Perry
Location: South Florida
Hybrids: 2006 HCH w/Nav
Posts: 68
Default Re: New Driving Technique

Thats what I have been doing all this time though when a good EV opportunity
such as downhill presents itself I go for it.

.


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  #3 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 09:08 AM
Active Enthusiast
 
Location: Los Angeles
Hybrids: 2006 HCH, magnetic pearl, no nav
Posts: 95
Default Re: New Driving Technique

I think this is called "driving with load" or DWL, and I agree it's much easier to attain and maintain for long periods. Basically if I can't keep the instantaneous display at 100mpg, I want to keep it at least in upper half (over 50 zone).

On level roads I've found a small release of the gas pedal then a small tap, then frequently repeating that release-and-tap will keep the instantaneous needle floating somewhere in that upper zone. Downhill of course makes EV glide easy, so like PCK I always take advantage of it.

But then on some days the instantaneous needle is just all over the place--it dances around on the right a little but just will NOT stay, or plunges back down to the left. I take my foot off the gas and all that happens is I slow down....grrrr.
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  #4 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 09:38 AM
Active Enthusiast
 
Location: Southern California
Hybrids: 2006 Gallaxy Grey HCH
Posts: 159
Default Re: New Driving Technique

that's what I do also. I called this (with myself), "short glide" and I keep the Gauge around 75% almost all the time. results are around 55 mpg real (calculated at the pump). The long glides are impossible to do in Real World Socal Metro Areas where 70+ is the average speed and Carpool speed is about 75.

Not to mention that I have a life and I'm not part of any experiment

.

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  #5 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 11:41 AM
Active Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Jean-Francois
Location: Laval, Quebec Canada
Hybrids: 2006 HCH ll; Sparkle Grey Pearl;Built: 11/2005
Posts: 96
Default Re: New Driving Technique

I also beginning to find that driving pattern more efficient with my HCH.

I realise that when coasting with the IMPG pegs at 100 might not be the best way to get good result.

I think that when we do what describe here by moosh, set the engine in it's middle state of combustion. (only one spark plug by cylinder)

.

Soleil24
Quebec, Canada 06 HCH owner

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  #6 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 01:01 PM
Active Enthusiast
 
Location: Vermont
Hybrids: 2006 MP HCH
Posts: 54
Default Re: New Driving Technique

I've never been able to go *up* a hill without the meter dropping to about 25-35 mpg (even when I let my speed drop). How do you handle those?

.

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  #7 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 01:03 PM
Sledge's Avatar
YA RLY.
 
Real Name: Bubo scandiacus
Location: Saginaw, MI
Hybrids: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
Posts: 610
Default Re: New Driving Technique

Oh, that's easy. Just coast uphill.


.



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  #8 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 04:05 PM
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Luis AKA Anthony
Location: La Verne, CA
Hybrids: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid w/NAV, Magnetic Pearl
Posts: 362
Default Re: New Driving Technique

There's no way around it sub, so instead I went around the hill.... There is a hill on the way to my house that has a STEEP incline. So I go down on in the way to school, and around it on the way back. Saves gas that way, and helps out my avg mpg.

.

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  #9 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2006, 04:15 PM
Active Enthusiast
 
Location: Vermont
Hybrids: 2006 MP HCH
Posts: 54
Default Re: New Driving Technique

I have a hill like that too - the problem is, it's 5.0 miles to go over it, 7.8 to go around it, and the math doesn't work out in favor of the longer route as far as the total amount of gas used. Too bad, that - at least as far as my lmpg is concerned

.

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  #10 (permalink)  
Old 03-08-2006, 11:22 AM
Owner
 
Real Name: Chris
Location: Michigan
Hybrids: 2006 HCH
Posts: 87
Default Re: New Driving Technique

Another reason I like the 75+ MPG technique is that there's enough battery power for auto stop to engage. If the battery only shows 4 bars, after some EV Glide, the auto stop won't start and my MPGs melt away at a stop light.

.


Not bad for an automatic, eh?
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