Dratted Initial Electric Assist!
#11
10-29-2009, 11:44 AM
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 895
Re: Dratted Initial Electric Assist!
On a cold start, with engine running, using HARDLY any gas, I acclelerate to 30-40 MPH on electric only ( or mostly ) propultion. During these first 30 seconds, my MPG is off scale high = greater than 60 MPG on a Navi screen.
The electric only propultion lasts for 30 seconds, 10% battery SOC drop, or the battery SOC hits lower than 33%, whichever comes first, then the gas engine starts to take load, and MPG drops.
As soon as MPG drops, I lift the throttle pedal, and "coast" for as long as practical. MPG goes off scale high ( 60 MPG+ ) while recharging. Usually, 1-2 minutes is all that is needed to get the 10% SOC back.
Now, the car is back to "normal" and the start-up / warm-up yielded really high MPG. Not always 60 MPG, but always better than 40 MPG, which is higher than my long-term average, so I view this as a positive thing.
HTH,
-John
The electric only propultion lasts for 30 seconds, 10% battery SOC drop, or the battery SOC hits lower than 33%, whichever comes first, then the gas engine starts to take load, and MPG drops.
As soon as MPG drops, I lift the throttle pedal, and "coast" for as long as practical. MPG goes off scale high ( 60 MPG+ ) while recharging. Usually, 1-2 minutes is all that is needed to get the 10% SOC back.
Now, the car is back to "normal" and the start-up / warm-up yielded really high MPG. Not always 60 MPG, but always better than 40 MPG, which is higher than my long-term average, so I view this as a positive thing.
HTH,
-John
But I'll try some variation of this (though I think I'm already basically trying this). But my MPG never gets above 30 until I start coasting to the first stoplight.
#12
10-29-2009, 11:52 AM
Hybrid and Ethanol Expert
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: All over the Central U.S.
Posts: 3,616
Re: Dratted Initial Electric Assist!
I have one of the oldest FEH's. A 2005 built in December of 2004.
ALL FEH's have the ability to go "EV" at 39.99 MPH and slower.
The 2010's will go EV at 44 MPH and under.
However, I have had electric only propultion at 80 MPH.
There are rare cases going downhill with the engine is turning but all fuel is cut off. Then you hit a mild rise or flat spot in the road. If SOC is very high from lots of regen on the downhill, the electric motor only will add torque, basically, EV at any speed.
The first 30 seconds of cold start-up, yes the engine is turning, yes, it is using an idle amount of gas... but all or nearly all of the torque is from the electric motor. Use it wisely, and not see a hit in MPG!
ALL FEH's have the ability to go "EV" at 39.99 MPH and slower.
The 2010's will go EV at 44 MPH and under.
However, I have had electric only propultion at 80 MPH.
There are rare cases going downhill with the engine is turning but all fuel is cut off. Then you hit a mild rise or flat spot in the road. If SOC is very high from lots of regen on the downhill, the electric motor only will add torque, basically, EV at any speed.
The first 30 seconds of cold start-up, yes the engine is turning, yes, it is using an idle amount of gas... but all or nearly all of the torque is from the electric motor. Use it wisely, and not see a hit in MPG!
#13
10-29-2009, 01:43 PM
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 895
Re: Dratted Initial Electric Assist!
I have one of the oldest FEH's. A 2005 built in December of 2004.
ALL FEH's have the ability to go "EV" at 39.99 MPH and slower.
The 2010's will go EV at 44 MPH and under.
However, I have had electric only propultion at 80 MPH.
There are rare cases going downhill with the engine is turning but all fuel is cut off. Then you hit a mild rise or flat spot in the road. If SOC is very high from lots of regen on the downhill, the electric motor only will add torque, basically, EV at any speed.
The first 30 seconds of cold start-up, yes the engine is turning, yes, it is using an idle amount of gas... but all or nearly all of the torque is from the electric motor. Use it wisely, and not see a hit in MPG!
ALL FEH's have the ability to go "EV" at 39.99 MPH and slower.
The 2010's will go EV at 44 MPH and under.
However, I have had electric only propultion at 80 MPH.
There are rare cases going downhill with the engine is turning but all fuel is cut off. Then you hit a mild rise or flat spot in the road. If SOC is very high from lots of regen on the downhill, the electric motor only will add torque, basically, EV at any speed.
The first 30 seconds of cold start-up, yes the engine is turning, yes, it is using an idle amount of gas... but all or nearly all of the torque is from the electric motor. Use it wisely, and not see a hit in MPG!
I have often seen the 9999 on my SG when going downhill at high speeds.
#14
10-30-2009, 09:22 AM
Re: Dratted Initial Electric Assist!
I have a 2008 FEH FWD (Job 1) and I have been able to accelerate all the way up to the EV limit without the ICE starting. It's not easy, you can't accelerate quickly, and you can't do it with traffic behind you but it can be done. I find that if you get up to 20-25MPH in EV, let off the go pedal for a second or two and then go back to a light acceleration you can consistently get EV past 25MPH (assuming enough SOC and temps allow).
In most cases, with what I consider moderate acceleration I can see 20-25MPH EV before the ICE kicks in (assuming I'm accelerating to 45+MPH as a goal). The wife accelerates a bit more briskly and usually only gets to 15MPH. She's the primary driver and is good for about 30-32MPG average while I'm good for 38-40 on average. I do mostly Interstate driving and she does mostly in-town/short trip drives.
Hope my observation helps a little bit...
In most cases, with what I consider moderate acceleration I can see 20-25MPH EV before the ICE kicks in (assuming I'm accelerating to 45+MPH as a goal). The wife accelerates a bit more briskly and usually only gets to 15MPH. She's the primary driver and is good for about 30-32MPG average while I'm good for 38-40 on average. I do mostly Interstate driving and she does mostly in-town/short trip drives.
Hope my observation helps a little bit...
#15
11-08-2009, 09:40 PM
Hybrid and Ethanol Expert
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: All over the Central U.S.
Posts: 3,616
Re: Dratted Initial Electric Assist!
I may have over-stated my usual "60 MPG" during start-up a bit.
I've been watching it this week and had some morning starts in the 26 to 29 degree range. It seems in these sub-freezing mornings I'm getting 40 MPG.
Still, not bad.
I've been watching it this week and had some morning starts in the 26 to 29 degree range. It seems in these sub-freezing mornings I'm getting 40 MPG.
Still, not bad.
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