Our hybrid right now is my wifes main car and this is how close to here usage. Averaging just over 22 mpg.

When I was using the vehicle to commute to work I was averaging just over 25 under these same conditions.

 

I have an 08 FEH FWD with around 17,000mi over the last 9 months. My average MPG over the life of the vehicle is 32.5MPG. This is a solid mixture of in-town and interstate driving. I'm in the Southeast near the coast so I don't have a bad heating penalty in the winter but I do have a cooling penalty in the Spring/Summer/Fall.

 

Wow....some of these figures seem low. We are averaging 35.5 mpg mainly in city driving. We have a 2008 front wheel drive FEH. We just started our HOT season so we will be using the AC more. So far that has dropped up about 2 mpg. So, even w/ the AC on we're still well above the 33mpg mark. Our best tank so far has been 36.9 mpg.

The vehicle is fairly new and has just over 4000 miles on it at the moment.

 

It WOULD be useful if people noted if they have FWD or AWD. My 2008 AWD FEH has 2K miles, and I am averaging right at 30 MPG, but I have to drive carefully to make that. I suspect if I didn't drive for mileage I would get a solid 29.

The FWD gets 5 MPG better EPA mileage in town.

 

I think it would also be important to know if your hand calculating the MPG or using the on-board (dash or NAV) numbers.

I use the fill-up gallons/miles traveled as this seems to be the most accurate. If I went by the NAV I'd always be 1-2MPG higher. I reset the trip and NAV after each fill (I also usually go below 50MTE (miles to empty) before filling.

Also, it would be good to note if multiple drivers are using the vehicle. I'm sure those FEH's that only see one driver probably have a slight FE advantage.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't mean to imply that anyone was fibbing! My post probably should have said "Your mileage vs. advertised mileage" or something like that.
In any case, I am an newbie and just learning the lingo. As for regenerative braking, I understand the concept, but could someone provide insight into how it is actually done while driving? Is this the same thing as "pulse driving" that I read about.
I appreciate all of your patience as I learn to navigate the hybrid world!

 

One thing to consider about this site is that most of us are passionate about hybrids and work hard at getting good mileage, so when they say "your actual mileage may vary", we're generally on the high side of that variance .

Regenerative braking doesn't actually use the brakes. There are two electric motors (on both the FEH and TCH), and one of them acts as a generator. When you put your foot on the brake, the generator motor spins (slowing you down) converting your kinetic energy into electricity which is stored in the battery. That is a huge simplification of course--someone will probably provide a more detailed answer.

 

No, Regen and Pulsing aren't related in any way shape or form.

If you haven't, I suggest taking a few moments to read through the FEH FAQ, there's a link to it in my signature, as well as a sticky at the top of the FEH forum. It covers a lot of the basics and introduces the FEH to someone who isn't familiar at all with hybrids.

Regen, like kristian noted, is a part of normal vehicle operation where the electric drive system is operating in reverse. While accelerating in Electric Drive mode converts electricity from the battery into motion via the motor to move the wheels, when you press the brake pedal, it reverses, taking movement from the wheels and using the motor to turn it back into electricity to be stored in the High Voltage Battery. The harder you press the brake pedal, the more regen occurs, slowing you down. This is essentially invisible to someone who is driving and used to conventional brakes, there's nothing special that you as a driver must be aware of to regen, it happens on it's own. You also have conventional friction brakes which are used when traveling at very low (5 miles per hour) speeds to stop or if you slam on the brakes suddenly to assist regen for added immediate braking power.

Pulsing, usually attached to "And Glide" is a driving technique where you accelerate briskley and then coast, ideally in fuel cut AKA ICE off AKA zero gasoline consumption mode after said acceleration. Even with the engine on, the reduced to non-existant demand returns high mileage. You do not have to engage in Pulse and Gliding if you don't want to, and some drivers don't use the technique that often.

 

I have a 2008 MMH 2WD with almost 12,000 miles on it. I have filled the tank 28 times - My overall average is 31.9 MPG; my highest tank was 36.2 MPG and my lowest tank was 25.5 MPG.

The highest tank average was achieved by not exceeding 50 MPH in rural driving with some stop and go small town driving also included. The lowest tank happened during a Michigan winter trip (from Alabama) traveling almost 70 MPH on I-65 and then some short stop and go trips in MI while experiencing temps in the 30s.

Overall I do try to drive for fuel economy and drive very conservatively - slow acceleration and moderate braking. It does seem as though my actual mileage achieved coincides quite nicely with the EPA estimates of 34 city, 30 hwy.

 

I just got my '08 FEH 4wd at the end of April. I have 5k on it as of yesterday. I drive 95% of the time on the freeway going ~68 mph (I know I'd get better mpg if I went even slower, but I am already slower than nearly everyone else). My commute in total is an hour w/ 1 stop almost exactly midway. None of it is flat, but the hills aren't steep and I seem to gain as much back on FE on the downside as I look getting to the top.

Keep in mind by calcs are by hand not using the nav readout. My first tank was only 28.5 mpg. Each tank went up until I am now consistantly getting 30 mpg once I got past the 2k break-in period. My best tank so far has been 31.0. This week we had 100+ degree weather. Needless to say the AC had to finally be turned on. This last tank was 30.5.

The 4wd gets less mileage than the 2wd. I knew that when buying it, but it was the only one available and the dealer could not get his hands on a 2wd. Hybrids aren't readily available in my area. So 30 for highway w/ac is gravy to me. In the spring and fall i will try for and hope for better.

I've also learned to tweak my driving some using these forums and the FAQs. Most of my driving is in cruise control, but when it is not, I am learning what to do to get the most out of it. The real time NAV display mpg graph bar is cool and definately rewards (or punishes you) you for paying attention.