How to get higher MPG when standing still
 

Sounds like a paradox right?
Sounds impossibe right?

How do you get better "mileage" at stoplights?

When you are stopped, you get zero MPG, right???
Perhaps..... Or perhaps a paradigm shift is in order.

All instances of "0 MPG" are not created equal.

Consider running the engine while standing still to be negative MPG. We can assign negative numbers, in fact, based on fuel usage.

Standing still, headlamps on, charging the battery pack = -10 MPG
Standing still, charging the battery pack = -8 MPG
Standing still, in Drive, no charging = -4 MPG
Standing still, in Neutral = -3 MPG

Now, where did I get those figures?
By using a fuel consumption meter ( ScanGauge ) set to gallons per hour.

Standing still, headlamps on, charging the battery pack will burn 1 gal per hour.
Standing still, charging the battery pack, will burn 0.8 gallons per hour.
Standing still, in Drive, will burn 0.4 gallons per hour.
Standing still, in Neutral, will burn 0.3 gallons per hour.

In these cold winter months, when EV at stoplights is almost impossible, perhaps, it is best to shift to neutral when stopped. The engine will keep running, but it will use 25% less fuel. 0.3 GPH vs. 0.4 GPH.

At least that is what I discovered in my 2005 FEH.

Hope that is helpful data.
-John

Re: How to get higher MPG when standing still
 

Very Interesting, and helpful. Thank You. Spending my (very Cold, Very snowy) first winter with my Hybrid and I have been very dissapointed with the drop in MPG. (Although still much better than non-hybrid)

Looking for any help. :)

Re: How to get higher MPG when standing still
 

So how did you calculate the MPG? I understand the GPH number, and the differences between the four states you describe, but what factor did you use for the MPG conversion? For instance, if I'm driving 30mph and getting 30mpg, I will burn 1 gallon in 1 hour, but if I'm going 60mph and getting 30mpg, I will burn twice as much gas because I'm going double the distance.

Also, with the headlights, were both GPH measurements taken at the same time, or was the first observation at night and the second during the day? Temperature could play a factor here. Have you done any similar calculations with the stereo or the heated seats? I would think they would draw more power than the headlights so I wonder what the GPH difference is with them.

Interesting stuff--thanks for your observations. I think I'll start using Neutral more!

Re: How to get higher MPG when standing still
 

Since "headlamps on" also includes tail lamps, parking lamps, etc. you have quite a few lamps on at once. This is one of the larger power draws your car has. The ventillation blower also draws significant juice. Radio, is near the least. I don't have heated seats.

I "made up" the negative MPG numbers for illustrative purposes.
It is a way of thinking that makes sense, even if you can't put your hands on it.

If you have ten dollars, ( 10 ) you can hold 10 dollars in your hand.
If you owe the bank ten dollars ( -10 ) you can't hold -10 dollars in your hand, but still, it "exsits".

My negative MPG scale is a relative scale.
The GPH is an absolute scale.