The FFH Gas Engine Efficiency

[Howie411]

So maybe I just never paid attention to my old cars, but I feel like the gas engine on the FFH is sub-par. The reason I think this is if I'm driving and my hybrid battery is depleted (because I have the AC on ) I'm typically getting 5 mpg while accelerating and around 15-20mpg cruising (at 40-50).

 

Now I know most newer non hybrid sedans typically can get up to 30mpg on just gas, so why is it the FFH hybrid gas engine can't do this, I'd assume if it was as efficient as some other cars then tack on the battery the car could see close to 60 mpg.

 

 

Anyways feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[rfruth]

So maybe I just never paid attention to my old cars, but I feel like the gas engine on the FFH is sub-par. The reason I think this is if I'm driving and my hybrid battery is depleted (because I have the AC on ) I'm typically getting 5 mpg while accelerating and around 15-20mpg cruising (at 40-50).

 

 

-snip-

 

 

How would you define the hybrid battery being depleted, about 1/2 way on the gauge, 1/4 ?

I get about 5 MPG after sitting at a light with the A/C on (hybrid battery down to 1/4) then take off but after getting up to speed (20 seconds later or so) am getting 35 MPG or better.

[lolder]

When the HVB charge is low (below 1/2 on the gauge), the ICE is moving the car AND charging the HVB and typically gets about 30 mpg. at 30 mph. But the ICE runs only about 1/2 the time under those circumstances. The computer tries to run the ICE under the highest load it can. If you run at a steady 30 mph you should average almost 60 mpg.

[Howie411]

-snip-

 

 

How would you define the hybrid battery being depleted, about 1/2 way on the gauge, 1/4 ?

I get about 5 MPG after sitting at a light with the A/C on (hybrid battery down to 1/4) then take off but after getting up to speed (20 seconds later or so) am getting 35 MPG or better.

 

 

 

When the battery gauge on my car shows 1/4 the car seems to go into permanent charge mode until it reaches at least 1/2 again. This is when I notice this happening the most.

[sullied]

When the battery gauge on my car shows 1/4 the car seems to go into permanent charge mode until it reaches at least 1/2 again. This is when I notice this happening the most.

The real question is...how efficient is the car overall? Every car gets terrible gas mileage while accelerating from a stop. My civic hybrid was the same way. You probably just notice it more in this car because it's easier to monitor instantaneous mpg.

[akirby]

So maybe I just never paid attention to my old cars

 

Bingo! You just never noticed it before because you probably didn't have an instant mpg gauge.

[mirak]

(because I have the AC on ) I'm typically getting 5 mpg while accelerating and around 15-20mpg cruising (at 40-50).

 

Are you "cruising" uphill? 15-20mpg is very low for a steady speed of 40-50 mph on level terrain. Once I get up to that speed, I'm almost always hitting 30+. Maybe you are really cranking the AC?

 

Also, you'll get better milage if you don't routinely take your battery down to a 1/4 full. When the meter get towards the bottom of the little battery symbol (about 40% full), kick yourself out of battery mode (by "pulsing" the throttle) and then maintain a steady speed while the battery recharges. The battery will recharge faster / last longer if you lay off the AC.

[carltj]

"Also, you'll get better milage if you don't routinely take your battery down to a 1/4 full. When the meter get towards the bottom of the little battery symbol (about 40% full), kick yourself out of battery mode (by "pulsing" the throttle) and then maintain a steady speed while the battery recharges. "

 

Your observation is of interest to me. I have fallen into a habit after a "pulse" of coasting a very short distance, then powering the car on battery until it runs down very low (and I can't manage sufficient velocity for conditions or traffic). When the engine kicks back in I, power back up to speed, and it also recharges the battery some. I'm hearing you say that one ought not drive on battery until the last dregs of its power, but return to pulse mode much sooner. Are you aware of any other information or rationales on this recommendation?

[mirak]

"Also, you'll get better milage if you don't routinely take your battery down to a 1/4 full. When the meter get towards the bottom of the little battery symbol (about 40% full), kick yourself out of battery mode (by "pulsing" the throttle) and then maintain a steady speed while the battery recharges. "

 

Your observation is of interest to me. I have fallen into a habit after a "pulse" of coasting a very short distance, then powering the car on battery until it runs down very low (and I can't manage sufficient velocity for conditions or traffic). When the engine kicks back in I, power back up to speed, and it also recharges the battery some. I'm hearing you say that one ought not drive on battery until the last dregs of its power, but return to pulse mode much sooner. Are you aware of any other information or rationales on this recommendation?

 

Sorry, I can't provide any hard evidence for my claim. It isn't worth much, but I have read on the internet from various hybrid drivers that keeping the battery charge in the 40% to 60% range seems to be the "sweet spot" for high mpg. Anecdotaly, that seems to be the case for me. My milage actually improved when I stopped trying to squeeze every last drop out of the battery, and instead started using the ICE more interchangeably with the electric motor. You might give it shot for a week or so. I would be interested to know if you experience any improvement.