MPG Happy Talk

[aaronj1159]

Looks like my winter average is going to hover around the 44 range, maybe as low as 43, maybe... Which is way better than I expected. That would bring my overall average to somewhere near 46 MPG. Gotta love that. Like you, jsolan, I bought the car anticipating around 40 MPG, so this is all gravy.

[elle]

50.6 on the way to work this morning. Can I get an AMEN???

[kbailey990]

You Rock, Elle!!

[B25Nut]

I stated at one time that I wouldn't post a MPG picture, but I have to make an exception today since I reached a personal milestone: 42.0 mpg. This is the average, before I bought my FFH, that I told myself I would be extremely satisfied with if my new car achieved it. Back in July, this figure was at 35.9 mpg. Four months ago my average MPG was increasing by about two-tenths every three days. Lately it has been going up about one-tenth every two weeks, with a plateau during the first three weeks of this month with the unusually cold weather.

Temperatures today ranged from 58 to 64 degrees. Speeds were usually 55-65 mph with a little freeway time at 70. My FFH got its best mileage ever. The 15 mile trip from Atascadero to Morro Bay got 77.2 mpg. Similar length segments got 69, 51 and 45 mpg. When the day was over and we had driven back to our starting point above sea level, the FFH had averaged 48.9 mpg. Attached is a photo of my FFH at one of our destinations in Cambria, CA. It was a beautiful day today.

I concentrated on my mileage today. I'll admit, it is a fun thing to do since it gives such satisfaction. I strive to position my car on highways so that any vehicle behind or in front of me is at least 400' away. If I'm among a group of cars and I spot a large gap in traffic up ahead, I'll accelerate to significantly over the speed limit in order reach the center of that gap and then settle back to cruising speed. I've always felt this was the safest place to be when driving. With the FFH, I also feel it puts me in a position to get better mileage. Without having to worry about annoying the driver behind me, I can slow up by 5 mph when I'm climbing. When going downhill, I have the room to increase my speed a good margin above the limit to take full advantage of the gravity assist. As has been said here before, a light touch on the accelerator is very important. Most times, maintaining or increasing your speed by just 2-3 mph on an upslope will play havoc with your MPG. When safety and consideration of other drivers dictate it, the FFH will give you all the acceleration you usually need, but at the cost of lower MPG for that trip.

Today was also another example of how the FFH can have a positive impact on your personal relationships. Our initial destination was an appointment my wife had arranged. 1/4 of the way there she realized she had forgotten some things that she needed for our second, non-essential destination. Turning back to get them was not an option since that would have put us at the appointment way too late. After about five minutes of silence, I told her I would get her to the appointment then go back to our house to retrieve what she needed (a 45 mile round trip). If I had been driving my previous 17.5 mpg vehicle, this option may not have even entered my head, and if it did, I know I would have been in a bad mood the rest of the day. But with the FFH, we had a wonderful and memorable day.

Edited December 29, 2013 by B25Nut

[acdii]

Wow that looks like you stole a picture of my dash! LOL We are almost at 15K onit but the MPG is pretty darn close to what you show. So good to see yours has improved.

[corncobs]

Thanks for making an exception. It's a very nice story especially the last part. ;-)

[hybridbear]

I stated at one time that I wouldn't post a MPG picture, but I have to make an exception today since I reached a personal milestone: 42.0 mpg. This is the average, before I bought my FFH, that I told myself I would be extremely satisfied with if my new car achieved it. Back in July, this figure was at 35.9 mpg. Four months ago my average MPG was increasing by about two-tenths every three days. Lately it has been going up about one-tenth every two weeks, with a plateau during the first three weeks of this month with the unusually cold weather.

Temperatures today ranged from 58 to 64 degrees. My FFH got its best mileage ever. The 15 mile trip from Atascadero to Morro Bay got 77.2 mpg. Similar length segments got 69, 51 and 45 mpg. When the day was over and we had driven back to our starting point above sea level, the FFH had averaged 48.9 mpg. Attached is a photo of my FFH at one of our destinations in Cambria, CA. It was a beautiful day today.

I concentrated on my mileage today. I'll admit, it is a fun thing to do since it gives such satisfaction. I strive to position my car on highways so that any vehicle behind or in front of me is at least 400' away. If I'm among a group of cars and I spot a large gap in traffic up ahead, I'll accelerate to significantly over the speed limit in order reach the center of that gap and then settle back to cruising speed. I've always felt this was the safest place to be when driving. With the FFH, I also feel it puts me in a position to get better mileage. Without having to worry about annoying the driver behind me, I can slow up by 5 mph when I'm climbing. When going downhill, I have the room to increase my speed a good margin above the limit to take full advantage of the gravity assist. As has been said here before, a light touch on the accelerator is very important. Most times, maintaining or increasing your speed by just 2-3 mph on an upslope will play havoc with your MPG. When safety and consideration of other drivers dictate it, the FFH will give you all the acceleration you usually need, but at the cost of lower MPG for that trip.

Today was also another example of how the FFH can have a positive impact on your personal relationships. Our initial destination was an appointment my wife had arranged. 1/4 of the way there she realized she had forgotten some things that she needed for our second destination. Turning back to get them was not an option since that would have put us at the appointment way too late. After about five minutes of silence, I told her I would get her to the appointment then go back to our house to retrieve what she needed (a 45 mile round trip). If I had been driving my previous 17.5 mpg vehicle, this option may not have even entered my head, and if it did, I know I would have been in a bad mood the rest of the day. But with the FFH, we had a wonderful and memorable day.

Awesome story and very cool pic :) I'm really starting to like the white color...my wife says she still finds it confusing to get in a white FFH though.

[hermans]

We just returned from our Christmas trip of 1702 miles in the MKZh. Went to Lexington, KY on a 60 degree day. The next morning it was 22 degrees and we went to Michigan and the temps went from a high of 22 to a low of 9 degrees with snow and an ice storm. Then to Ohio where the temps were a little warmer...then back to PA in 45-50 degree sunny weather. Mileage was mostly 65-70 MPH with some 75-80 MPH legs. The car was loaded with luggage and Christmas presents and we averaged 40.8 MPG for the trip.

 

The car drove great and it was an extremely comfortable trip.

Edited December 29, 2013 by hermans

[acdii]

This may not look like happy MPG, but it was MUCH higher than I expected today since it was so damned cold, the ICE rarely shut off.

 

 

I know some may think, but thats what your other car got, and you are correct, but that was in 60* weather, not -26* weather. I was cringing when I shut the car off thinking I was going to see 26, and saw this instead. The history graph for most of the trip was just over 20 MPG, EV would not stay going at a stay speed, ICE would keep kicking in when I tried to hold it steady, and even where I could go on EV when driving under 30 MPH, the ICE would stay running to provide cabin heat. When it is this cold, quite happy to get 34 MPG. Better than 18 with the Flex(though it does provide more heat).

 

It was so cold the windshield had thick frost along the top. I have never had that much frost in the car.

[terryb]

I was approaching 42.5 on a tank before going into the roof liner black hole. The temp dropped to occasional sub-freezing nights and so I'm now hovering right around 40. I'm pretty happy with that though, I think things are improving for the car. Right at 12,500 for th year with two road trips.

[IraF]

 

 

 

 

 

Backs seats down loaded with Luggage as well as trunk.

Temperatures between 60-70F --> 30F

Edited January 7, 2014 by IraF

[corncobs]

I guess I can still break the 40's but it definitely not easy after 2 month and colder temps. I mean nothing like last week but still colder than before we left. The brake score sucked really bad a few times but I will get back into the groove.

First day back in the office after 2.5 month and the MPG result makes me happy.

 

[acdii]

Welcome back.

 

I guess a week of driving the Flex hasn't spoiled me after all.

 

 

I still got it. Car must have missed me cause it worked perfectly today.

[corncobs]

42 MPG flat on the way back from work not bad for my book. Looks like a 4-5 MPG penalty for colder weather and heat for my daily drive.

[acdii]

41.1 on my drive home, Way better than it has been. Going to snow tomorrow though, so back to crappy not so good MPG.

[GrySql]

Well, it was 80F here today and I got 54mpg dropping off a granddaughter and driving to the local Mall. Didn't use the heater or defroster once.

 

 

 

:stirpot:

[acdii]

Aw man, I only got 41 MPG this morning. Wait, what? ONLY 41 YIPPEE!! :happy feet:

[aaronj1159]

Broke back into the 50-range for MPG this morning. Temps have raised to around 40 Deg. and it was raining a little the entire time so I was a little surprised. If I can keep it above 40 MPG on the way home it'll be a nice boost for this tank.

[corncobs]

Aw man, I only got 41 MPG this morning. Wait, what? ONLY 41 YIPPEE!! :happy feet:

That's too funny around 2 MPG less than yesterday same for me today. 44.5 vs 42.9 this morning. :)

[acdii]

42.7 this morning, @ 10*. Call me surprised!

[corncobs]

At 2* this morning on way in I was happy to see this

 

 

at the end.

[acdii]

it was -2* when I left my house. Traffic sucked so only managed to get 34. I was nice and toasty warm though.

[jeff_h]

A good day in the Energi, which has the EPA sticker rating of 43 MPG instead of 47. The main HVB was long gone by the time I left the office this afternoon since I had errands during the day, so this was totally on hybrid mode. It was 34 degrees on the way home, which is not nearly as cold as those up north, but sure isn't prime MPG weather either. Had just the right amount of traffic jam on the way home to slowly inch up a couple long slow hills on EV instead of using ICE (yet not slow enough to sit still with the ICE running), which always helps.

[dalesky]

Today on a short trip (1 mile) I got an all time high MPG, without consciously trying- 102 MPG. I know, it was a very short trip, but really, 102 MPG? :-}

[corncobs]

It might seem a bit odd to post a MPG number below 40 in the MPG Happy talk but when it's -13*F out there I think it's legit because I was happy.

 

 

Yesterday it was only -2*F and I came in at 39.9 MPG.