26MPG in Polar Vortex

[greycrx87]

During the recent -18F in the midwest, I experienced mid 20s MPG, that's in line with my wife's Camry V6, a bit dissapointed but the heater was fully on as the windshield was freezing. My overal average is still in the mid 40s.

 

I guess these hybrids are not made for sub zero temperatures.

 

[inco]

_{It may be that your system default was not set for the windshield at the time?. I'm sure you know that you can adjust where the heat goes from your screen, but perhaps when the car reached the desired temp it cut back? My $.05 since we don't have pennies any more.}

Edited February 5, 2014 by inco

[hybridbear]

During the recent -18F in the midwest, I experienced mid 20s MPG, that's in line with my wife's Camry V6, a bit dissapointed but the heater was fully on as the windshield was freezing. My overal average is still in the mid 40s.

 

I guess these hybrids are not made for sub zero temperatures.

Have you tried grille blocking? Does your car have a block heater? Was that 50+ miles all one trip?

 

Winter MPGs are bad, but that seems awfully low. I also don't think the V6 Camry would have done that well in the extreme cold. All engines become less efficient. The hybrid also becomes less efficient because it won't use the HVB in extreme cold to protect it.

[corncobs]

56 Miles in 3 h that's 20 mph to me that seems like stop and go with no chance for the ICE to warm up. That little bit of heat it produced was used to heat the cabin.

I have made short trips in the Arctic cold with an all time low of 13.5 MPG it sucks but not much you can do about it besides maybe grill blocking as suggested by HB.

[lolder]

In very cold weather where the ICE runs all the time the hybrid advantage will diminish toward only the 10% better efficiency of the Atkinson ICE.

[dkegel]

Yep. Our 2014 is getting worse fuel economy this winter than our 2010 ever did. This is a harsh winter. -8 degrees again this morning.

 

Dave

Edited February 6, 2014 by dkegel

[acdii]

Set the HVAC manually and add grill covers. I have mine set to floor and defrost with the fans speed about halfway, and seats set to mid position. It keeps the windows relatively clear, and the feet mostly warm, and seeing 38 MPG in these sub-zero temps. I dont think I have seen a morning where there wasn't a - in front of the temp in weeks. If it is mostly city driving though, you are screwed, not enough driving to get the ICE up to temp so it idles to provide heat and greatly impacts your MPG.