The Low Gear Advantage
#201
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Originally Posted by MMooney
On my 06 awd if I am coasting down from at least 43, I get the beginnings of a turn off starting just inside 40. By the time the tach pauses at 500 or so and then drops, my speed tends to be 35 or 36. I can hold that on dead level ground, and go to an indicated 40 with a slight downhill in EV. It is very difficult to accellerate from 25 to 35 in EV without having a drop out to ICE,which is why I have been 'fake shifting' while in ev at about 20. Seems to make it easier to get to 35...?
Originally Posted by GaryG
Mark, you may have a solution for the AWD owners. Is your fake shift in "L" for the max regen surge? The FWD must use less battery juice to get to 35mph from 0 mph, but still, it could help us also. The higher the charge or SoC of the battery helps to stay in EV. Tomarrow, I give it a shot. Generally, I can go to 30mph fairly fast in EV, but go very slow after that to prevent a start up. This is why I use the P&G in EV from 30-32mph and glide in "N" to 25mph and repeat. The results is killer MPG for the FEH, but of course traffic must be considered.
It's getting hot here in So. FL and as soon as the winds come down, I'm going for a 20 mile round trip of 80mpg. The A/C will be a new test for me after that to maintain FE.
GaryG
It's getting hot here in So. FL and as soon as the winds come down, I'm going for a 20 mile round trip of 80mpg. The A/C will be a new test for me after that to maintain FE.
GaryG
Rich
Last edited by rihavo; 05-09-2006 at 10:01 AM. Reason: adding statements
#202
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Originally Posted by rihavo
Am I reading this correctly? You are accelerating from 25 to 35 mph while the FEH is purely in EV mode? I could never increase my speeds higher than 25 in EV mode. I guess the added weight of the equipment needed for the 4wd operation is what makes it hard to accelerate in EV mode without the assistance from the ICE.
I haven't tried the "fake shifts" yet since I haven't been too comfortable trying it yet, I'll have to try it. Though I've been able glide quite a distance (down a slight incline) with a speed around 45 mph.
Rich
I haven't tried the "fake shifts" yet since I haven't been too comfortable trying it yet, I'll have to try it. Though I've been able glide quite a distance (down a slight incline) with a speed around 45 mph.
Rich
I also have a AWD and with a very steady foot – actually letting up ever so slightly on the gas as I approach 30mph – I can accelerate from a dead stop in EV to at least 35 on a flat road. The fastest I have – or is possible to achieve in EV or even while in 'N' - is 40mph, this is true for all FEHs not just the 4WD.
Edited Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryG
The FWD must use less battery juice to get to 35mph from 0 mph, but still, it could help us also. The higher the charge or SoC of the battery helps to stay in EV. Generally, I can go to 30mph fairly fast in EV, but go very slow after that to prevent a start up. This is why I use the P&G in EV from 30-32mph and glide in "N" to 25mph and repeat. The results are killer MPG for the FEH, but of course traffic must be considered.
GaryG
GaryG
I, like Mark, use the ‘fake shift’ at low speed (25-30mph) while in EV (and in ‘L’) also to get a boost in SoC and therefore a longer run in EV. I also do it a lot of times right before I drop it into ‘N’ for a glide to have just a little more in the battery when I put it back in ‘D’ or ‘L’ (depending on conditions). Most of the times when I have been coasting in ‘N’ and will be coming to a stop I am shifting back and forth between ‘D’ and ‘L’ to break. As long as your speed is above 30mph there is a charge in ‘D’ then shift to 'L' to keep the charge going for as long as I can without coming to a stop before I need to.
Just a thought.
Last edited by VietVet'67; 05-09-2006 at 12:32 PM.
#203
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Originally Posted by VietVet'67
Rich –
I, like Mark, use the ‘fake shift’ at low speed (25-30mph) while in EV (and in ‘L’) also to get a boost in SoC and therefore a longer run in EV. I also do it a lot of times right before I drop it into ‘N’ for a glide to have just a little more in the battery when I put it back in ‘D’ or ‘L’ (depending on conditions). Most of the times when I have been coasting in ‘N’ and will be coming to a stop I am shifting back and forth between ‘D’ and ‘L’ to break. As long as your speed is above 30mph there is a charge in ‘D’ then shift to 'L' to keep the charge going for as long as I can without coming to a stop before I need to.
Just a thought.
I, like Mark, use the ‘fake shift’ at low speed (25-30mph) while in EV (and in ‘L’) also to get a boost in SoC and therefore a longer run in EV. I also do it a lot of times right before I drop it into ‘N’ for a glide to have just a little more in the battery when I put it back in ‘D’ or ‘L’ (depending on conditions). Most of the times when I have been coasting in ‘N’ and will be coming to a stop I am shifting back and forth between ‘D’ and ‘L’ to break. As long as your speed is above 30mph there is a charge in ‘D’ then shift to 'L' to keep the charge going for as long as I can without coming to a stop before I need to.
Just a thought.
At least on mine, I've developed a feel for it, especially if you watch the charge/assist on how much is enough to turn the ICE on. By avoiding that point, via fake shift, and with a good level or "declining" road, I can EV up to pretty good speeds.
The other point I wanted to make is that I realized just what a lazy braker I've become. When I slow down, I apply a minute amount of pressure to the brakes (when there's people behind me), shift into L and then drift in, applying pressure as/if needed. What's "worse" is that if I have to slow down a lot, I'll apply the brake pressure, shift into L, then release the brake pressure to compensate for shifting into L, then reapply if needed!
#204
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Originally Posted by Pravus Prime
When I slow down, I apply a minute amount of pressure to the brakes (when there's people behind me), shift into L and then drift in, applying pressure as/if needed. What's "worse" is that if I have to slow down a lot, I'll apply the brake pressure, shift into L, then release the brake pressure to compensate for shifting into L, then reapply if needed!
#205
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Rich and Phillip,
Thanks, I'll definitely have to give it a try. The best mpg I've been able to see was around 34 mpg so far without trying the fakeshifts...
Phillip and Gary,
Do you know what the weight difference is between the FWD model and the AWD models. Phillip, as you mentioned in your post, the AWD model acts like a FWD model uless it decides it needs the extra traction and engages the rear wheels. However since the equipment (rear diff and all) is constantly on the vehicle(s), could this be the reason for the difference between in the EV modes between the 2 models?
What do you think?
Thanks,
Rich
Thanks, I'll definitely have to give it a try. The best mpg I've been able to see was around 34 mpg so far without trying the fakeshifts...
Phillip and Gary,
Do you know what the weight difference is between the FWD model and the AWD models. Phillip, as you mentioned in your post, the AWD model acts like a FWD model uless it decides it needs the extra traction and engages the rear wheels. However since the equipment (rear diff and all) is constantly on the vehicle(s), could this be the reason for the difference between in the EV modes between the 2 models?
What do you think?
Thanks,
Rich
#206
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Hi All
The LGA has some disadvantages if you drive in "L" all the time. Wayne (xcel), had me conduct some more test today. By accident, I found some results you maybe interrested in. I added a new section to my article at http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350 This maybe the most important find in awhile. It is for me any how.
GaryG
The LGA has some disadvantages if you drive in "L" all the time. Wayne (xcel), had me conduct some more test today. By accident, I found some results you maybe interrested in. I added a new section to my article at http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350 This maybe the most important find in awhile. It is for me any how.
GaryG
#207
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Originally Posted by GaryG
Hi All
The LGA has some disadvantages if you drive in "L" all the time. Wayne (xcel), had me conduct some more test today. By accident, I found some results you maybe interrested in. I added a new section to my article at http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350 This maybe the most important find in awhile. It is for me any how.
GaryG
The LGA has some disadvantages if you drive in "L" all the time. Wayne (xcel), had me conduct some more test today. By accident, I found some results you maybe interrested in. I added a new section to my article at http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350 This maybe the most important find in awhile. It is for me any how.
GaryG
Good to see some numbers backing it up.
#208
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
In temperatures of about 85'F and above, the A/C is running nearly all the time to cool the battery pack, as outside air does little good at these elevated temps.
So... while you may be OK with the windows down driving, you might as well use cabin A/C ( in a white setting ) during these times.
Especially if you use a lot of EV and LGA, running the cabin A/C in a white mode may be the best of both worlds. I've noticed my ICE will not shut off at lights if the battery pack is hot. By running the A/C while driving, it usually acts as a pre-emptive strike, and the battery is cool enough to allow ICE shutdown, even in 105'F weather ( which I've had about 2 weeks of and counting )
Still getting over 40 MPG with A/C use daily, with good battery management.
-John
So... while you may be OK with the windows down driving, you might as well use cabin A/C ( in a white setting ) during these times.
Especially if you use a lot of EV and LGA, running the cabin A/C in a white mode may be the best of both worlds. I've noticed my ICE will not shut off at lights if the battery pack is hot. By running the A/C while driving, it usually acts as a pre-emptive strike, and the battery is cool enough to allow ICE shutdown, even in 105'F weather ( which I've had about 2 weeks of and counting )
Still getting over 40 MPG with A/C use daily, with good battery management.
-John
#209
Re: The Low Gear Advantage
Keeping the battery cool with the cabin A/C cooling yourself will make your EV operation much better. If you start getting hot, so is your battery! If the battery gets hot, you and the battery pay at the pump and the lifetime of the battery.
A hot battery will not perform near as good as a cool battery, so why drive and suffer. You and I can get 45mpg in 90F if we drive EV, and keep things cool during acceleration.
Above 95F, keep the AC on max in the city or below 40mph! I go to the highway and draft myself.
GaryG
A hot battery will not perform near as good as a cool battery, so why drive and suffer. You and I can get 45mpg in 90F if we drive EV, and keep things cool during acceleration.
Above 95F, keep the AC on max in the city or below 40mph! I go to the highway and draft myself.
GaryG