Matt's hch2 blog
G.H. Contributor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,396
From: The Music City, Tennessee
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
took possession of my first-ever hybrid car 9/13/06, build date 8/06, and i want to document my experiences in this thread.
wk 1: started to read this forum. used slow take-off technique and tried to peg the mpg monitor at 100 whenever possible. tire pressure from dealer=44psi. avg mpg wk1=~41.
wk2: read tarabell's article. tried "moderate" acceleration from stops, and drove with the flow of traffic...it killed my fe.
this week: increased tire pressure to 55psi, per excel's rec. ride is rougher and noisier, but i'm more concerned with fe than ride comfort or noise. accelerating to no more than 2600rpm, at a slow rate. found ev mode, which i define as monitor pegged at 100mpg with 1-4 bars of assist showing. it happens around 1100rpm and doesn't last long before ice kicks in. i'm driving in the right lane whenever possible, much slower than flow of traffic. best run so far happened this week, 57mpg over a mixed, 16-mile run. eggshell analogy very helpful.
wk 1: started to read this forum. used slow take-off technique and tried to peg the mpg monitor at 100 whenever possible. tire pressure from dealer=44psi. avg mpg wk1=~41.
wk2: read tarabell's article. tried "moderate" acceleration from stops, and drove with the flow of traffic...it killed my fe.
this week: increased tire pressure to 55psi, per excel's rec. ride is rougher and noisier, but i'm more concerned with fe than ride comfort or noise. accelerating to no more than 2600rpm, at a slow rate. found ev mode, which i define as monitor pegged at 100mpg with 1-4 bars of assist showing. it happens around 1100rpm and doesn't last long before ice kicks in. i'm driving in the right lane whenever possible, much slower than flow of traffic. best run so far happened this week, 57mpg over a mixed, 16-mile run. eggshell analogy very helpful.
I then came to realize that Honda did not build the HCH II to drive at only 55 MPH and also to hold up Traffic every time I was driving the HCH II from a Stop like a Snail.
I now and for some time have been driving my HCH II like any other vehicle including staying up with Traffic-Flow on the Interstate at 70-80 MPH. I now enjoy every day with my HCH II and the FE even driving just like every one else is still like 36-38 MPG with a mix of City and Interstate driving. I mention this only to point out that "YES" you can get a lot better FE at much reduced driving speeds. However if you want to enjoy the HCH II and drive it any way you feel like it will still deliver exceptional FE (IMO). There is not a Right or Wrong driving method here just simply to point out that if a person wants to drive the HCH II like any other vehicle on the road you will be surprised to find out it still delivers great FE.
The other thought that comes to me regarding driving the HCH II. If we are holding up traffic from every Stop and on the Interstate. Which is making everyone behind us Burning Tons of Fuel trying to get around us then are we really {SAVING-FUEL}? Not to mention the Safety Factor involved from other drivers trying to get around us.
Just some thoughts here and maybe for those that have not read all the many Threads and Post that have been made over the Years regarding driving for FE Savings.
Last edited by tigerhonaker; Feb 18, 2007 at 05:49 PM.
Thread Starter
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F**k ExxonMobil
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 314
From: San Diego, Cali
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
Terry,
Having owned a fast nissan 350z just prior to my honda, the slow-speed driving in my honda didn't last long. Now, I drive more-or-less at speed, but I believe that as my driving technique improves, it compensates for the faster speeds fe-wise.
Having owned a fast nissan 350z just prior to my honda, the slow-speed driving in my honda didn't last long. Now, I drive more-or-less at speed, but I believe that as my driving technique improves, it compensates for the faster speeds fe-wise.
G.H. Contributor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,396
From: The Music City, Tennessee
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
Terry
Thread Starter
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F**k ExxonMobil
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 314
From: San Diego, Cali
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
just checked my tires: dunlop sp31as m+s, 195/65R15.
didn't know they were m+s. wonder if non-m+s tires would have lower rolling resistance.
didn't know they were m+s. wonder if non-m+s tires would have lower rolling resistance.
Last edited by 06hch2; Feb 25, 2007 at 04:31 AM.
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F**k ExxonMobil
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 314
From: San Diego, Cali
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
tank 12 totals:
509mi @ 45.9mpg
refilled 12.0gal @ $3.06/gal today.
6445 total miles.
i think i hit the engine break-in because i'll be driving along and glance down, and my fe is in the upper 40s, whereas before, i had to work to get it there.
trying to limit assist bars to 3 with acceleration whenever possible.
509mi @ 45.9mpg
refilled 12.0gal @ $3.06/gal today.
6445 total miles.
i think i hit the engine break-in because i'll be driving along and glance down, and my fe is in the upper 40s, whereas before, i had to work to get it there.
trying to limit assist bars to 3 with acceleration whenever possible.
G.H. Contributor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,396
From: The Music City, Tennessee
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
Matt,
Those MPG figures look good to me. I am driving at speeds around the 70-80 MPH daily and my FE is in the area of 38-40 MPG.
I can live with that and now I just drive my HCH II 2006 like any other vehicle I have owned and I think I might just hang onto it for awhile. I'm really beginning to enjoy it more as time goes by. The nav. and Sat. Radio with the Bass Spkr. Option is GREAT.
Terry (tiger)
Those MPG figures look good to me. I am driving at speeds around the 70-80 MPH daily and my FE is in the area of 38-40 MPG.
I can live with that and now I just drive my HCH II 2006 like any other vehicle I have owned and I think I might just hang onto it for awhile. I'm really beginning to enjoy it more as time goes by. The nav. and Sat. Radio with the Bass Spkr. Option is GREAT.
Terry (tiger)
G.H. Contributor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,396
From: The Music City, Tennessee
Re: Matt's hch2 blog
Amen on the Gas Prices going Back-up !!!!!!!!!!
They are doing the same thing here. Going up.
This may sound Crazy Matt but I for the most part don't even really give the Price of Gas much thought anymore.
Now if I was driving any of the vehicles that most people in Williamson Cnty. do. Like SUV's as an example I would be giving it some serious thought. But I really don't have to fill up but every 2-3 Weeks so I really don't worry much about the price of Gas like most people do.
I just drive my 40 MPG HCH II as I see fit and listen to the X/M Sat. Radio on the way to work and back.
Terry (tiger)
They are doing the same thing here. Going up.
This may sound Crazy Matt but I for the most part don't even really give the Price of Gas much thought anymore.
Now if I was driving any of the vehicles that most people in Williamson Cnty. do. Like SUV's as an example I would be giving it some serious thought. But I really don't have to fill up but every 2-3 Weeks so I really don't worry much about the price of Gas like most people do.
I just drive my 40 MPG HCH II as I see fit and listen to the X/M Sat. Radio on the way to work and back.
Terry (tiger)
