For some strange reason Shell gasoline seems to give me the best FE. Those who are having low FE issues might try using Shell 87 octane over brand X.

 

still waiting for response....

for whatever weird reason, my mileage recently jumped to 54-58mpg boosting my overall average to 49.0.

 

It's a normal occurrance for someone to sue, when they don't get the results they are expecting from any purchase they have made. It's a sad thing that our country actually allows them to get as far as they do, and we (tax payers) end up paying in the long run. If I were a judge, I'd toss so many things out the door for ignorance (I wanted to say stupidity, but giving a little benefit of the doubt here).

Anyway, I've had my HCH2 since April 1st (sort of ironic to buy a car on April Fools Day). I have noticed quite a range of mileage during my traditional work commute. I have gotten down to around 40MPG with the A/C on AUTO and around town. I have noticed that the computer is usually 3-4 MPG lower than actual mileage (I began manually computing this with my 95 Geo Metro that I got when I was 16). I just got finished a trip from Delaware to Sandusky, OH (Cedar Point) and I averaged 46-47 MPG each way. I was doing 75 MPH (when possible) and the A/C was running to keep the humidity out.

The way out, I set CC at 75 and just let the car do its thing. After awhile I got tired of the revving of the engine and started controlling the inclines on my own. I kept it steady at 2500 RPM and would only push 3000 when I started to creep below the posted speed limit. There was a stretch where the car stated 55 MPG and this was on a 2 lane, back road with very little stop lights & signs and I was able to average 45-50MPH.

My typical commute here is closer to 5 miles just about to anything I need to go to. To work is about 4.6 - 6.5 miles depending on route. I come home on my lunch break because I get an hour and it gets me away from my work building :-). I figured on 10-15% less MPG than the EPA estimates stated, just because that is how things go, especially around here. Keep in mind, that if you go the speed limit, you are lucky not to get run off the road. If you go below, then you take your life in your own hands. I tend to run about 5 MPH over the speed limit. I take a different route to work, than I do coming home (I learned this over the 18 months I've been at my job) and can always count on hitting atleast 2 red lights regardless. However, coming home is almost all right turns, so less sitting at lights.

If you want to maximize the FE then you will learn to drive the car the way it needs driven, pending your area accomodates it. I drive what allows me to be relatively safe and still obtain better FE than any other car I have owned. Even my 03 Civic got 28-30 MPG during this drive, so it's still a 50% increase over what I was obtaining. Just think, everyone with a hybrid is just above the curve in what the future will hold. Oil is declining, and demand is increasing. It's going to get more expensive, and there's nothing anyone can do about it, other than changing their ways and habits to adapt. I figure that in about 5 more years, we will at the bottom of the pack in FE with our current hybrids (technology can advance more than you'd think in that time). Personally, I plan on getting solar panels on my house roof when I get it re-done. Sure, the upfront cost is high, but in the long run, I don't have to depend fully on the electric company to live and aren't as succeptable to their rediculous prices.

Matt

 

While everyone's giving their anecdotes on mileage, I figure I'll do the same.

I don't have much evidence because my HCH only has 155 miles on it, but I've gotten just over 40 MPG.
Admittedly I'm just starting to really learn how to drive it. My last 120k miles was in a 5-speed cavalier. It might have gotten 20MPG where I am now.

My commute is 15 miles from Somerville, MA to Bedford, MA. Just so you can get an idea of my avg. speed, it might take me anywhere between 25 minutes at no-traffic conditions, to over an hour if I hit all the reds and there are mile-long lines at the rotaries (I hate rotaries, MA loves them).. anyway from what I've read, my mileage should go up after a few k miles. Unfortunately it's Sept. and I probably won't see 50 mpg (short of cruising down a long hill on Rte. 2) until April.

I hope you guys don't run around (slide around?) in the snow with your tires pumped up to 50 psi.

In any case, I'm happy with the mileage so far as I expect it to go up at least 20% when conditions are favorable. I may look for some LRR tires in the spring.


--
M

 

Wow! The owner of this HCH must really be doing something wrong. At 33mpg, my HAH average fuel economy is better than his Civic hybrid's - and that's on CT gas with 10% ethanol.

 

Don't most gas stations have 10% ethanol, or only the "clean" states?
I know NY and MA do, but they are both clean states.

Do you get noticeably better mileage with no ethanol? I would think it's about a 3% or less difference.

--
M

 

In California, some gas stations use 10% ethanol and some do not.

 

OK, so I don't understand how you are all getting such high mileage. My RPM almost never goes above 2000, Auto Stop always works when I brake at lights, and I don't accelerate hard (like I said, my RPM is usually between 1000 and 1500, and sometimes from 1500-2000).

So why am I only averaging 37 MPG, and other people who I noticed say their RPM is between 2000-3000 are getting like 44? My 07 HCH has like 600 miles on it by the way.

 

Sometime if you go a little faster your MPG will go up. I know if I go between 65-70 MPH I will always get 50 MPG but if I drive 50-55 on the freeway my MPG is about 43-47. It may have to do with the Auto Trans and the ways it shifts.

 

That is not in alignment with other drivers and the laws of physics. The tranny in a HCH-II is a CVT and does not shift (now you may be talking about the HCH-I which I know little about). It is true that sometimes going faster helps but that usually is comparing 30 mph to 40 mph. It seems that 40-45 mph for the average car is the best mileage - and that is also true for the HCH-II. Some cars take very little hit at the higher speeds - usually big engined cars as you get the engine closer to efficient range and they are so inefficient at lower RPMs.

I routinely get 65 mpg at 45-50 mph and 55 mpg at 65-70.

To the poster with a 600 mile car - break in definitely helps. Fill up your tires more - at least to 35 psi. I run about 38 psi.