Long trip highway driving techniques?

If the downhills are steep enough that the cruise control causes regenerative braking, then I would not keep the HSI that high until the cruise is re-engaged. Instead, I'd back off and glide on the downhill, letting the car naturally roll back up to speed before re-engaging cruise.

On the uphill, I don't believe that keeping the HSI out of the lower end of the power region offers much gain. Certainly not if it causes you to slow to traffic-unfriendly speeds. The engine's BFSC chart shows that it remains reasonably efficient for a ways into this power region. There is much more efficiency to be gained or lost on the low power / downhill / gliding end of the operating spectrum.

 

Does the power region indicate the area that the electric motor kicks in to supplement the engine? I just assumed that's what it meant.

 

Sounds like a decent technique. But I've learned to just use cruise and enjoy the drive on long highway trips. There are a few minor things you can do to help. But the effort/benefit ratio is rather high, meaning you won't see that big of return on your effort (at least on the highway). Hope you had a great trip! Where in FL did you go?

 

Sounds like some good techniques which paid off. For comparison, I often drive a 700 mile trip which, with the exception of about 50 miles is flat. My speed is between 68-72 mph, I use cruise-control, and have tires at 39-front/33-rear. I average 50mpg without A/C and 47mpg with A/C. All in Eco mode.

 

I dont usually use any "methods" to save MPG on the highway. I value my time and driving 60mph for 13 hours sucks. I take a lot of road trips and I usually drive 80-85 on the highway to save time. I will still get 45+mpg and I am happy with that.

 

Ditto. I also try to stay out of the PWR if possible. I recall at 86 mph or so, the ECO light turns off whether you are in the PWR region or not. And it won't turn back on until under 82. With AC full blast in the summer at these speeds, I still managed about 45 mpg.


iPhone ?

 

I didn't realize that about the speed/eco light.

 

At 86mph, isn't there a problem with the red and blue flashing lights coming on on that car behind you?

 

Oh, that problem was present back at 71 mph. I typically go with left lane traffic at ~80 mph on hwy 5 between San Francisco and San Diego. Occasionally, the pack travels faster and I ride the wave. The PiP is remarkably stable at this speed.


iPhone ?

 

Follow any vehicle from a safe distance. It helps with aero drag and you can gain a few MPG, especially with headwind.

 

PWR region is when ICE is revving much faster (relatively) than the wheels and majority of the power got split to turn the generator. That takes conversion hit so it is not desirable.

If you stay in the ECO zone, conversion loss is minimized and ICE load is at or near optimum.

You want both max ICE efficiency and min conversion loss.

 

Definitely, and the colder the ambient temp is, the more it makes a difference.

Driving into a 30 mph headwind at -5 degrees F and you can't afford to not follow a truck.

 

Except that, at least in California, the truck is going to be in the right lane, and operating under a 55mph speed limit (right....).

 

Never heard of -5 degrees in CA.

 

It can get that cold in the Sierras. Record low for Truckee, CA is -31°F.

 

Donner Pass routinely see temps below zero throughout the winter...along with hundreds of inches of snow.

 

Kinda meant on the long straight wide freeways. Obviously in mountainous areas there aren't as many places to go at a really high speed.

 

Downhill.

 

Donner Pass has an Interstate Highway running through it. Really high speeds are quite possible.