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How to get the most efficient braking score

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by dalcon95, Apr 1, 2017.

  1. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    I am curious on people's experiences of how they are or can get consistent high efficient scores on braking. What are your techniques? I am still trying to get a consistent feel for a braking technique that will give me a constant high score. Sometimes I think I got it and come to a complete stop and still sometimes get a small score. I look at the energy bar and try to keep it above the charge dotted line and slow down without going abruptly to a stop. Sometimes I get a high score, sometimes I don't. What do you think?

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  2. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    My favorite score is "--"
     
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  3. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    I have a gen 4, but on the eco gauge, I get good scores when I brake not so far as for the line to "go off the gauge." The line on the eco gauge should stay between the bottom of the eco range and bottom of the chg range. Look at the pic.

    Go in the brackets, but not into what would be the X range, because that is wasted energy I think. Thats just my theory. Hope it makes sense.
    ag_16prius_ecogauge-1200x800.jpg
     
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  4. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    Exactly right, so far as regen goes. But better still is to just let the road slow you down when possible.
     
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  5. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    I know to keep it in that range and have tried to slow down real slow, but I occasionally still get a low braking score. There isn't a blue bar for guidance for a consistent score.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  6. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    When I'm on my AM commute at 5:30 AM (with nobody on the road and really trying) I can get 95-99. Never reaches 100. Seems impossible. Normal driving, I'm happy in the 80's or 90's.
     
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  7. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    I sort of just explained it :ROFLMAO: Four posts earlier
     
  8. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    I understand both of your posts. I am in that range above the word charge and still only get like 60 percent score for braking. Do I need to be more aggressive in the beginning of the braking or near the complete stop while still staying in that range. I try to stay consistent on the method, but get different results in scores. I thought the lighter the better and still get lower scores than I think I should get. Does anyone have a technique that is consistent and gives a consistent high score? What are you doing to get that other than keeping it above the charge line?

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  9. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    I don't think anyone outside Toyota knows how the score is calculated -- or if it even maps to a better efficiency. Since your EV miles/kWh is excellent*, I think you should just keep on doing exactly whatever it is you are doing. And if I ever improve on your EV driving results, I'll post my techniques in pride.

    *Disclaimer: I'm presuming that you are not gaming the result by giving the car the easy parts of your route to be in EV mode.
     
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  10. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    To get good score, you can't have anyone else on the road. :)
    1. Very slow start. (top score)
    2. Maintain fairly consistent speed. (middle score)
    3. Brake very gently, trying not to use the friction brake much at all. (bottom score).
    Not many people have the patience for these, or other drivers that will allow them.
     
  11. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    I have been able to strictly drive in EV only for quite awhile until a week or so ago when I haven't been able to charge at work anymore. My new challenge is to try to drive in my complete round trip to work and back on a single charge from home which is about 41 miles round trip. I am using all techniques possible to achieve this. I am currently about 3 to 4 miles shy of not getting the ICE to come on. I currently have 44 psi in the tires, trying to find the shortest distance as possible while trying to get the least amount of stops and hills as possible. I am also staying only in the coached blue area or under that as possible. It is being tweaked each day and getting longer. Rain is out of my control though. Puddles hurt a lot in this goal.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  12. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    If I didn't know that you are already close to that result I would say it is impossible outside of a hypermiling competition.

    Carry on !

    P.s., what happened to the work charging ?
     
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  13. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    Only 2 charging stations and too many users. It is a first come first serve. I only need 2 hours and can't get to my car during working hours to unplug and move the car. If I left it plugged in for the entire 8 hours while I am working, there would be complaints of me hogging the charger all day. I have to walk about 1/4 mile to plug it in from where I work. The company is too tight for me to use my cord and a regular 120 V outlet. There are no outlets near the parking lot.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  14. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    I see.

    No way to coordinate with the other EV drivers ? Perhaps agree to let each other move the cord from car to car ? You need less than 30 minutes of charging at work to stay in EV mode for your round trip work commute. Or call it an hour so that you can drive like a bat out of hell ;-)
     
    #14 EV-ish, Apr 4, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2017
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  15. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    There is one person coordinating a schedule for the stations but people not knowing of the scheduling come and plug in from out of the blue and have no way to communicate to them about them plugging in unless someone was there constantly at the stations to enforce the scheduling. I have tried 3 times and no luck. I was working overtime to as late as 7 pm and didn't have a problem charging from 5 to 7, but overtime has been called off for now. Most people leave at 5, but on my schedule I work from 7 am to 3 pm when most people are there.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  16. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    Sounds like things will work out. Perhaps you can plug in at 7am and coordinate with someone to take the cable at 8-9 when they arrive -- presuming a parking spot is available.
     
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  17. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    Have you been using HV battery at freeway speeds? I'm hoping for warmer weather here in NJ to get the EV miles some of you are getting.
     
  18. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    Lol. I will continue to brain storm.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  19. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    I drive strictly EV mode until I run out of EV range. At that point, I am about 4 miles from the house with speed limit roads of 35 and 45 mph. When it kicks the ICE on, I try to drive within the EV range of the driving coach gauge. After about 2 miles of ICE being on, I can drive in EV mode with the lower part of the battery (HV range) and deplete the battery more until I make it home. Got to stay below 42 mph or so to accomplish this unless you glide downhill. You can go faster downhill, but you have to keep the acceleration within the EV range of the gauge on the dash or the ICE will kick on again and charge the HV portion of the battery again. It is definitely a technique to figure out.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  20. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    That is just crazy good. Are you planning to give Wayne Gerdes a run for his money ?

    What is your lifetime miles/kwh ? My napkin math says about 7 miles per kWh.
     
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