Best Driving strategy?

I've also noticed that when stopped, the ICE may be running, but the MFD doesn't seem to reflect this state accurately. Unless there is some magic, I don't understand how the ICE can be running when stopped, and not be using some gas.

 

Using the ScanGage as a reference, there are many time the ICE is running when the MFD shows it to be off. Also with only a few exceptions at freeway speeds going down hill it is using gas. I am watching RPM, gal/hr, coolant temp and % load on the engine. I see the RPM up with .2-.5 gal/hour and % load in the low 20% range above 42 in the city. It appears it is using gas. When I was looking at MPG instead of load I was seeing numbers in the range of 100-300 mpg. For the present the ScanGage is the only available tool for peeking into the workings of HSD. It is not the miniscanner but it is better than nothing.

 

that is interesting... i have not noticed that but i rarely have the energy screen on. i will have to start watching it to see if i can see what you are describing

 

BINGO!!

 

Of course the ICE uses gas when it is running and you're stopped; it might be because the car wants to charge the battery, or keep the catalytic converter hot, or keep the cabin heat going. The "energy" screen on the MFD only shows how power is being used for propulsion purposes; this is why Coastaletech sells a little panel with a LED that lights up when the ICE is running (I did not purchase this). If you're not moving at the moment, a calculation of the instantaneous miles per gallon doesn't make sense, which is why the numbers on the "energy" screen don't reflect the fact that the engine is running when stopped. However, the gas usage is accounted for in the time-averaged MPG bar graph of the "consumption" screen.

 

Absolutely agree, except to consider that B mode may be appropriate at time to assist in safe control of the car, avoiding a speeding ticket, or a driver may be prepared to sacrifice a tiny amount of energy efficiency for extra convenience or comfort when descending a very long hill.

Incidentally, I saw my Classic max out for the first time in over 70,000 miles last month on a holiday in Scotland where there are many 5 mile plus hills with a 20-25% gradient (1 in 5 to 1 in 4). In fact it happened at least once every day I was there. When I reached the bottom the car ran in stealth mode for ages until the battery gauge dropped again.

Regards

PeteB - 02 Silver 'Classic' - 72k miles
Luton UK
Life mpg 51.43 ~ 42.82 ~ 5.49 ~ 18.21
(UK ~ US gal ~ I/100Km ~ Km/I)

 

I meant to add that B mode on the Classic works with cruise control, which it doesn't on the newer model (in the UK at least)

PeteB

 

Another interesting thing, whilst going up these very long, very steep hills, it didn't use the HV battery like I expected. Even holding 60 mph (the speed limit) for several miles didn't use the battery - it stayed at the usual (for a Classic) 50% or 75% mark, and the display showed power from the engine to the wheels, and from to the engine to the electric motor to the wheels, occasionally even managing to do a little recharging. The same hill that would max out the battery in 4-5 miles going down would not bring it below 50% when going up. This car never ceases to amaze me.

Regards

PeteB - 02 Silver 'Classic' - 72k miles
Luton UK
Life mpg 51.43 ~ 42.82 ~ 5.49 ~ 18.21
(UK ~ US gal ~ I/100Km ~ Km/I)

 

Best Driving Strategy:

Drafting on the highway.

 

FYI, with metric display of mileage, i.e. consumption displayed in L/100 km, it's pretty easy to see when the ICE is on. When ICE is off, the displayed consumption is 0.0, when it on the displayed consumption is non-zero. Other than a slight delay to update the display, this makes it easy to see whether the ICE is off or on.

When it is on but not being used for propulsion (i.e. no arrows from it) the display can read anything from 0.2 L/100 km (equivalent to over 1,000 mpg) to 99.9 L/100 km (the latter occurs when you are stopped with the ICE running, and is an approximation for 0.0 mpg).