Anyone use the paddle shifters?

[firsthonda]

I'm going on almost a year and a half with my Insight. Except while messing around in the first month; I have never used the paddle shifters since. I see no practical use for them. Is there something I don't know?

[kjanracing]

I use them in the snow for more control or in creeping along stop and go traffic. Sometimes I'll use them for engine braking downhill.
A fun thing to do sometimes is put the shifter in S, pull the left paddle so it's in 1, floor the gas pedal. It will automatically upshift at about 6K rpms. Feels almost sporty!

[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by kjanracing

I use them in the snow for more control or in creeping along stop and go traffic. Sometimes I'll use them for engine braking downhill.
A fun thing to do sometimes is put the shifter in S, pull the left paddle so it's in 1, floor the gas pedal. It will automatically upshift at about 6K rpms. Feels almost sporty!

I wonder if there is a way to use them to help fuel economy?

[Uriel]

Yep I estimate up to 5% improvement in mpg for my hilly commuting route if I use them to help manage IMA charge and assist, slipping back into D when slowing down to auto-stop.

Can't see them helping much on the flat for mpg, especially for high speed, long distance cruising.

Currently using them about 60% of the time but there are very few flat roads around here.

[Willie Williford]

The G2 is similar to the FIt. (Not exactly)
There is probably a min and max either speed, load, or rpm that you can use the paddles.
To far below, it will auto shift, to far above and it will auto shift.
I use the paddles shifters for downshifting to aid in braking. Even in D.
All related to my 07 FIT, but probably useable on the G2 even though it is a CVT vs auto.

HTH
Willie
Learning that "gap" is the secret for mileage..

[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Uriel

Yep I estimate up to 5% improvement in mpg for my hilly commuting route if I use them to help manage IMA charge and assist, slipping back into D when slowing down to auto-stop.

Can't see them helping much on the flat for mpg, especially for high speed, long distance cruising.

Currently using them about 60% of the time but there are very few flat roads around here.

Do you drive in S using the shifters?

[Cobb]

I use them a lot for braking to get more power into the pack and to start harder. From time to time I use them to accelerate faster. Ive never used sport mode and the paddles together unless its to get on a set of ramps for maintenance. Then I press both paddles to enter L mode.

Yup, the less load the engine is under hte less assist it will use.


Sent from my Autoguide iPod touch app

[Uriel]

Originally Posted by firsthonda

Do you drive in S using the shifters?

Yes - some of the time. I don't see driving in S with paddle shifters always offering fuel saving but they have their uses.

The primary reasons S with paddle shifters shouldn't be used all the time for economy are:

• auto-stop doesnt work
• top gear RPM is higher in 7th than in D so not as economical for cruising on the flat at higher speeds.*

However - there are situations that are undesirable for economy that you can avoid if you use S with paddle shifters:

• Any regen directly powered by the ICE - especially uphill. This energy conversion is less efficient than just having the ICE drive the wheels in the first place.
• Fully charged battery on downhill preventing regenerative braking

Uphill regen can be avoided (or at least postponed on long hills) in the first place by staying off assist. You can do this in S by downshifting to lower gear / higher RPM / fairly low gas pedal pressure, therefore maximising the use of the ICE for a hill climb. In my experience, this doesn't cause your instantaneous mpg to suffer and you can take it a little faster than just using pedal pressure in D. Can be done with the Econ button pressed or not but the pedal pressure is easier to control with it on.

Should you hit uphill regen (say on very long, steep hills), shift into S and upshift to a high gear, pressing on the gas pedal as much as necessary to postpone regen (ideally until you're going downhill or braking is really necessary). Compared to staying in S without shifters, this allows you to avoid gaining speed unnecessarily (cancelling regen is a bit pointless if you've just wasted fuel by exceeding the speed limit for example). Bear in mind if you do this that the IMA will give no more. If you need a burst of acceleration for any reason you're going to have to either downshift or move to D and let the CVT do its thing. I don't like to leave myself in this state if the next thing I'm going to have to do is pull out from a junction into traffic. The other thing is the car is going to want to regen as soon as it's not under load. This works well if you've got a peak and then a downhill for free regen. It doesnt' work well if you've got an uphill followed by a plateaux.

The second scenario is when you're coming to a downhill stretch and are going to have to go slower than coasting downhill will allow. Maybe there's a roundabout or a stop sign at the bottom or coasting/gliding is going to take you over the speed limit. In this case, you want to do your best to use up as much assist as possible on the approach to the downhill. Again high gear, low rpm, foot on the gas. In this scenario, you're freeing up capacity to gain free energy. Gravity charging and necessary regenerative braking is effectively free. Charging from the ICE is not.

* I would love a modification that allowed paddle shifts with auto-stop and the same top gear rpm as CVT mode. It's surely just a software mod. Maybe one day...

[InsightRider101]

It's a fun feature I use sometimes when I'm in the mood It's a CVT engine so really I see no point... Downshifting only puts wear on the trans so I wouldn't really recommend people doing it. The car takes care of regen on it's own by cutting off the engine...