first attempts hypermiling

[4myra]

Bought a Black Pearl Insight Elegance (EX) last week.
Live in Netherlands, a flat country, no hills, except flyovers.

First 400km drive according to the manual: using Econ button, no A/C and try to accelerate as smoothly as possible, and got 47-48 mpg.

Searched on internet for tips how to get better mileage and found the technique of 'pulse and glide'.

So tried the next 250 km with this technique: econ off, no A/C, accelerate asap, in city try to drive battery only at 42-45kmh, on highway practice pulse and glide between 80-100 kmh if traffic allows this.
When accelarating, i dont take notice of the color of the speedometer.

My best ave mileage is now (according to the display): 51-52 mpg.

I want more mileage!

Anyone having tips for me to improve.

A Jr. Hipermiler.

[pandisal]

If only I can get this MPG all the time :



more than a mile of downhill

[4myra]

the insight display was not accurate. despite a 4.6l/100km it should have read 5.0/100km at the gas station.

my girlfriend was driving the latest 150km. And her average using econ button until now was 4.1l/100km.

[Moviemike]

4myra;
I got my I2 yesterday, and like you I am exploring how to get best mileage. I have experience with the I1 which is helping me right now as I try and figure out the I2. Some ideas to explore:
1. In filling the gas tank be very precise in filling to the exact same point and insure the gas pump meter is accurate. With a single tank of gas very small differences in amount of gas put in the car yeild large differences in mpg....especiallly when compared to the car's computer.
2. Try acceleration with econ on (for greater control of the flow of gas), place MID on Eco Guide, make the accelerative pulse firm but well out of the gray zone.
3. Instead of large pulses and long glides, try shorter pulses and shorter glides. I wonder if that would make an mpg difference?

[Hybrid-Battery-Repair]

Originally Posted by pandisal

If only I can get this MPG all the time :
more than a mile of downhill

But you can!



Just get a gen 1

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

[Cobb]

My metro gets 48 mpg and its an ice from the 90s with no changes in the engine deisgn since the early 90s. There are a few online guys who get well into teh 70s and 80s as is with no fancy bateries, eelctric motors, etc.

Anyway, hypermiling is more than pulse and glide or FAS. Those are just two techniques that work on a hybrid vehicles the most. Like mentioned I would try it at different speed limits and durations. I am finding short bursts of acceleration into the blue does best.

Other tips are:
1 Roll to a stop vs braking, if you must brake, upshift
2 Make your first destination the farthest one and work back to your last destination cloest to home.
3 Do not warm the car, load it, get situated, put on your belt, check your mirrors, place foot on brake, crank up, shift into gear and go.
4 Park so you can drive out vs back out, as backing wastes power.
5 Set ac to recycle, set temp to like 72 and on low. Best to not use ac.
6 Make sure tires are inflated to 40psi or so and check lugs.
6 drive the posted limit if not 5-10 under. 40-45mph gives best mpg.
7 give light acceleration with econ mode on and keep the dash in the green.
8 Lift from the gas at desired speed to make sure the timming adjusts.
9 Do not carry un-necessary crap. Some people loose the spare and jack for a can o fix a flat.
10 Drafting even at safe distances improves fuel economy

[bish79]

Originally Posted by pandisal

If only I can get this MPG all the time :



more than a mile of downhill

Ah that's no big deal.

Mind you, all of these trips were 50+ miles. Just gotta have the right technique.

[Cobb]

Anyone can drive to the top of a hill, reset the trip and coast down.

Your trip must be at least 3 times your mpg for me to consider it possible in real world driving. Many cases I do not hit 50+ til after 200 miles of driving. 285 miles before half a tank where I refill.

Originally Posted by bish79

Ah that's no big deal.

Mind you, all of these trips were 50+ miles. Just gotta have the right technique.

[bish79]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Anyone can drive to the top of a hill, reset the trip and coast down.

Your trip must be at least 3 times your mpg for me to consider it possible in real world driving. Many cases I do not hit 50+ til after 200 miles of driving. 285 miles before half a tank where I refill.

Take a closer look at the picture....


There is 226.4 miles on that trip...

That was through Yellowstone, so lots of elevation changes too.

[red1dr]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Your trip must be at least 3 times your mpg for me to consider it possible in real world driving.

Ouch, that's tough for us Insight-I owners! So you wouldn't believe the 105.9mpg I got over ca 125 miles Saturday, mostly on I-95? It started and finished at home, so no net elevation change. And I stopped for errands four times during the trip. The display agrees within +/- 1mpg with the hand calculations from the gas pump for each of the 50+ tanks I've put through the thing. You're wanting me to drive >300 miles???

OK, last summer I ran 1058 miles on 10.302 gallons (102.7mpg), would that qualify?? Mainly multiple commutes to work, about 35 miles each way. Multiple warmups would have pulled down the mpg versus one long trip......

[If you're wondering, the trick is mainly lower speeds around 50mph, higher tire pressures, and FAS-ing downhills. I-95 is zoned 55mph west of New Haven - and 40mph through New Haven, though you'd never know it from the traffic speeds. Neutral coasting would probably work nearly as well as FAS.]