1500+ rpm

[jimwalker]

Anyone else have struggle with keeping the speedometer green during acceleration? I've found that if I keep the rpm slightly above 1500rpm during acceleration the eco feedback (green light in the spedo) is easier to keep green. Once I get to 50mph, I can edge the rpm up a little more (just below 2000) and the car accelerates up to 60mph... eventually

I find it is easier to watch the tach than the blue/green lights.

Jim

[jpleong]

I'm a teal accelerator, myself. I like to get the car up to speed as quickly as is reasonable and then coast/IMA propel the car.

If my memory is correct, I abandoned green acceleration about when I received my first trophy -as it seemed to be harder to achieve and didn't seem worth the effort (I'd rather be coasting with the ICE shut-off than slowly expending fuel over that same amount of time).

What level leaves are you?

JP

ps- wouldn't it be cool if the HUD's simple color changing arch were replaced with a color changing digital tach?

[jimwalker]

What level leaves are you?

Oh we're still just beginners... we haven't even burned up the gas the dealership put in it yet! I think our leaves are three????

We still haven't got to the first trophy

I'm a total techie, and love all the gauges and displays. I use the Average and instantaneous MPG readout the most. It seems more forgiving than the blue/green light in the spedo.

Jim

[jrlnc]

I think others will agree with me here.

If you are the only person on the road, then by all means take 5 minutes to get up to speed from a stoplight (if you have the time and patience).

To keep from pissing off other drivers, I usually accelerate with traffic to get up to my speed and then back off and keep it in the green.

Maybe it's not the best way to do things, but I am averaging 50.3 on FUELLY and my last tank was 52.8 mpg (calculated)!.

[wstander]

Originally Posted by jrlnc

If you are the only person on the road, then by all means take 5 minutes to get up to speed from a stoplight (if you have the time and patience).

To keep from pissing off other drivers, I usually accelerate with traffic to get up to my speed and then back off and keep it in the green.

Especially if you have a raging Dodge Hemi dually behind you........

[CobaltDragon]

I've learned you don't need to drive very carefully to get good mileage in this car. I have turned off the green/blue changey thing (found it really annoying) and rarely have Econ Mode turned on and I'm averaging about 46-48 MPG calculated (48-50 MPG on the MID). The only thing I did was to infalte my tires to between 38 and 40 psi, otherwise I drive pretty much like any other car, get up to speed with traffic and stay there - I do find myself coasting more often when I can.

[jraynor196]

I have found it is impractical to keep the car in the green when accelerating from a stop light with normal traffic. If the battery was bigger and you could apply more battery at lower RPM, then maybe you could do it. Instead, I do a brisk/firm acceleration to target speed and maintain that speed.

Its OK to go into the blue when accelerating. As others have said, you can still get 50+ MPG with normal types of acceleration. Only by accelerating at a glacial pace can it be achieved, and remember others are on the road with you.

Best way is to avoid stop and gos if you can. I use to go through 10 stoplights on the way home. I found another road that only has 3 and the mileage in the same. Sometimes it is not avoidable.

[Moviemike]

I've been experimenting with combining the above two approaches. I do normal-with traffic acceleration up to about 30mph. I then become "slow" (but often not "slowest") traffic by reducing my rate of acceleration to 45-55 instant mpg on the slider. The car then creaps up to the 40-45 mph speed limit with-out hurting my mpg as much. Most of my trips are short ones, so this kind of thing is noticeable.

[Cobb]

First off, I keep pace of traffic. If allowed I accelerate til i hear that low groan from the hybrid system and ride it til the posted limit. I look at the indicator and use it as an aid in drafting.

[jimwalker]

After reading some of the posts here, I changed my acceleration style (I'm sure the people behind me appreciate that ) and have been accelerating briskly or with traffic, then once I approach my target speed; I back off and try to hold 50 or 55mpg. I haven't seen a big change in average MPG so it seems the acceleration from stop is a super critical component in average MPG. One thing I have started to notice is coasting makes a significant impact on average MPG. If I see a red light coming up, the further away from it I can start coasting, the better. It seems to really pull my average MPG up. Have I mentioned I really really like this car? I am constantly amazed by what it is capable of and what I can get it to do.