Disconnect Between iMPG and avg mpg meters

[Moviemike]

Originally Posted by freddy the mug

O.K. I changed the screen and saw the ev mode. I guess it's nice but I'm still unimpressed. I've owned cars without power steering and would put them in neutral and shut the engine off and see how far I can coast and get similiar results without a computer doing it for me.

You should be impressed because ev mode is much more than just coasting!

EV mode applies electrical energy from a special battery (part of the IMA system) through a 13 hp electic motor to turn the engine's crankshaft. This has the effect of greatly increasing coasting distance or maintaining a very low speed on a smooth and flat road surface without gasoline flowing into the engine. This can yeild sustantially improved mpg AND only requires a light touch on the gas pedal to make it happen.

cdaughton and Lukecool describe my experience very well. Except that the energy from the battery and the power of the electric motor well get ya a bit further down the road then just depressing a manual clutch and coasting. Its that extra bit down the road that will give ya mpg's in the low 50's, vs the EPA Overall rating of 42 mpg.

[MrMiyagi]

Originally Posted by amorris

Freddy, I beg to differ about the EV mode. Page 84 of the manual shows a mode where only the IMA motor is powering the vehicle. If only the electric system is providing power, then that is an EV mode. Granted, it is computer selected; the driver cannot press an EV button, but you can drive in such a way that the computer will select EV. I do it frequently, just to see how long I can make it last.

How do you do that? I can only seem to get it on EV mode for seconds at a time.

[amorris]

Originally Posted by MrMiyagi

How do you do that? I can only seem to get it on EV mode for seconds at a time.

I'm probably doing just what you're doing, as most of the time I get only a few seconds as well. What I do: at slow speed, remove your foot from the accelerator, then gently reapply. You should see one or two bars of assist and your impg meter will max out. If you have the display on the battery/engine, you will see arrows from the battery and none from the engine. It is very hard to keep this going for long -- although I have had it in the neighborhood of one minute. I seem to recall back in December or January someone posted a video of going several kilometers in EV. Much depends on the terrain and your speed.

[Moviemike]

Originally Posted by amorris

I'm probably doing just what you're doing, as most of the time I get only a few seconds as well. What I do: at slow speed, remove your foot from the accelerator, then gently reapply. You should see one or two bars of assist and your impg meter will max out. If you have the display on the battery/engine, you will see arrows from the battery and none from the engine. It is very hard to keep this going for long -- although I have had it in the neighborhood of one minute. I seem to recall back in December or January someone posted a video of going several kilometers in EV. Much depends on the terrain and your speed.

I've been doing the same. Speeds above 30 and below 50 seem to work best. Any kind of even very slight downgrade in terrain is a big help in getting longer ev mode operation.

[Moviemike]

Originally Posted by sabrina

Well, I agree that electric motor is used for torque and/or acceleration only.

Its only 13 hp. Doesn't seem designed to power the car, just to help the engine.