forgive an ignorant quesion

[oaklandfunk]

But Is the PHEV only fuel efficient around town? In other words is there no way to make things last longer on a road trip? A prius keeps its high efficiency the entire time you tool around but when I go past the 27miles from plugging in, its just a regular 4cyl vehicle? Is that just the way plug ins work or am I doing something wrong?

 

[DibbyDibbyDJ]

Use the SAVE function. I use one regularly for work and achieve 4litres /100kms as an average, and that is with the a/c on most of the time.

I find that when battery is about 80% i hit the SAVE and leave it there, ICE does its thing when needed and journey continues

 

[littlescrote]

That's not the way it works. Once the battery is 'empty' or the 'Save' function is used, it functions just as any of Toyota's (or anyone else's that doesn't use that marketing bullshit) 'self-charging' hybrids do. That means that it will recoup energy from braking and top up the battery a bit now and then from the engine and drive on battery when appropriate (at low speed, battery boost when more power needed etc).

It will never get as good fuel economic as a Prius as it's bigger and less aerodynamic, and heavier.

 

[michael8554]

The ICE has poor mpg when warming up, so my thought is that SAVE cycles the ICE on/off/on/off, so not that efficient.

I prefer to run EV to 5 miles left, then CHRG up to say 15 miles range, then run EV again, etc.

But I also try to use EV in town and B roads, and CHRG at 50 to 60 mph on A roads and Motorways - the permutations are endless, that's the fun of the PHEV!

Also B0 and coast most of the time, higher B if going too fast downhill!

Littlescote - agree with your Self Charging comments - 1 mile on EV then on with the ICE - pathetic!

 

[DibbyDibbyDJ]

The only issue with using Charge is that if you are at a higher speed then the ICE can direct drive the car if it thinks necessary, and will not run the generator at all.

 

[JohanvdH]

Comparing the PHEV to a Prius is not really fair as the Prius has a slim design which allows it to use less fuel while driving.
Our PHEV are build like a brick so fuel efficienty is likely to be worse than it is on a Prius.

 

[nils944]

For what it's worth, we used to own a Prius and it was more fuel efficient in town than it was on the highway/motorway - in that sense just like the PHEV.

 

[Kesto]

Unfair to compare Prius. Outy is a 4x4. Driving 30-40 miles with ICE running for say 5-7 miles you'd get 90-100 mpg (19 model), I don't think prius can do that much.

 

[Ridfenfun]

I find by far the largest impact to energy usage per KM, whether gas or electric driven, is the speed you are running. That is why even conventional non plug in hybrids usually (maybe always?) do better on city rating than hwy.
Speed and elevation change for your trip have huge impacts.
My approach is to save EV range for when it's most effective (ie low speeds) then run charge when I think I can get it to run in parallel mode. Even then, above a certain speed or combined with climbing even minor elevation, when in parallel, it will temporarily at least stop recharging the battery, from what the display shows.
Intersting the above comment about running down to 80% charge then using SAVE mode, I'll have to give that a try!

 

[user 422]

The only issue with using Charge is that if you are at a higher speed then the ICE can direct drive the car if it thinks necessary, and will not run the generator at all.

Not completly true...
It is running the generator all the time - but at 42MPH to 60MPH the generator output is lower due to teh engine RPM being lower than its "Charge" setting, At 60+ MPH the generator output is the same BUT some of the engine output will be driving the front wheels directly thus MPG will be 10% ish worse than being on "Save" mode - "Charging" using the Engine is not an efficient use of the Fuels energy...

 

[DibbyDibbyDJ]

The only issue with using Charge is that if you are at a higher speed then the ICE can direct drive the car if it thinks necessary, and will not run the generator at all.

Not completly true...
It is running the generator all the time - but at 42MPH to 60MPH the generator output is lower due to teh engine RPM being lower than its "Charge" setting, At 60+ MPH the generator output is the same BUT some of the engine output will be driving the front wheels directly thus MPG will be 10% ish worse than being on "Save" mode - "Charging" using the Engine is not an efficient use of the Fuels energy...

I didnt say it will. I said it 'can' run the engine without the generator. Yes when the ICE is running it is charging, however the Cars primary objective is to get you from A to B, and it isnt worried about efficiency. If you are using the CHARGE function and you are travelling at higher speeds and needs extra power at the wheels the Generator can switch off.

 

[jaapv]

The generator cannot be switched off - it is driven continously. What the car can do is regulate the power demand from the generator.

 

[DibbyDibbyDJ]

The generator cannot be switched off - it is driven continously. What the car can do is regulate the power demand from the generator.

So i should have said the generator will stop charging. My bad.