Motorway Driving

[BarrieB]

I have finally got confirmation of my order, GX3 Frost White. Existing lease ends 3rd May so I have a while to wait. I'm in the process of getting my charge point installed at home under the government grants so its free.

Most of my driving is around town which is going to make best use of the PHEV, but what is the most eco mode when traveling on motorways for long distances? Obviously you aren't going to stop at every charging station along the route as it would take you days to get anywhere.

Do you just leave it and let the PHEV do its magic or drive in save mode until you get to town driving?

 

[gobiman]

There's been a bit of discussion on this on the forum. Some just let the car sort it out automatically.
I generally hit "save" on the car when I hit the motorway and can travel at 70ish on the basis that the car is relatively more efficient at lower/urban speed using the electric mode.At 70ish I get 33-35 mpg. With cruise on 80 in France I was getting 31-32 mpg - what you would expect for a 2 tonne SUV powered by a 2 litre petrol.
I live in London so there is always 10 or so miles before hitting the M4/M3/A3/A40 leaving me with 10-15 miles range remaining.
I don't bother with commercial charging points but charge at home (permamently connected) and have the supplied cable in the boot (with an extension lead) and will charge where I can at destination particularly if at friends/relatives.
Clearly the more charging you do, the more efficient but motorway charging is quite painful and there are various warnings (including from Mitsubishi) that regular fast charging is not good for battery life.

 

[DrSlackBladder]

I also don't bother with charging en route, I plug in every night at home and every morning at the office during the working week. For motorway trips, actually any trips that require speeds more than 50mph, I tend to drive the fast part in Save mode where the petrol engine will be more efficient, keeping EV change for slower to and from motorway or around town driving. The EV range gets eaten up real quick at motorway speeds; if it says you have 20 miles range EV you'll more likely get around 12-15 at 70mph (depending on driving style, rate of acceleration, conditions, traffic, terrain, etc).