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Are Hybrid Vehicles fun to drive?

mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
edited March 2014 in Toyota
Are Hybrid Vehicles fun to drive?
If so, why?
What makes them different than regular cars?

Comments

  • railroadjamesrailroadjames Member Posts: 560
    I don't know if I'd necessarily call it fun as much as I'd like to call it interesting and challenging. The Prius (as well as others) have the computer screen that gives very accurate readouts of HOW YOUR DRIVING. This can be fun just to see if you're willing to adapt changes to your driving habits to improve your MPG's. This plus the silent mode of the cars when only the electric engines are in use tell you that it's up to you how well you do.
    Culliganman (hybrids work)
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    It has a much "sportier" feel than I thought it would.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    I think the "fun" part of driving a Hybrid is the "MPG game" you can play using the dashboard gauges and feedback.

    You can get real-time info as to what MPG you are achieving at that exact moment in time. (How cool is that?) This way, you can use that info to "teach yourself" the best methods for achieving high MPG for that tank and for the future.

    It's almost, in a slight way, "learning to drive all over again" for some people.

    Now that I drive a Hybrid and have changed my driving style, it's almost comical to see people ZOOM from red light to red light and STILL be sitting right beside me every time, because all they did was ZOOM (wasting gas the whole way) from this red light to the next one, but when I get there, after GRADUAL acceleration and coasting and SAVING GAS the whole way, there they sit waiting for me. They got about 12 MPG and I got about 40 MPG for the same stretch of road.

    It's gratifying and tells me I am doing the right thing for this Earth and the future of it. I spent $23.60 last month on fuel for my car.
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "I think the "fun" part of driving a Hybrid is the "MPG game" you can play using the dashboard gauges and feedback."

    .

    Agreed. It is like the old video games where you try to score as high as possible. (I've got 90+ in my Insight....with a peak of 120 on a windy day.)

    As for actual driving, I found the Prius to be boring. The driver has no control. There are no gears. Just press the pedal, and the computer decides how fast you will accelerate. Yawn.

    I preferred the stick-shift Civic & Insight Hybrids with 5 gears. The CVT was also cool (it has 3 "gears" - Low, Second, Drive). I love revving my cars to red-line & tearing away from a red light!

    Troy :-)
  • pjyoungpjyoung Member Posts: 885
    << I love revving my cars to red-line & tearing away from a red light! >>

    I'll bet you don't get 91 mpg when you do that.....
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    The instant MPG bar drops to ~30 mpg when I redline my car...

    ...but it quickly jumps up to 100 mpg once I'm cruising along at 55.

    Remember, my "91 mpg" is the *average*... and I spend a looooong time cruising at 100 mpg (70 miles). So my redlining has little effect.

    .

    Besides, a gasoline engine is most efficient when the throttle is wide-open (redlined). I have to go from 0 to 55 sometime... might as well do it the most efficient and fun way I can!

    Troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    "Besides, a gasoline engine is most efficient when the throttle is wide-open (redlined)."

    Take this test:
    Find a patch of unused level highway a few miles long.
    Have a full (90%) pack and engine fully warmed.
    No accessories should be on.
    Reset your FCD at one end and floor it, keeping it floored until you reach 55 then sustain the 55 MPH until you reach a predetermined "finish line".

    Notice your MPG at the end of the run.

    Turn around and return to the starting point, driving carefully as you return so your pack recharges.

    Now reset your FCD and begin again, this time accelerate very slowly up to 55MPH and sustain the speed until you reach your finish line.

    Is wide open throttle the most efficient?

    If WOT is best for economy then why did you just burn fuel at over twice the rate (HCH) given the same top speed and distance?

    My HCH did 16MPG WOT and 36MPG with a very slow acceleration over a mile.

    Try this test yourself and see.

    It sure is nice to have the choice to accelerate quickly or to get great economy in the same vehicle! (Vs. having a car for quick acceleration and so-so MPG, or having a different car for economy)
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    Wide-Open-Trottle, followed by coasting to zero, and then repeating, is how those 1000+ mpg records were set. It's the most efficient state for a gasoline engine.

    The reason Wide-Open-Trottle is more efficient? Because you eliminate the air-intake losses around the trottle.
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    "Because you eliminate the air-intake losses around the trottle"

    Sounds like a nice thoery.
    Still doesn't explanin why it burns twice the fuel.
  • rfruthrfruth Member Posts: 630
    I've heard of hybrid drivers using the WOT method of driving (i.e. really put your foot in it off the line ((thus forcing the battery to do as much as it can while U get higher MPG)) then get out of it when your up to speed, is that what you mean ?
  • z28_sedanz28_sedan Member Posts: 18
    Some simple questions:

     

    Is it true that whenever you step on the brake, the gas-engine shuts off? If so, does it automatically start up again once you release the brake or does it wait to see if it's "needed" yet?

     

    Does the engine shut off when going down a big hill?

     

    Let's say you're riding on the freeway for a while and the battery is now fully charged, will the gas-engine ever turn off during the freeway drive?

    thanks in advance,

    -Tim
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Answers to your questions from the owner of a 2004 manual transmission Honda Civic hybrid:

     

    Q: Is it true that whenever you step on the brake, the gas-engine shuts off?

    A: True in a way, but not how the question is phrased. The HCH has a feature called "AutoStop" which disengages the gas engine when the car is stopped, for example at a red light. The car knows you have slowed down to stop, and the electric battery will "take over" imperceptibly and the gas engine will shut off when you apply the brake and stop. Then when it is time to go, you need merely to release the brake and press the accelerator and the gas engine restarts and the car goes again. It happens so fast you never even know the transition took place.

     

    Q: Does the engine shut off when going down a big hill?

    A: No. In my case, I can take the car out of gear and "coast" and the only gas I'm burning is the gas it takes to IDLE at the lowest RPMs.

     

    Q: Let's say you're riding on the freeway for a while and the battery is now fully charged, will the gas-engine ever turn off during the freeway drive?

    A: Not in the Civic hybrid. The electric engine is just an "assist" feature and will assist the gas engine in times of hard acceleration. If you have a fully charged hybrid battery, you will only use it if you "floor it" to pass someone or to get up a hill faster.

     

    Hope this helps you.....:)
  • z28_sedanz28_sedan Member Posts: 18
    Thanks to larsb for your answers to my questions.

    I'd appreciate answers to the same questions from a Prius owner if they are different from larsb's hybrid Civic.

     

    I'm definitely going to get one, but still trying to decide which one I should get and if I should just wait for a year or two.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    Your "test" does not measure the difference attributable to WOT vs part throttle. All other things equal, WOT IS more efficient than part throttle (but high engine speeds incur increasing friction losses). This is one of the principle efficiency advantages of a Diesel, since it is not throttled.

     

    If "saving the Earth" is really one's goal (as opposed to acting "holier than thou"), you would accelerate rapidly not (just) because it might be more efficient for YOUR vehicle but because, if everyone did, it would improve traffic flow and improve the efficacy of the transportation SYSTEM as a whole.
  • stevewastevewa Member Posts: 203
    Same questions with a 2002 Prius (2004+ is similar, with differences noted below. Any hybrid using a power split device like Toyota or the Ford Escape Hybrid will have the same basic design features).

     

    Q: Is it true that whenever you step on the brake, the gas-engine shuts off?

    A: Depending on conditions, yes this is true. The ICE (internal combustion engine) will continue to run if (a) the battery needs additional charging (b) the engine and catalytic converter are not warm enough to keep emissions down (c) the A/C compressor is needed for cooling or defrosting (the 2004+ Prius has an electric air conditioner so this does not apply).

     

    Q: Does the engine shut off when going down a big hill?

    A: Depends on your speed. Above about 42 MPH the Prius' ICE must turn to keep the RPM of the electric motor from exceeding its redline. However, fuel and spark may be cut off and the engine allowed to turn from the momentum of the car. Some refer to this mode of running as "turbo stealth" since low speed electric running is called "stealth mode".

     

    Q: Let's say you're riding on the freeway for a while and the battery is now fully charged, will the gas-engine ever turn off during the freeway drive?

    A: For the reasons stated above, the ICE will not stop turning, but fuel and spark could be shut off if the electric motors are providing sufficient power to overcome wind and road resistance, etc.
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "Because you eliminate the air-intake losses around the trottle"

     

    .

      

    "Sounds like a nice thoery. Still doesn't explanin why it burns twice the fuel."

     

    .

     

    It burns twice as much fuel, because the engine is spinning twice as fast, but the specific fuel ratio (gasoline burned/energy produced) is lowest at Wide Open Throttle. WOT, followed by coasting to 0, and then WOT again, et cetera - is what drivers use to set those MPG World Records. Why? Because opening the throttle removes the air-intake restriction & improves efficiency.

     

    Look, I don't have to justify myself.

     

    My 91 mile per gallon lifetime MPG speaks for itself. I wouldn't have that if using WOT was the wrong thing to do.

     

    troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    I've heard that theory over at Insight Central as well, that's why I did the test on post #8 myself, to settle once and for all.

     

    I also did the test with a 3 mile run and the outcome was the same.

    WOT will burn twice the fuel over the same distance and finishing speed, vs very light throttle.

     

    Your 91MPG LMPG is fantastic and indeed you should be proud of that achievement.

    I'm also happy with my 59 LMPG in my HCH with my family of 5.
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    Okay I conceed.

     

    But your slooooo-leeeee accelerate to 55 approach is nowhere near as much fun as my burn rubber & full-throttle-to-55 approach.

     

    ;-)
  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi ElectricTroy:

     

    ___The batteries from a slow accelerator will last far longer and that is an expensive $4,000 proposition for 15 - 20 seconds worth of fun about 20 X&#146;s a week ;-)

     

    ___Whose Hybrid would you rather buy used? The 30 - 50 second to 60 mph driver or the 12 - 18 second to 60 mph one? The fun as you and I know ;-) is in the long term use of the game gauges, not ramming her home for a 0 - 60 mph sprint in 12 - 18 + seconds. That isn&#146;t all that fast if you know what I mean :-(

     

    ___By the way, welcome back.

     

    ___Good Luck

     

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "___The batteries from a slow accelerator will last far longer ;-)"

     

    Yeah like I care. My battery hardly ever gets used (I drive a steady speed for 2 hours each day with no battery assist)... my battery will last forever.

     

    When my Insight's engine finally dies at 300,000 miles, I plan to tear apart the battery & use the D-cells to power my electric model airplanes. ;-)
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "I did the test on post #8 myself, to settle once and for all. WOT will burn twice the fuel over the same distance and finishing speed, vs very light throttle."

     

    Really? So what were the actual MPG results? ~40 mpg WOT vs. ~80 mpg slow ("twice the fuel")? I find that impossible to believe.

     

    Also when you did the WOT test, what shift pattern did you use? 1-2-5?

     

    troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    Here are the results of my test, this is a repost from June 04, and I am driving a CVT:

     

    Conditions were:

    80 Degree high humidity Possibly 90% on the edge of rain,

    Engine completely warmed up for about 1/2 hour of driving,

    Battery Pack (SOC) is 4 bars off of full (normal full charge),

    No A/C or any other accessories, Windows up.

     

    The 1st test was on a straight strip of road that has a linear slight incline.

    I did a series of "Control" tests to measure the road itself and this is what I found:

    The road chosen is 1/2 mile long.

    The HCH maintains 50MPH with FCD held at 44MPG.(40 + 1 bar) on ascent.

    Other way around on the decent it maintains 50MPH at 84MPG.

    Hopefully that will show the grade as it is not level.

     

    I did a series of tests to measure fuel consumed going 0-50 on ASCENT ONLY.

    FCD is reset at the moment each run was started.

    Once 50MPH is reached the FCD is adjusted to 44MPG to maintain speed.

    MPG is measured at the 1/2 mile mark. Tests were ran 3 times, each had about the same results.

    This is what I measured:

     

    Full throttle: 0-50 in 10 seconds 19MPG

    FCD held at 20MPG during acceleration: 0-50 in 31sec 25MPG

    Very slow acceleration: 0-42 in 56 sec (Reached 1/2 mile) 30MPG

     

    If anyone takes the time to do these tests themselves they'll see similar results. Also keep in mind that the battery was less depleated after a gradual run, so it had less to recharge.
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    Your test strip is too short. We're talking long-term trends here, because even though full-trottle will *initially* burn more fuel getting to 55, you will spend more time (~20 seconds) in the lean-burn >80mpg mode, and that leads to *higher overall* mpg.

     

    Also, it says full throttle but it doesn't say what gear? "Drive" "Second" or "Low"?

     

    troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    I've also tried a very similar test on a 3 mile run and the tests results were the same.

     

    How long of a run would be required?

    According to my test results, isn't 30MPG with a small amount of battery to recover better than 19MPG with more battery to recover?

     

    There are so many variables in a longer run than...say 3 miles...cars pulling out, gusts of wind and other things. That's why I first choose 1/2 mile test, followed up by a 3 mile run.

     

     
    All tests were done with the CVT in the "D" slot, as manual shifting would add more varables.

    The results are always the same.

    Slowest acceleration as possible saves fuel.

     

    You are right that pushing it to the floor gets a thrill.

    Love the way the IMA winding up sounds like a jet.
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "All tests were done with the CVT in the "D" slot"

     

    .

     

    I always use "L" to redline the engine.

     

    troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    To help stay on topic please let me tell my story, sorry for the novel!

     

    I've driven all vehicles like a speed demon. Left lane, 85-90MPH, sometimes very risky by severe tailgating, trying to get the next vehicle out of my way. I'd swerve around if I could and even frequent the HOV lanes for passing a slow (80MPH) row of cars. Always on edge and cursing the object in front of me.

    I not only carried a detector but also monitored the trucks over the CB for speed trap warnings.

      

    Although I never drove really crazed while my wife & 3 small kids were along, I now realize that I was sometimes a jerk to other drivers and posed a great liability risk to my family.

      

    I drove that way for about 27 years.

    The driving habit in my 94 Dodge Spirit was costing too much, I was getting about 15-16MPG so I decided to drive better and a couple of tanks I'd set the cruise control to 5MPH over the posted speed limits.

    This created an extremely boring, long excruciating trip (I commute 92 miles daily) and only yielded an additional 4-5MPG.

    I really wanted to change my driving habits but couldn't do it in exchange for a boring ride.

    As my 10 year old car matured it was time for replacement.

    For 1 year I was torn between a Neon or an all-out HCH.

      

    Well I chose the HCH and it has done the impossible, in completely changing my habits.

    The first tank I noticed the low 40's MPG which I was amazed, but I wanted to see just how high it will go. I was hooked. Everything changed at that point.

      

    I knew nothing of hypermiling so I consulted the experienced Insight drivers who are getting +90MPG in their machines for advice in mine.

    I worked very hard at improving my MPG and the results are wonderful: My average over the last 12 months is about 60MPG.

    I've saved over $5000 in fuel alone over the 'ol Dodge and I'm a vastly safer driver.

    I've learned a technique that allows me to drive about the speed limits which only adds an extra 10 minutes each way to my commute. My commutes are more relaxing, pleasent and interesting drive. Instead of just blindly gassing it or spacing out in cruise control I'm judging every aspect of my drive and adjusting accordingly. A very busy, alert, fun drive.

      

    One great thing about "the game" is once learned, it can be played in virtually any vehicle.

    For me it took the exitement of the HCH to learn it.

      

    If I had chosen a Neon (Or any other "regular" car) I'm sure I'd still be tearing up the road, carrying my detector and CB.

    Probably getting 20MPG, still risking my life and others.

     

    Thanks for reading my novel!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    For me it took the exitement of the HCH to learn it.

     

    I like that story. It sounds like that was the perfect choice for you and all those you shared the road with. I do believe the 3 high mileage hybrids are great for commuters.
  • railroadjamesrailroadjames Member Posts: 560
    The thing about my Prius is I've come to enjoy 400-450 mile tanks of gas and then there's that delightful computer screen showing "99 miles per gallon so frequently that I get a bit giddy. Telling people the enjoyment of $12.00-$14.00 fill-ups never seems to get boring. Of course there are times when I actually see another smart Prius Drver going by and I see myself, like in a mirror, looking good. The last time I felt this good about a car was when I borrowed my buddy's sexy black 58 Impala convertable for a hot date with the top down of course! Say, thats an idea, a Prius Convertable...Sounds good to me. What do you folks think?

    Culliganman (or at least a sunroof)
  • jpricejprice Member Posts: 58
    [a Prius Convertable...Sounds good to me.]

     

    Bad idea - it would shoot the drag coefficient right out of the water, as would a sunroof.

     

    jprice
  • railroadjamesrailroadjames Member Posts: 560
    Awww, come on now. So I go from 48 mpg's to 44 mpg's. No pain there. Let's keep the perpetual dream alive. Who ever said that a hybrid has to be confined to a 4-Dr commuter car? I'll even go one better since I'm an avid motorcyclist. How about a hybrid-cycle? Now there's a thought. It could get in the realm of 150-200 mpg's. That could sure save fuel & $$$$$.

    Culliganman (the possibilities are endless)
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Honda's Hybrid and Fuel-Cell Bikes

    Starting with small scooters, Honda is working on ultra-clean, super-efficient two-wheelers, using fuel-cell, electrc and hybrid engine technologies. They are all prototypes at this stage, but we expect to see some of these technologies in showrooms&in at least some parts of the world&#151;within a few years.

    Honda World News

     

    http://motorcyclecruiser.com/newsandupdates/news040927/
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "The driving habit in my 94 Dodge Spirit was costing too much, I was getting about 15-16MPG"

     

    .

     

    WOW. That really is bad. I owned a Dodge Shadow which I think is essentially the same car, and I averaged 30 mpg at 70mph.

     

    troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    It had the 4 cyl, not sure of the displacement but alot of the time it was floored.
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    Wow. Sounds like it was only firing 3 cylinders, because a 4 cylinder car should go ~110 when floored. That happened to a friend with a saturn... only firing 3 cylinders and wouldn't go faster than 80.

     

    troy
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    I posted:

    "alot of the time it was floored"

    Not:

    "all of the time it was floored"

    Mine would also exceed 100 if held down.

     

    But if you floor it and catch up to the next car, slam on the brakes & ride the bumper for a mile, floor it again to pass...over & over...
  • robertsmxrobertsmx Member Posts: 5,525
    Not necessarily. There are plenty of things to consider when you talk about top speed. Insight has a three banger engine, and C&D took it to 107 mph in third gear.
  • markdelmarkdel Member Posts: 56
    I drives me nuts every time I see a post about how someone is getting better milage by coasting down hill in neutral, by "just using the amount of gas to idle the engine."
    The HCH has an engine mode when decelerating or coasting down hill IN GEAR, where the cyclinders are disabled and receive NO GAS AT ALL.
    Wake up and go do some research... :mad: :sick:
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    Actually I believe your comment belongs in another thread, but I'll elaborate.

    I'm not sure of the MT but my 04 HCH CVT works like this:
    If you want to coast while in gear:

    You can let completely off the gas and the regen kicks in and slows you down, so you are not freely coasting at all.
    You can stop the regen by adding some to the gas pedal but you are still slowing because of the drive line-internal engine friction.
    You can add more gas to overcome the friction to freely roll but now you're far from idling.

    Look at the FCD results trying both ways and see neutral coasting having better results, especially over distances of 1/4mile or longer.

    If you are speaking of switching to N in a CVT for a 200 foot stop, then no it wouldn't make any sense.
  • tomslycktomslyck Member Posts: 70
    On the weekends, when my wife let's me drive "my" HH, I enjoy seeing how far I can get on the battery alone. As long as there's no one behind me, I can go for blocks and blocks without the ICE kicking in. Most of the streets in my neighborhood are 25 mph anyway, so it's not too different to cruise along at 20 or so.

    And then there's a satisfaction when I'm sitting at the longer traffic signals when I realize that I'm not using any gas or polluting.

    But I'm sure the novelty will wear off eventually.
This discussion has been closed.