A couple of days ago I had to go to the San Jose airport (~11.5 miles one way, ~8 miles on freeway) to pick up my wife returning from 4 wks as Red Cross volunteer in NYC. So I was wondering what is the best EV-HV strategy to use? Use all EV till forced to switch? Mostly HV on freeway? Save all EV for return trip? I drove the first two miles in EV, got on the freeway and switched to HV while slowly accelerating on the on-ramp (no one behind me). Went about 7-8 miles and switched back to EV. I figured I'd use the remaining EV on the return trip, then go back to HV for the last couple of miles. I got to the airport short term parking lot and took my ticket. SURPRISE! The closest parking space is now for EV charging only and is 50 feet from baggage! I pulled in and started charging for free. Baggage delayed...no hurry, my car is charging. Returned to car and was at 13.8 miles, close to my typical 13.9 or 14.0 this time of year. EV all the way home at ~60 mph. I did still have to pay the minimum $2 parking fee, but at least I got $0.10 - $0.15 worth of electrons. Mike
For a trip where the engine has no time to cool, I'd say use EV all the way. For a trip where the engine will cool off, leave some for the beginning of the return trip. In either case, your goal should be an empty battery when you reach the charger.
I've been experiementing with my 40-mile rountrip commute. So far it seems as though changing EV/HV strategies makes no measurable difference. I've tried using EV on the downhill morning commute from start until it runs out, only on the streets with HV for freeway, and EV only on streets and HV even for uphill portions on streets. Each strategy has yielded the same total MPG for the round trip. It seems as though the charge displaces the same amount of gasoline whether you're going fast, slow, uphill, or downhill.
That's a tough one and probably won't make a difference. Here is an example of my typical weekend drive and how I use EV/HV miles. I drive 10 miles to Manhattan on the highway with HV. I use 7 EV miles in Manhattan before getting on a bridge. I drive 7 miles in HV up the bridge onto highway until the exit in Brooklyn. Once in Brooklyn, I drive 6 miles in local streets until I jump on the highway 20 miles back home. My goal is to prevent ICE on/off in local street driving. Using EV miles for it leaves a long continuous gas engine operation on the highway.
My goal is to never have the ICE on while stopped. I don't fire off the ICE unless I can drive far enough to warm up the engine. Then when it is warm I will use HV to accelerate and then back way off the pedal to put it back into EV quickly. This is my extend EV mode. My commute is about 80% highway, so I save some EV for the city driving before and after the highway. As PiPLosAngeles it doesn't seem to make too big of a difference as long as the ICE is not running while you are just sitting there.
I agree with this general strategy. Use HV a a long continuous part of the drive, saving EV for the slower and stop and go portions. But it is very hard to test this out. Mike
My route is downhill in the morning and uphill in the evening with 14 miles of freeway and about 3.5 miles of street at each end. As of today I have tried the following: Starting out in the morning in EV mode and running that way until I run out. About 4 miles of street driving and 14 miles of freeway (under 62 MPH). The return trip is all HV. Total MPG for the trip: 87 MPG. Starting out in the morning in EV and switching to HV for freeway and back to EV for streets. Total MPG for the trip 88 MPG. Starting out in the morning in HV mode and driving all the way in HV - using EV for the return trip. Total MPG for the trip 88 MPG. So far it seems like you'll get the same mileage regardless, so it's easier just to forget about switching modes yourself.
