Best way to handle hills?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Oct 12 2006, 09:27 AM) [snapback]331638[/snapback]</div>

What works for me is to build up as much speed as possible before I reach the bottom of the hill, then maintain a light pressure on the throttle to sort of maintain speed/gradually slow down until I crest the top. I don't do this if there is traffic, though, and keeping a steady speed in hilly country does hurt your mileage. Probably hurts worse, though, in a conventional car, if that's any consolation.

 

When there's no traffic, i'd say the best way is definately not to maintain a constant speed. instead, utilize the downhills to gain speed, and the uphills to bleed off excess speed - i would think it's very similar to the P&G technique, from a speed perspective - you "pulse" by going downhill and gaining speed (even though you aren't laying on the gas) and "glide" by going uphill, loosing speed down to a certain point.

i'd say pick a favorite route and run it several times with no traffic, trying different techniques. record the mileage for each technique, and let us know what works out best!

 

Based on a recent trip to Julian, CA (5000 ft elevation difference) my experience is that it doesn't help to go up the hills slowly. A rather brisk pace when going up a hill seems to burn less gas because you spend less time on the hill. This doesn't mean accelerating when going up the hill, but I definitely do not allow the hill to bleed off too much speed.

For example, if I'm an area where my average speed is 65 mpg, I might try to get to 75 when on a downhill portion. When hitting the next hill, I'll try to keep the speed above 60. If I let it get down to the 40's, then I'm burning just as much fuel as I would at 60 but I'll be stuck on the hill longer. Of course if there's traffic, I have no choice but to trudge along behind everyone else.

None of this is going against what has already been posted - definitely use the down hills to your advantage.

 

I concurr that high speed helps before climbing a hill. I have found that it is also helpful to maintain high speed for long hills (only tapering down to 40mph or so as I peak the hill).

My theory is that the ICE is geared high, and thus has it's peak energy transfer while the rest of the drivetrain is moving at high RPM. I have noticed that it is easier to maintain 40mpg on a slight hill if I start at 62mph, and keep it there. If I try to climb the same hill at 35mpH I get around 28mpG.

I'm still trying to determine what the best strategy is when you come to a stop on an incline. My gut tells me that it is best to accellerate quickly to high speed, then keep it there. I know this is not true on a flat.