Why does the gas milage to gas station reduce still when the engine us not running in the 2010 model? I use it in non gas mode and it still reduces the gas bars even when the engine isn't on? Anyone have any ideas?
The engine still needs to be used under various conditions. The engine isn't constantly on but if you're inside turning on the lights, or nav, or AC then the car will run the engine to power up so as not to drain the battery. EV mode will just allow the car to rely the least on the gas engine.
If you mean distance to empty, it's based on your average consumption according to the manual, which is not changing that much as you drive.
The 'Range' feature uses the average consumption, and calculates based on fuel left. Let's say that you still have 100 mile range on the car, and then drive 10 miles, downhill, never needing the engine to turn on. At the bottom of that hill, your range should now indicate 90 miles to empty. This does not mean that you will only have 90 miles left, and any more than you would have had 100 miles when at the top of the hill. It simply generates a number based on total fuel economy, and sense that you will have xx range left. This accounts for the 50% of the time that the ICE is on, and cycling off. If you were to run downhill another 100 miles (not possible to my knowledge), then while the range will show 0 (or less then when you started), you will still have enough fuel in the car to drive quite a ways.
