zes

I'd like to understand the rate of braking that results in the maximum recovery of energy into the battery. I try to brake so that the needle goes down almost to the bottom of the 'charge' region, but not so strongly that the needle completely bottoms out. I figure that if the needle bottoms out completely, I am using the friction brakes. Is that the correct way to use the brakes?

I am new to this. What technique do you folks who achieve 40mpg use?

Thanks!

wowzer

You can search/google for hypermiling. Essentially use gas to get to speed, then use battery to maintain speed. Use regen braking as you described. Increase speed on downhills and lose speed on uphills with battery coasting. When accelerating, do not accelerate too quickly...just enoug for gas engine to run and at the economy section of accelerometer.

don1

Display the Energy Monitor and you will be able to see when the battery is or is not charging.

Steve9R

Speaking of braking, something ive noticed on my 300h is you can lightly touch the brake pedal and start the braking without the rear stop lights activating.. only very lightly though.. has anyone else noticed that?

Steve

Arty101

How do you know you haven't activated the brake lights? Driving at night?

Mhobizal

Just from my observation of my 2014 ES300h, I can lightly put my foot on the brake the brake lights do not illuminate.

jollick

Think of it as downshifting. Same principle and no brake lights. IMHO

Arty101

I guess better way to recharge the battery. But I can't tell unless it's dark since I can't see my brake lights.

PirelliRC

My only gripe so far with the hybrid is the brakes, i have to get use to it.

Steve9R

yeah.. so you can see the centre brake light on the rear parcel shelf reflecting at night..

Steve

SLH

The most efficient strategy is to avoid braking at all, and to use the minimum amount of brake when it is needed.

If you accelerate until it become necessary to apply heavy brake, you are wasting energy both on the acceleration and on the braking. When energy is 'recovered', a large percentage is lost in every case. (Generators, batteries, and electric motors are far from 100% efficient.)

If you accelerate gently, watch the traffic, lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal when there is traffic ahead, and then brake gently and only as needed, then you avoid much of that wastage.

There is an optimum acceleration rate. It seems to be about half-throttle in 'normal' mode. The 'eco' mode helps you to find it easily...

Be careful to avoid blocking traffic, though. A single collision due to an impatient driver trying to get around your slow car, would cost far more than all of the fuel you could ever hope to save.

zes

I am finding that in Eco mode I am driving in a much more relaxed manner and feeling more relaxed, but people behind me get impatient. The have to go to normal at least and punch it. Do others find it easy to drive in Eco mode in stop and go traffic?

chromedome

In crawling traffic (or wish-I-rode-my-bicycle-instead traffic), I usually use Eco mode because it's easier to keep the car running on electricity with the softer throttle response. Once traffic speeds up I switch to Normal because it's easier to keep up with traffic, unless you don't mind jamming the throttle almost to the stops in Eco mode.

Arty101

I leave mine in Eco mode all the time. I don't drive like a granny, but I don't gun it either.

jollick

+1 Same driving habit here. I only use sport mode when in the pole position at a light and know the right lane goes away 1/2 mile ahead.