Running the RX400h only on the electric motor
#16
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Heh heh, I drive using the pulse and glide method all the time, and I rarely exceed the speed limit. I'm sure that I **** off a lot of people behind me, but I make a special point to stay in the right lane and not the passing lane so that I can drive that way. Now I just cruise up to red lights without touching the pedal at all whereas I see tons of impatient people flooring it so they can get to the red light faster and wait longer. I time it so that I try to get to the intersection just as the light is turning green so that I don't have to hit the brakes at all.
#17
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How do you like the cruise control? I haven't tried it yet. Do you find that the cruise control aids or detracts from fuel economy? I find that when I drive I always keep my eye on both the speed and the fuel economy reading, so that when I start slowing down I step on the accelerator enough for it to give me a speed boost, but not enough for the ICE to kick in. Does the cruise control do something similar or does it average out to similar performance?
#18
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How do you like the cruise control? I haven't tried it yet. Do you find that the cruise control aids or detracts from fuel economy? I find that when I drive I always keep my eye on both the speed and the fuel economy reading, so that when I start slowing down I step on the accelerator enough for it to give me a speed boost, but not enough for the ICE to kick in. Does the cruise control do something similar or does it average out to similar performance?
For the most part, if you are driving on the highway with minimal traffic and the roads are fairly even (no too many hills) then the cruise control rocks. I would not use the cruise control memory feature to regain my preset speed, if I needed to slow down (due to traffic). It is alot more efficient to attain the pre set speed manually then by letting the cruise control attain the preset speed from memmory. Cruise control does not think, hence if you are preset at 65mph, and you are at say 45mph, if you hit the cruise control to accel. back up to speed, the car will rocket forward in a hurry as opposed to manually pressing the accelerator to get you back up to speed smoothly and efficiently.
Cruise control feature and performance for the rx 400h is spot on.
Cheers,
MadloR
#19
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I got another loaner a RX400H that I absolutely love! They told me my car is ready and all the small noises have been fixed, but i'm holding off on going to pick up the car until after work today. I want a few more hours of driving in the RX first. The hybrid system in that puppy is amazing. For instance we have a 4 story parking garage at my work and I usually park on the 3 floor away from others. To my surprise the RX400H drove up all the levels on electric power only! This was right after I drove it from home to work (4 miles) and was able to keep it in electric only for at least 75% of the trip. (35mph speed limit) Not only is this thing really green, but it's quick too. It is definitely quicker than my gf's 1.8t Jetta and the CVT tranny is quite impressive as well. Nice job on this car Lexus!
#20
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Yes, I do this all the time.
Once I get up to cruising speed, whether its 40 mph or higher, I let off the accelerator than gently reapply just enough so that car is running only on battery. As you stated, I can drive quite a distance, up to a few tenths of a mile, just on battery. Only works on very flat or slight downgrades as you noted.
This is a great way to maximize fuel efficiency. Since temps have warmed up, I have been averaging 29.0 to 29.5 on the last two tanks of midgrade. I have noticed a substantial loss in fuel economy with regular gas and I have found no difference in performance or economy between midgrade and premium, thus I go with midgrade.
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This is a great way to maximize fuel efficiency. Since temps have warmed up, I have been averaging 29.0 to 29.5 on the last two tanks of midgrade. I have noticed a substantial loss in fuel economy with regular gas and I have found no difference in performance or economy between midgrade and premium, thus I go with midgrade.
One other thing, while we at it ........... the "V-6 kick-in" ........... this is dependent on the PRESSURE APPLIED to the accelerator Pedel!!! It doesn't matter if your going 3 mph or 103 mph...... the RX is going to hit the V-6 if it gets the "impression from you" that you need power .... little bit of power = Electric, BIG POWER needs gets the V-6 ....... or a combination of both!!! Lastly remember that the Battery Pack desires "Room Temperature" to perform at it's max.......... if you can afford the time, let her/him warm-up ........ you'll see an increase in Electric over ICE usage, and a few more MPGs........
Thanks for letting me rant...........
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#21
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RX400h (running only on the electric motor)
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IMHO, too bad it can only go upto 25 mph (40 km/h) than switch to the engine
Hopefully they bump it to like 31 mph (50 km/h) in the next RX hybrid. It be pretty interesting if you could drive 1000 km just on the electric motor only. True it take you 2-3x longer to get were ever your going.
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IMHO, too bad it can only go upto 25 mph (40 km/h) than switch to the engine
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I have just got a 2006 RX-400h, this is my first hybrid car. The other day I had a heavy traffic that the car crawled like a snail, go and stop. Just a few miles and the battery went low, and the screen displayed low battery warning. I had to push the lever to P to force the ICE to charge the battery or keep it at D and slightly step on brake to cheat the engine we're going so that it would charge the battery. I'm not sure if this is the design of the 400h or I have a depleted battery?
#22
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I have a question which might be a bit off topic; how many miles can a 400h go in electric only?
I have just got a 2006 RX-400h, this is my first hybrid car. The other day I had a heavy traffic that the car crawled like a snail, go and stop. Just a few miles and the battery went low, and the screen displayed low battery warning. I had to push the lever to P to force the ICE to charge the battery or keep it at D and slightly step on brake to cheat the engine we're going so that it would charge the battery. I'm not sure if this is the design of the 400h or I have a depleted battery?
I have just got a 2006 RX-400h, this is my first hybrid car. The other day I had a heavy traffic that the car crawled like a snail, go and stop. Just a few miles and the battery went low, and the screen displayed low battery warning. I had to push the lever to P to force the ICE to charge the battery or keep it at D and slightly step on brake to cheat the engine we're going so that it would charge the battery. I'm not sure if this is the design of the 400h or I have a depleted battery?
#23
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By searching the web, I learned that there are 3 types of hybrid, 1) Full hybrid which the ICE and hybrid motor(s) work independently. 2) Parallel hybrid which the hybrid motor lies between ICE and transfer case. The hybrid motor works as an auxiliary power to the ICE. 3) Series hybrid where the ICE acts as a generator to supply power to the electric motor(s). I think the last type is also called "extended range EV". The Prius is a parallel hybrid while RX400h is a full hybrid which allow vehicle to run in pure electric mode though drivers cannot intervene it. If my vehicle was a Prius, I wouldn't had asked that question. However, my RX400h show error message "Check VSC System/Check Hybrid System" last evening, and because it is still under the one-month warranty, I took it back to the dealer and have it checked. The mechanic said that bank-1 hybrid battery is at fault and promise to change it. I will take the vehicle back tomorrow and see what it would look like. (just a note, a used battery costs $30 to replace)
#24
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By searching the web, I learned that there are 3 types of hybrid, 1) Full hybrid which the ICE and hybrid motor(s) work independently. 2) Parallel hybrid which the hybrid motor lies between ICE and transfer case. The hybrid motor works as an auxiliary power to the ICE. 3) Series hybrid where the ICE acts as a generator to supply power to the electric motor(s). I think the last type is also called "extended range EV". The Prius is a parallel hybrid while RX400h is a full hybrid which allow vehicle to run in pure electric mode though drivers cannot intervene it. If my vehicle was a Prius, I wouldn't had asked that question. However, my RX400h show error message "Check VSC System/Check Hybrid System" last evening, and because it is still under the one-month warranty, I took it back to the dealer and have it checked. The mechanic said that bank-1 hybrid battery is at fault and promise to change it. I will take the vehicle back tomorrow and see what it would look like. (just a note, a used battery costs $30 to replace)
#25
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I got my car from service this afternoon. With 4 pcs of battery changed, I drove the first 4 miles and read the MPG from the car's computer, it said 27.5 MPG. This result is average, right?
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