Is it possible to take a bunch of short slow trips in EV only mode, like maybe running the kid to school twice a day 25mph maybe 12miles round trip, to get those high tank ranges? Is there an "perfect conditions" where this could happen?

 

I always seem to get nervous about refueling at about 375 miles. I get 22~26 on the expressway/traveling loaded; and 28ish around town.

 

Hey guys,
I think I might get some help here:
I just bought a 2015 RX450H with 100K kilometers. Its a bit on a high side for mileage but the price was good.
I have questions, is it normal that when in traffic the engine charges the battery quite often and the overall fuel consumption skyrockets ?
I was in bumper to bumper traffic and was watching my average consumption go from 8.7L/100km to 10.5L/100km and the "after full" go to 13.5.
It went down afterwards to 11.5

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Best,

 

As a member of another unrelated forum, I saw a couple people post they were getting 30+ mpg out of a stock full size pickup truck - NO WAY. I chalk those up to the fake news enthusiast. It’s scientificly impossible, so I just ignore these attention seekers. If you get mid to high 20s out of this SUV, it’s working properly. Some folks may be able to hit 30 or a little better, but it’s not common.

 

I have no idea what that translates to in the US.

 

Here is a revised version
Hey guys,

I think I might get some help here:
I just bought a 2015 RX450H with 60K miles. Its a bit on a high side for mileage but the price was good.
I have questions, is it normal that when in traffic the engine charges the battery quite often and the overall fuel consumption skyrockets ?
I was in bumper to bumper traffic and was watching my average consumption go from 27mpg to 22mpg and the "after full" go to 17mpg.
It went down afterwards to 20mpg

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Best,

 

Here we go, for the the third tank in a row I am averaging 14 km/l (33 MPG).
Key factors to achieve this result:
1) break in completed (86000 miles)
2) no use of A/C except when *really* needed (the moonroof helps a lot)
2) no short trips (i.e. <1,5 miles) - walking is healty!
3) low resistance tyres (Continental e-Contact 18")
4) high octane fuel
5) mild temperatures (20-25 C)

 

It sounds to me like your average display was recently reset for the numbers to move up and down so much. If so, that would be normal. Once you've accumulated some distance, the average numbers move with less vigor when going from bad to good mileage scenarios. It's similar to the "after fueling" display shortly after you've filled the tank. Not sure if the 2015 display is still similar to mine, but on the consumption display you can see the date of the last reset.

And bumper to bumper traffic can yield terrible or excellent results, depending on many things. If your ECO is not on and your AC or heater is on and the weather sucks one way or the other, the engine will run quite a bit. If ECO, not so much. Also depends if you can manage to stay engine off or not. Engine running in crawling traffic is always a ticket to poor results, hybrid or not.

 

Mrs. MellonC has been driving the car for about a month now. The full tank average is now down to 22.1 mpg. Up and down hilly areas and all pretty much local driving with less than 4 miles......

 

If your 12v battery is on its last leg change it out and your MPG will improve.

 

That’s interesting. How does a needy 12V battery affect fuel economy? Isn’t the 12 Volt battery’s only contribution to the system merely powering the computer and lighting and accessories only when the engine is not running?

 

Theory says
(14.2 - 12.4)volts * 2amps = 4 watts to charge the 12v battery [some estimating is there but the number is not too off]
Pratically:
You would save much more by turning off lights and not pressing brakes.

Salim

 

How does Mrs. Mellon's gas mileage compare in the hybrid to that which she saw from her most recent car (assuming her routes and technique are similar)?

 

I'm convinced that the A/C is what drops my mileage. During the summer I was getting 27-28 mpg around town. Since the weather has moderated the amount of cooling needed has dropped and now I am getting around 30mpg. Noting else has changed except the outdoor temp.

 

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hotweather.shtml