ECO Mode ON/OFF experiment (with data) - Highway driving

[ramori]

What value does driving in ECO mode actually provide? Sometimes I forget to turn ECO mode on, and I wonder how much MPG I lost during the drive.

Any experiment to compare ECO on/off must maintain minimal variation in all the other driving conditions, which isn't easy to do.

Last week I drove between Detroit and Montreal, along the 401 through Canada. 10 hours. The highway is practically straight and flat the whole way. Point east and drive. Traffic is really bad when I hit Toronto, but very light for hundreds of miles (or kilometers) before and after Toronto.

So I took data for a 150-mile segment that was extremely straight and flat. 50 miles with no ECO, then 50 miles with ECO, then 50 miles with no ECO. I had my adaptive cruise set to 75 mph, and avoided lane changes unless I absolutely had to. A/C was on, fan set at speed 2. With only three 50 mile segments, my data set is limited. I'll make this drive again in a few weeks, and I plan to take data for a much longer segment, and then run a paired t-test to see if ECO makes a statistical difference.

My preliminary data is below. With only (3) 50-mile segments, and attempting to keep all conditions as consistent as I could, the best MPG was with ECO OFF. However, that was also the segment with the least traffic (low adaptive braking) and no rain.

This very small data set says that there is no difference between ECO on and off: On=34.4mpg vs Off=34.4mpg (average) . But the data set is too small to make this claim with confidence! I'll repeat this experiment next week on the same drive for a much longer distance and report back.

Edit: I forgot to say I have the 2.5L Hybrid with AWD

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[budpalumbo]

I wouldn't expect any difference @cruising. The mode changes are going to be at throttle reaction and shifting points. On the freeway you've already gone past a point where eco should make a difference.

 

[ramori]

I agree, my hypothesis is that the ECO mode offers little to no value at highway speeds. Just having a little fun with data collection.
Also, that drive is EXTREMELY boring, so I need something to occupy my brain besides music, podcasts, or recorded books . I make that R/T drive every two months.

 

[AfterTheCalm]

My non scientific take, in eco mode on a hybrid, acceleration is reduced and regen braking is aggressive. Actual driving is the same.

 

[MavStangVa]

I have tried ECO in my EB on long interstate drives. It does nothing because I am cruising in top gear anyway. I have no experience with the Mavbrid but with Mavboost it is great in gridlock traffic because of the slow accelerator response and change in shift points. Otherwise it is useless in my opinion, yours may differ. Also not sure how ECO changes the behavior of the eCVT. Or does it just change the regen and hvb usage?

 

[lavaspill]

I feel eco mode on a ecoboost engine is more harmful than helpful. I’m sure it works the wastegate and transmission way harder. Dumping boost and extra gear hunting.

 

[MavStangVa]

I feel eco mode on a ecoboost engine is more harmful than helpful. I’m sure it works the wastegate and transmission way harder. Dumping boost and extra gear hunting.

You feel but do you have evidence? Have you tried it for more than 1 or 2 minutes?

 

[ikcelaks]

It's amazing how badly you get punished for driving 75mph instead of 65mph.

 

[AfterTheCalm]

It's amazing how badly you get punished for driving 75mph instead of 65mph.

Last time I did a 4 hour straight highway drive at 75mph, I got about 37mpg, it’s less than my 50mpg in town driving, but I’m not mad at 37 either

 

[lavaspill]

Sure and I watch the gears hop around in stop and go traffic on my car scanner app. Normal holds the gears longer so it doesn’t hunt as much.

You feel but do you have evidence? Have you tried it for more than 1 or 2 minutes?

 

[Ecorydr]

I also feel little to no difference in MPG using either NORMAL or ECO mode.

However have noticed that, like our Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, MPG goes down with cruise control usage - mainly due to the hybrid engine trying to keep up/slow down with the set speed at all times without being able to anticipate upcomming hills or road conditions that may require some (cheaper) beneficial pre-accelerated speed gain before the climb on flat or down hill runs leading upto them. Truckers and RVers do the same thing to keep hill climb speeds more consistant with current speed limit.

 

[MavStangVa]

Sure and I watch the gears hop around in stop and go traffic on my car scanner app. Normal holds the gears longer so it doesn’t hunt as much.

thanks for the info. But that is exactly how eco is described in the manual. It shifts up or down sooner than normal. I only use ECO in bumper to bumper stop and go where 2nd is likely to be as high a gear as it will get. And the truck will not get over 10 mph. Normal scenarios I use, well, normal . The braking effect of eco in gridlock works for me.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I also feel little to no difference in MPG using either NORMAL or ECO mode.

However have noticed that, like our Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, MPG goes down with cruise control usage - mainly due to the hybrid engine trying to keep up/slow down with the set speed at all times without being able to anticipate upcomming hills or road conditions that may require some (cheaper) beneficial pre-accelerated speed gain before the climb on flat or down hill runs leading upto them. Truckers and RVers do the same thing to keep hill climb speeds more consistant with current speed limit.

Out here in Utah, Nevada when driving the terrain I usually use slippery mode. I don't want a lot of regenerative braking going down hill so I can build some speed for the next Hill.

Here's the mileage I got freeway driving. Using slippery mode, when I came back from San Diego to Las Vegas on the 28th of June.

Even if it's adjusted down to 38 MPG it's still damn good for 336 miles.

 

[lavaspill]

Correct like I originally said I feel it’s harder on your transmission to do all the extra shifts. If rather pay a few dollars more for gas than a new transmission.

Here is a similar drive leaving work same time and similar traffic. One normal one eco. One has a lot more shifting.

Not exactly perfect apples to apples but the best I can do with traffic patterns.

 

[lavaspill]

Boost patterns are similar, much more jumping around which means your wastegate actuator is working harder as well.

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