Hypermiling ~50 MPG and over 600 miles per tank on Eco Mode

[MaverickShark]

Hi Everyone,

Since I got my XLT Hybrid in January the tank has only been topped off 3 times. Once by the dealer and twice by me. I am currently at 1400 miles and still have just over half a tank.

I live in San Jose, CA so I have a mix of freeway and city driving. I commute to work early (5:30 AM) so there is little traffic. My commute home has traffic on the way home. Before my Maverick I would drive 5-10 mph over the posted speed limit. Since then I have been driving at the posted limit (what a grandpa right?) unless traffic is heavier and doing so is causing a line to form behind me.

To start off I have been driving Eco Mode most of time. There were a few times I forgot to switch modes, and a couple where I needed to get to the other side of town ASAP and left it in normal mode. When I first learned about the EV coach I noticed that the EV mode turns off if you are accelerating over 15-20% power. Since then from a complete stop I would accelerate using 10-15% power until reaching the posted speed limit. If the ICE is engaged at the posted speed limit, I would set the cruise control to the posted speed and accelerate 5-8 mph over it. As the speed drops to the set cruise speed most of the time it will switch to EV. While I knew this would happen often on residential and arterial streets, I was surprised to see that the EV would engage around 65mph too. Since there is no EV battery gauge I don't know it switches back to ICE due to the battery being low, or due to needing more power. This makes me wonder if the MPG could reach 60 if the battery pack was larger. I do not have the adaptive cruise control so I am using the wheel controls often.

After getting a feel of the regenerative braking I have been coasting to a stop more than I did in a ICE. When I over under estimate the coasting distance I tap the throttle since it is usually on EV mode.

My morning commute to work is 16.9 miles. On average 38-42% of that distance cover by the electric motor. The commute home uses EV about 45-50% of the distance due to more freeway traffic.

While ~50 MPG is possible I don't think most people would like to accelerate so slowly. I think the average driver would get would get ~40 MPG using the EV coach and pulsing the throttle to keep it from switching to the ICE unless they are trying to reach speeds over 35 MPH. I guess I am hypermiling but I know those who do would also go under the speed limit often. I don't think I will be driving any slower due to increasing the chance of getting rear-ended. I was hoping that I would get ~40 MPG so I am ecstatic that I am getting more than that. As far as the computer calculation vs running the numbers from the pump the Maverick has not been to far off. It is has only been off by a mile or two over, but I have only filled the tank twice and I still think that the engine still needs some more break in time.

The only concern I have is that hypermiling is that doing so will wear out the high voltage battery faster.

So what numbers are you guys getting?

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[Dun4791]

I haaaaaaate being behind people who hypermile away from lights. I like to fly around them and cut them off.

How much towing and hauling did you do?

 

[MaverickShark]

I haaaaaaate being behind people who hypermile away from lights. I like to fly around them and cut them off.

How much towing and hauling did you do?

Don't tow anything. Light hauling random stuff on the weekends. Mostly bikes and stuff from hardware store. Will test the bed soon with bags of concrete or paverstones. I had the spayed aftermarket.

 

[Clarkdonbran]

Nice! Way better than my 42 mpg. Although, every street where I live has the speed limit of Lawrence Expressway. Get a Ciceros pizza!

 

[MaverickShark]

[Update]

After finishing the last half of the tank from my 1st post the gauge estimated that my MPG was approx 51 mpg, which it was not. After calculating at the pump it was 47.6.

So after filling up 4 times my combined average is 46 MPG. Will have to update in the summer to see if in the warmer months I can reach closer to 50.

 

[Mymaverick2021]

[Update]

After finishing the last half of the tank from my 1st post the gauge estimated that my MPG was approx 51 mpg, which it was not. After calculating at the pump it was 47.6.

So after filling up 4 times my combined average is 46 MPG. Will have to update in the summer to see if in the warmer months I can reach closer to 50.

46 MPG ain't nothing to sneeze at

 

[New2AZ]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this kind of MPGs going forward. Only have about 60 miles on my Mav at this point but seeing 40+ after each trip (mostly highway).

 

[Cubican]

I have about 8k on my truck I use it for work and I’m averaging 44 mpg and that’s 90% city expressway and 10% city always drive on eco here’s last wheek tank full run 13.5 gal

 

[Veer]

So far overall avg is 39 MPG for 1st 500 miles. I got as low as 32 mpg on some trips and high as 45 MPG on others. Its been cold here in NJ last month, so hopefully it improves. Always in normal mode. The powertrain when engine is on at slower speeds sounds like my manual corolla when I drive in higher gear for a given speed, the engine doesn't feel smooth. The engine feels like it has low end torque but seems like it uses higher gear to max the mpg. My wife's prius doesn't feel like that, it is weaker but much smoother at any speed, there is no engine shutter/vibrations. I have driven the fusion hybrid at work, it is smoother then this truck, maybe has more insulation/isolation.

 

[BingoDingo]

So far overall avg is 39 MPG for 1st 500 miles. I got as low as 32 mpg on some trips and high as 45 MPG on others. Its been cold here in NJ last month, so hopefully it improves. Always in normal mode. The powertrain when engine is on at slower speeds sounds like my manual corolla when I drive in higher gear for a given speed, the engine doesn't feel smooth. The engine feels like it has low end torque but seems like it uses higher gear to max the mpg. My wife's prius doesn't feel like that, it is weaker but much smoother at any speed, there is no engine shutter/vibrations. I have driven the fusion hybrid at work, it is smoother then this truck, maybe has more insulation/isolation.

Do you mean the engine is revving at a higher RPM than you notice on the Prius or Fusion?

 

[Veer]

Do you mean the engine is revving at a higher RPM than you notice on the Prius or Fusion?

No, it feels like lower rpm. Probably it’s like that to maximize mpg.

 

[KenC]

I haaaaaaate being behind people who hypermile away from lights. I like to fly around them and cut them off.

How much towing and hauling did you do?

 

[MaverickShark]

[Update} So my nerdiness decided to track my trip/mpg data (image below).

So far I am getting about 47 mpg. I have hit 50 mpg 3 times already. I have recently started taking a new morning commute thru the streets that adds about 8-10 minutes to my drive but gives me 60ish mpg. This morning I went 15.4 miles / 11.4 electric miles, that's 74% utilizing the battery. The dash's estimated mpg was 74.2 mpg, but I'm guessing that is overestimating.

Going to use the $ saved to get a subwoofer an place it behind the rear seat.

 

[bomberxl]

This was my last tank. 48.9 actual. All normal mode.

 

[Deejaid]

Love seeing these great mpg posts!

I’m still on my first tank and have been in normal mode and am averaging 40.4 mpg with 85 miles range left in the tank.

On my next fill up I plan to switch to eco mode and see if I can hit that magical 600 miles per tank.

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