Hypermiling Challenge for 2.5L Hybrid

[clavicus]

Got some crazy numbers going to work today. 48.5 MPG over 52 miles on mostly highway.

Let's see if anyone can beat that.

A few things that increase MPGs:
I used slippery mode, not eco. This makes it a lot easier to coast and avoid losing momentum to regen. Regen is great if you need to stop, but if you're not dealing with stop signs and heavy traffic, coasting is ideal. (Thanks Bushpilot for getting that idea in my head, also thanks to https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...erage-mpg-in-normal-eco-slippery-modes.13198/ for initial testing)
I also applied the brakes as softly as possible.
Also, with red lights, I tried to slow down way back to maintain momentum.
If the wind is in your favor, use it. Otherwise, staying a safe distance behind a semi truck can be a good way to reduce drag.
Also, slowing up hills and speeding down hills can be useful to a certain extent.

Also, in terms of speed, things become a bit unfortunate for speed demons. Expect to go between 50-65 on the highway. Not a terrible speed for sure, but there may be a level of sacrifice to get these numbers. The average speed for the first one was 48.5 mph.

Ive always wondered what a proper distance behind a semi looks like for benefitting from the draft.

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[phly95]

Ive always wondered what a proper distance behind a semi looks like for benefitting from the draft.

The closer, the more MPG savings, but also the more dangerous it gets. You'll have to find the balance of distance and drag reduction you feel is safe. You can also see fuel economy in realtime, so you can decide whether it's worth it at any given time.

It can actually hurt fuel economy if the wind is already going the appropriate speed and direction, since you lose the ability to pulse and glide to a certain extent.
A good measure may just be listening for the wind, with the caveat that the wind may be blowing against the side of your truck.

 

[Sykotyk]

First leg over a mile with hybrid time showing over 100mpg.

Trips like these are fairly common for commutes. Have gotten good at staying in electric mode.

Back to back trips:

This was a big trip. Lots of back roads and some freeway.

I know this is a lot, but here's the last two tanks:

Still on this tank. Didn't photo it recently. At over 600 miles again and gonna gas up tomorrow.

 

[phly95]

Got even better MPGs today. This time, I turned my radio off while listening for wind, then picked the optimal draft zone behind a larger truck that gave me more room to use less brakes and be able to pulse and glide more effectively, while also making things safer. Once I found the right spot, I turned the radio back on. I averaged about 50MPH during this trip.

 

[es7129]

I was able to get 47mpg over 3weeks/250 all city driving in Eco/Eco mode.
It was awful. Never again.

I’ll happily get my 35-37mpg and enjoy the spirited driving in Normal (truck setting) & Sport +4 (Pedal Commander).

 

[phly95]

Slippery mode has been proven to be more fuel efficient than Eco due to easier coasting, though I would say that ignoring MPGs has it's perks when it comes to speed and subjective enjoyment. But hypermiling is great for people concerned with high gas prices these days.

I do think eco is great for stop and go traffic though, since it makes varying speed and using regen easier.

 

[MtcARK]

 

[mrjspence]

Is there a way to see your overall electric miles driven? I’m only seeing it after any given trip, when key/button is switched to “off”

 

[Sykotyk]

View attachment 51499

Is there a way to see your overall electric miles driven? I’m only seeing it after any given trip, when key/button is switched to “off”

I just have my trip 2 meter set since I got it. I plan to reset it at the first oil change and will probably record it with the date and mileage.

 

[phly95]

One more note, once you get used to being more precise with the pedal, eco mode can be good for pulse and glide as well. For the glide, the sweet spot is right between charge and hybrid, and once you got enough charge, electric can be used for a powered glide.

I do wish the Maverick had a battery meter so you can tell when you can switch to electric.

 

[fbov]

Ive always wondered what a proper distance behind a semi looks like for benefitting from the draft.

Anyone have Lariat Luxury option package? The "Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go" is designed to maintain a minimum following distance when overtaking slower traffic. You select from four levels, which is kind of ideal for drafting, as you select your comfort distance. It never lets you get closer than you want to.

 

[clavicus]

Anyone have Lariat Luxury option package? The "Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go" is designed to maintain a minimum following distance when overtaking slower traffic. You select from four levels, which is kind of ideal for drafting, as you select your comfort distance. It never lets you get closer than you want to.

Yeah I love it! Close setting is about 2 car lengths or so if I recall. I usually do the middle setting.

 

[phly95]

First leg over a mile with hybrid time showing over 100mpg.

Trips like these are fairly common for commutes. Have gotten good at staying in electric mode.

Back to back trips:

This was a big trip. Lots of back roads and some freeway.

I know this is a lot, but here's the last two tanks:

Still on this tank. Didn't photo it recently. At over 600 miles again and gonna gas up tomorrow.

Nice job on the 100+MPG in your first shot. here are a few consecutive trips I took on some back roads.

As well as a new personal record for highway at 52.1 MPG. (Edit: the second leg of this route had traffic lights and slower speed limits, so it's not exactly comparable to my earlier 50.3 post, which was barely off highway)

 

[FordHybrid]

Best way to know what your mpg really is, is by filling your tank, write down the miles you have then the next time you fill your tank you write down your miles. Subtract previous miles from present miles then divide those miles by the gallons you put in the last time.
1700-1300=400 miles /9.1 gal = 43.956. Dashboard mpg is only that particular trip you made. Over the last 4 yrs I have averaged 46 mpg on our KIA Niro Hybrid. About 40/60 city/highway. In 25-30 degree weather we have gotten as low as 31 mpg on particular trips and in summer we have gotten as high as 63 mpg on a particular trip. Lowest tank fill was 39.3 mpg and the best tank fill was 49 mpg. There are lot of ways to look at mpg.

 

[phly95]

Now that I'm commuting to work on back roads, plus I finally got cruise control installed, here are some good trips I've gotten so far. I'd say the last one at 57.7 MPG is pretty representative of what I get on my average back road commute, whereas the other ones are anomalies. I'll still get around 55 MPG on some runs.

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