Are electric miles free?

[Rambo]

I am new to my hybrid and do not fully understand what the electric miles mean that show up after every trip. Is the gas engine running any time during the time the dash says electric? I know when I am driving slow when the engine is not on or off but at higher speeds not sure.My trips are short 15 miles into and around town and I show I am on electric half time. My mileage shows I am averaging 39. - 42 mpg. My question is when I fill up after 150 miles showing that 75 miles were electric that should mean that the gas engine was only on for 75 miles. Would that mean the during that 150 miles the engine burned 3.75 gal averaging 40 mph overall but the gas engine was only on for 75 miles using that3.75 gal? Would that mean when gas engine came on and off to drive the car and charge battery it was using a gallon every 20 miles?

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[MakinDoForNow]

I am new to my hybrid and do not fully understand what the electric miles mean that show up after every trip. Is the gas engine running any time during the time the dash says electric? I know when I am driving slow when the engine is not on or off but at higher speeds not sure.My trips are short 15 miles into and around town and I show I am on electric half time. My mileage shows I am averaging 39. - 42 mpg. My question is when I fill up after 150 miles showing that 75 miles were electric that should mean that the gas engine was only on for 75 miles. Would that mean the during that 150 miles the engine burned 3.75 gal averaging 40 mph overall but the gas engine was only on for 75 miles using that3.75 gal? Would that mean when gas engine came on and off to drive the car and charge battery it was using a gallon every 20 miles?

Maybe but during the time it was running it would have to have charged the battery by burning more gas. Not all electricity in battery is from regenerative braking and coasting. Also any electricity used by truck such as air conditioning, lights, all computers, etc. At one point came from the gas consumption.

 

[Dbarr]

In my opinion, yes. Currently, my hybrid has recorded 951 Electric miles on 2520 miles driven, or approx 37%. My running MPG is 39.6... If I subtract out the 37% electric miles, I would be averaging 25mpg without hybrid. That is similar to the EPA ecoboost mpg, plus, the ecoboost cost more to buy upfront.

 

[Bobinmi]

Pretty much...I consider them "free" miles...

 

[Timothyd]

I am new to my hybrid and do not fully understand what the electric miles mean that show up after every trip. Is the gas engine running any time during the time the dash says electric? I know when I am driving slow when the engine is not on or off but at higher speeds not sure.My trips are short 15 miles into and around town and I show I am on electric half time. My mileage shows I am averaging 39. - 42 mpg. My question is when I fill up after 150 miles showing that 75 miles were electric that should mean that the gas engine was only on for 75 miles. Would that mean the during that 150 miles the engine burned 3.75 gal averaging 40 mph overall but the gas engine was only on for 75 miles using that3.75 gal? Would that mean when gas engine came on and off to drive the car and charge battery it was using a gallon every 20 miles?

Nothing is free. But the whole reasoning behind the hybrid is that sometimes you get back lost energy (regenerative) from slowing down/breaking. If you don't get enough from that you have generate it from the ICE.
BTW, there's a few good YouTubes out there that give explanations and visual demos of the Maverick hybrid system. Check them out.

 

[Rambo]

Thanks for information. I guess I was really woneeding if the gas engine was totally off when it says electic. I am not complaint about great gas mileage and I know on the highway the electric won’t be on much. I use electric miles to help me get better mpg average in city driving and don’t worry about total electric miles since I know mpg in town will be 40-42

 

[Maverickman74]

Only if you pay full price for the gas miles, like a sucker.

 

[Edge Haley]

Thanks for information. I guess I was really woneeding if the gas engine was totally off when it says electic. I am not complaint about great gas mileage and I know on the highway the electric won’t be on much. I use electric miles to help me get better mpg average in city driving and don’t worry about total electric miles since I know mpg in town will be 40-42

My limited understanding is that the Hybrid 2.5L engine stops feeding gas to the engine when you are "coasting", "stopped" at a red light or stop sign. When coasting the gas engine drive shaft is still spinning without gasoline to regenerate electricity to the battery. I keep the Hybrid Coach display on all the time to see when it is in ALL electric or Hybrid motion. My understanding is also that Hybrid drive train and Electric both drive the engine at the same time. My understand is that the electric motors simply contribute to drive the wheels mostly at lower speeds, and the ICE continually regenerates the elecity to the battery.

Someone else I'm sure will correct the above.

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