Why is winter *highway* mpg so low?

[HeyBales]

I’ve realized something. There’s a reason why I’ve been getting slightly lower average mpg than everyone else around here. Almost all of my driving is either very short (8 minutes to work) or very long (4 hour drive on tollway once a week at 85mph). Both of these fall outside the range of what gives optimal mpg. Too bad. I’m probably the person who benefits least from hybrid motor. I just didn’t know how the technology worked and just assumed it improved gas mileage equally across the board.

It is indeed the speed.
Yes, a rural user where 1 hr straight on/off highway usage - not a prime user of hybrid.
Now - a PHEV where the range works - probably very benefited, especially if free charging on either side of drive. (that would probably work on your 4 hr drive)

Is your short 8 min drive almost total stop & go where ICE is on for acceleration, and braking is about the only time it's off along with waiting at light?
Ya - then you have a glorified auto-start/stop ICE system, meaning no lag time on accel for ICE to turn back on at least, like an ICE only vehicle has. Some of my driving when caught in traffic is nothing but that.

It's probably a lot easier when looking at an EV - if the range doesn't get you where you need to go - then wrong option.

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[am_fm_radio]

Last week I did Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC (1250 miles each way).

I also noticed that my calculated mileage was 27-29 but the dash board was saying 33mpg the one time I looked.

The "real" mpg does not agree with the sticker highway MPG.. and some of my return mileage was done at 40mph through a West Virginia snow storm.. So the Sticker is wrong too.. as we are all seeing.. Except in storms, I use cruise +0, 1 or 2 mph, on highways especially with out of state plates..

Also while in Ohio I hit temperatures to minus 5.. (bank sign by the hotel) my dash was displaying temps to ZERO.. I never saw any minus 5.. Looking at the dash- it looks like outside temp is only 2 digits and no negative numbers.. Wonder about when temps get over 99.. I've only had my truck 4 months, so ---hello Texas- Arizona summer owners. Does the truck read temps over 99 degrees??

Larry
2024 Maverick hybrid Cowboy edition..

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Last week I did Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC (1250 miles each way).

I also noticed that my calculated mileage was 27-29 but the dash board was saying 33mpg the one time I looked.

The "real" mpg does not agree with the sticker highway MPG.. and some of my return mileage was done at 40mph through a West Virginia snow storm.. So the Sticker is wrong too.. as we are all seeing.. Except in storms, I use cruise +0, 1 or 2 mph, on highways especially with out of state plates..

Also while in Ohio I hit temperatures to minus 5.. (bank sign by the hotel) my dash was displaying temps to ZERO.. I never saw any minus 5.. Looking at the dash- it looks like outside temp is only 2 digits and no negative numbers.. Wonder about when temps get over 99.. I've only had my truck 4 months, so ---hello Texas- Arizona summer owners. Does the truck read temps over 99 degrees??

Larry
2024 Maverick hybrid Cowboy edition..

Over 99°F = YES. I have seen 109° several times and think I remember 112°F. I will cut speed to 65-70 mph at 105°F just because, no firm reason....

 

[Waterick]

I’ve realized something. There’s a reason why I’ve been getting slightly lower average mpg than everyone else around here. Almost all of my driving is either very short (8 minutes to work) or very long (4 hour drive on tollway once a week at 85mph). Both of these fall outside the range of what gives optimal mpg. Too bad. I’m probably the person who benefits least from hybrid motor. I just didn’t know how the technology worked and just assumed it improved gas mileage equally across the board.

I would say those conditions won't yield ideal mileage in any pure ICE equipped vehicle either. I think a hybrid is still the best you could do here as the ICE will not be fully warmed up in eight minutes in any vehicle, nor is 85 MPH going to get good mileage in any ICE vehicle or acceptable range in an EV.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I’ve realized something. There’s a reason why I’ve been getting slightly lower average mpg than everyone else around here. Almost all of my driving is either very short (8 minutes to work) or very long (4 hour drive on tollway once a week at 85mph). Both of these fall outside the range of what gives optimal mpg. Too bad. I’m probably the person who benefits least from hybrid motor. I just didn’t know how the technology worked and just assumed it improved gas mileage equally across the board.

On the highway; the EcoBoost and the Battery Boost will get remarkably similar MPG.

Same shape vehicle.
Almost same weight vehicle.
Almost same size engine in vehicles.

Very little "regeneration" or recapture of energy to use later in the hybrid while moving at constant speeds.

However, the Hybrid will use one-half the gasoline of the EB during stop n go driving.

 

[Prickly Pear]

Speed kills (MPG)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(physics)#Power

 

[The Real Maverick]

The "real" mpg does not agree with the sticker highway MPG.. and some of my return mileage was done at 40mph through a West Virginia snow storm.. So the Sticker is wrong too.. as we are all seeing.

Larry
2024 Maverick hybrid Cowboy edition..

It's a tale as old as time....

People not understanding what the window sticker is saying.

The window sticker is only saying under precise laboratory conditions, the truck will go this many miles on a gallon of gas.

The sticker NEVER STATES the MPG YOUR TRUCK will get with you driving it in your conditions.

No. Not everyone is seeing lower numbers. Some (me) see HIGHER numbers.

Example: 80 miles of highway driving at 55 mph yields me 44 miles per gallon.

But the on screen computer calculations are consistently optimistic by 5% across nearly all drivers, ecoboost and hybrids.

You can calibrate the computer by putting your dash into engineering test mode. I did and set mine to 950/1000 or 95%. My 44 MPG is accurate to real life. 44 MPG is 95% of what the stock setting was. Or 5% lower if you will.

 

[npaladin2000]

On the highway; the EcoBoost and the Battery Boost will get remarkably similar MPG.

Same shape vehicle.
Almost same weight vehicle.
Almost same size engine in vehicles.

Very little "regeneration" or recapture of energy to use later in the hybrid while moving at constant speeds.

However, the Hybrid will use one-half the gasoline of the EB during stop n go driving.

There are ways you can drive on the highway to improve MPG. What people call "hypermiling," when you pulse and then coast, etc etc. Lets the battery charge more so you can use the electric motor more...but it really annoys any drivers behind you.

 

[HeyBales]

There are ways you can drive on the highway to improve MPG. What people call "hypermiling," when you pulse and then coast, etc etc. Lets the battery charge more so you can use the electric motor more...but it really annoys any drivers behind you.

Except if your speed is over abouts 63 - it doesn't matter.
Motor isn't going to be used anyway.
And HVB probably fully charged when you pull off a drive like that - besides that final braking on the exit.
But if your location really has highway speeds down around 60 - indeed the way to go.

But traditional methods to increase MPG, also annoying/unsafe or getcha a ticket - slowing down up inclines, speeding down declines.

 

[The Real Maverick]

There are ways you can drive on the highway to improve MPG. What people call "hypermiling," when you pulse and then coast, etc etc. Lets the battery charge more so you can use the electric motor more...but it really annoys any drivers behind you.

I'm well aware. And well capable.

And 55 mph "highway" is a completely different scenario than 75 mph "highway". Most will do the latter, where it won't matter which powertrain you have.

 

[CD_SM]

On the highway??????

I get 40+ highway also. Usually run a very steady speed at speed limit +2 or 3 mph so 68-72 mph. Minimal/no HVAC most of the time.
To the OP, using the heater seems to affect mileage a lot, based both on my experience (limited here in SoCal LOL) and on previous threads I have seen here. IIUC there is resistance heating as well as using engine heat. The truck may also actively heat the battery I think.

 

[CD_SM]

On highway the engine runs 100% of the time, which is why I wrote *highway* in my title. Should be zero factor.




Zero factor on highway going 70-75 on flat terrain, you don't use the battery, you use the ICE for sustained highway driving.


Only initially on startup not hours into the trip, I drove 2:40. Should only have been a factor in the first 5-10 minutes.



No, A/C is off and humidity is very low right now, so should not be running much. I use Auto on low fan setting set to 72°. I did try turning heat off but that did not appreciably change the mpg.

No. It does us the electric and HVB even at highway speeds when the ICE is running. It's not an either/or.

 

[CD_SM]

Last week I did Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC (1250 miles each way).

I also noticed that my calculated mileage was 27-29 but the dash board was saying 33mpg the one time I looked.

The "real" mpg does not agree with the sticker highway MPG.. and some of my return mileage was done at 40mph through a West Virginia snow storm.. So the Sticker is wrong too.. as we are all seeing.. Except in storms, I use cruise +0, 1 or 2 mph, on highways especially with out of state plates..

Also while in Ohio I hit temperatures to minus 5.. (bank sign by the hotel) my dash was displaying temps to ZERO.. I never saw any minus 5.. Looking at the dash- it looks like outside temp is only 2 digits and no negative numbers.. Wonder about when temps get over 99.. I've only had my truck 4 months, so ---hello Texas- Arizona summer owners. Does the truck read temps over 99 degrees??

Larry
2024 Maverick hybrid Cowboy edition..

You can adjust the calculation of mpg in the dash, using the "Engineering mode". I adjusted mine a while ago, and when I filled up yesterday my dash said 38.8 and my calculated mpg was 38.78.
Search MTG for Engineering Mode to find the directions. I took me maybe 5 minutes to do

 

[npaladin2000]

I'm well aware. And well capable.

And 55 mph "highway" is a completely different scenario than 75 mph "highway". Most will do the latter, where it won't matter which powertrain you have.

I see Priuses blowing past me doing 85-90. They're idiots. I tend to do 65-70 and it keeps me right around what the EPA says. If I'm willing to slow down (which sometimes I am if the traffic is slower) it'll go up. A lot of it is situational.

 

[MavMeister25]

The temperature in my area went above 60 degrees for the first time since I bought by Maverick. I’m noticing the engine is running in electric mode a LOT more, even in first few minutes.

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