Hybrid technology is becoming more common nowadays. People are demanding that automakers build more fuel-efficient vehicles because of the environmental factors and the rising cost of fossil fuels. For this reason, a growing number of car models are now featuring this hybrid technology in it.
Most hybrid vehicles will contain an internal combustion engine and electric motor to achieve this desire. The electric motor and lithium-ion battery will generally keep the car moving on slower roads, such as in-town and backroads.
The internal combustion engine only takes over when the battery power is low or when you’re driving on faster roads. As a result, carbon emissions are decreased.
Top 5 Driving Tips for Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars can be a real asset to the environment and to you financially. But you need to understand how to drive them properly or else you won’t be able to benefit from them as much as you could. Below are the top 5 driving tips for hybrid cars to help you get started.
1) Brake More Often
Hybrid vehicles have a special piece of technology in them called regenerative braking. This technology allows the battery to receive a small recharge each time you step on the brake pedal. It won’t recharge it completely, of course, but it will add a little more power back to the battery.
Therefore, if you spend more time in stop-and-go traffic, you should be able to drive mostly using your electrical power without having to tap into your gasoline power at all. If you can ride your brake a lot, then do that to maximize the recharging potential of this technology.
2) Do Not Use Accessories
Modern cars feature too many extra accessories which draw on the power of the battery. You should avoid using the radio, USB charger, CD player, air conditioner, and heater.
If you need fresh air, then roll down the windows to get it. By doing this, you will utilize all the hybrid battery power for the electric motor that helps move the car. Then you can possibly get more driving time on electrical power only rather than gasoline power.
3) Drive Slower
The one limitation on most hybrid vehicles is that you cannot drive over 60 miles per hour without consuming the resources of your gasoline engine. If you are trying to drive eco-friendly, then you need to keep your speed under 60 miles per hour. This means limiting your highway driving as much as possible.
The slower your drive, the more electrical power that will be consumed rather than gasoline power. But if you must drive on the highway at more than 60 miles per hour, at least use cruise control to lower your fuel consumption.
4) Electric-Only Mode
Some hybrid vehicles have an electric-only mode which does not consume any gasoline power whatsoever. You can normally get about 10 to 15 miles of driving time on electric-only mode. If you normally do in-town driving, then you probably drive about 10 to 15 miles round trip each time.
With a plug-in hybrid, you could just recharge your battery after each short trip that you make. Then you would never need to even use your gasoline power.
5) Cruise Control
If you want to get the most out of your hybrid vehicle’s electrical power, then utilize the cruise control feature as often as possible. Each time you step on the gas pedal, it consumes more gasoline and creates more carbon emissions.
However, if you accelerate up to your desired speed and then switch to cruise control, it will start using more electric power and less gasoline power. This doesn’t mean it will be completely electrical because that would drain the battery. But it will at least reduce the amount of fuel being used.
6) Don’t Carry Unnecessary Weight
Carrying unnecessary weight in your car can have a significant negative impact on fuel economy. This is because the heavier the car is, the more energy it takes to move it so the engine has to work harder and use more fuel in order to maintain the same speed.
In order to maximize your hybrid’s gas mileage, it is important to only carry what is necessary in your car. This includes items such as groceries, sports equipment, and other items that you need to transport. If you do need to carry heavier items, try to spread the weight evenly throughout the car.
7) Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Properly inflated tires are essential for maximizing fuel economy in a hybrid vehicle. This makes a tire pressure gauge a cheap investment. When tires are underinflated, they create more rolling resistance, which requires more fuel to maintain the same speed. This results in decreased fuel economy and increased emissions.
Additionally, underinflated tires will also decrease the performance of the vehicle. The handling will suffer and the vehicle will not respond as well as it should. This can lead to dangerous situations while driving, such as a longer braking distance or less control while cornering.
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Just bought a phev. Experimenting on the Ford Escape. I could recharge the battery on mountain hills and get about 10kms of range using the sports mode going down a mountain hill. Fuel economy on a 1400km trip was unreal. On the highway use auto ev and eco. Enough power for my needs. I find that coasting in neutral saves a lot on gas. I did that going from Terrace to Prince George and managed and impressive gas mileage. After filling up said I had 800kms range on the gas tank alone at 42 liters. I had 200kms of range left. 576kms 1.60 a liter cost in gas paid 50 dollars. 5.2 liters per 100kms and had 9kms of range on the phev when I left Terrace. Prince George to Hinton 1,37 a liter paid 33 dollars in gas 24 liters 453 kms Hinton to Edmonton 18 liters of gas and wasn’t trying to drive economically. Beat the Escapes gas mileage. Driving the speed limit of 120kms per hour. The way going to Terrace from Prince George was driving in Sports mode and that ate up the gas I had 75kms remaining.