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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid
3943 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 9:19 AM
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| Why is that the Fuel Gauge and Cruising Range move more slowly from full to half then they do from half to empty or zero? I've noticed this on several cars I have owned, both Toyota and domestics. | |
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Feb 12, 2008 11:47 am) If there is no opportunity to recover energy "stored" in the mass of the vehicle via it being in motion then the Toyota Hybrid synergy drive system has very little advantage. Energy recovery via regenerative braking occurs only during coastdown and braking periods. For mostly freeway, primarily cruising at a set speed, you would be better off with a non-hybrid vehicle.
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Replying to: wwest (Feb 12, 2008 6:59 pm) The HSD system offers the Toyota models the opportunity to use the more efficient Atkinson cycle while cruising on the highway. In addition while highway driving is normally at a constant high speed it is not uniformly an accelerating speed. There are periods of highway driving during deceleration or during lessened load on the ICE that the battery/e-motor assists the ICE and thereby saves fuel. The proof is that the Prius is more efficient on the highway than both the Corolla and the Camry.
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Feb 13, 2008 8:37 am) Yes, on the hwy the THSD will often use the electrics for BOOST for even the slightest level of acceleration. But then the battery must be recharged via the ICE and that increases the loss factor. I suspect that if a switch were provided wherein the driver could choose to live with slower "ICE only" acceleration on the hwy the hwy FE would improve dramatically. |
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Replying to: wwest (Feb 13, 2008 9:27 am) Looking at the specs of a vehicle that is offered in both non-hybrid and hybrid, the Toyota Camry, the specs say this: 2008 4 cylinder, automatic trans.: Mileage Estimates: city 21 mpg / hwy 31 mpg; 2008 Hybrid: Mileage Estimates: city 33 mpg / hwy 34 mpg; -------- This proves true, though to a lesser degree, with the Highlander as well: 2008 Highlander 3.5L v6: Mileage Estimates: 18 mpg / 24 mpg; 2008 Highlander Hybrid: Mileage Estimates: 27 mpg / 25 mpg; Granted there are ICE-only vehicles that you can purchase that get better hwy mileage than the 34mpg Camry hybrid, but then, the '08 Prius is rated at Mileage Estimates: city 48 mpg / hwy 45 mpg, and few non-hyrid cars can compete with that hwy mpg rating. That carries over for the highlander hybrid. How many SUV can compete with the hybrid mileage? On a related subject, there is definitely a fall-off on winter mileage with a hybrid, but there is mpg drop-off on a non-hybrid as well. And note that the winter mileage on a Prius, even for short trips, is still much higher than the winter mileage of a non-hybrid for short trips. I would think the same would hold true for the HH compared to other SUVs and to it's non-hybrid self, too.
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Replying to: chadx (Feb 14, 2008 6:54 am) It's been pretty clear from the get-go that the EPA estimates are aways off the mark for hybrids. I've only had the Prius on a hwy trip once, ~300 miles round trip, and I remember the MPG being pretty disappointing in comparison to city. |
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Replying to: chadx (Feb 14, 2008 6:54 am) It's been pretty clean from the get-go that the EPA estimates are aways off the mark for hybrids. I've only had the Prius on a hwy trip once, ~300 miles round trip, and I remember the MPG being pretty disappointing in comparison to city.
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Well I did test drive loops of both the reg. Highlander and the Hybrid. Did the work-home leg. Wait 20 mins then home-work and back to the dealer which is less than a mile away. Both vehicles were cold and hadn't been driven for 2 days. Temp was 34F, but that was the high for the day and it had been sub-freezing for close to 24hrs preceding the test (10F overnight). Around here, we call that Spring weather.  Results come only from the on-board computer readings which I know aren't perfectly accurate but they are all I had. Hit all the same lights as luck would have it, although I did have to go through amber for one and slow down a little early to stop at another to keep it even. Hybrid 10.6L/100km (22.1 mpg) and I forgot to set to ECON mode for the drive from work to home. Highlander Limited 16L/100km (14.6 mpg). Both were as expected well below EPA but the relative economy difference was maintained. That would mean about $800 per year gas savings at current prices for us on top of the gov't rebate and tax break. It actually makes the HY financially worthwhile in less than 5 years of use . |
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My "lifetime" MPG is for 2000 miles all at high altitude and in generally cold weather, and on hills. And the reading is about 23.3. I expect much better in summer, though I will drive it less. Unlike the Prius, the panel tells you lifetime MPG and MPG since last fillup (one can reset the lifetime to start over if one wants). Another note: The "Cruising Range" tells how many miles more one can drive. I believe when that is 0 one would still have about 1.5 gallons in the tank. My last fillup the cruising range was down to 2 miles left and the tank took 14.55 gals, when capacity is, I think, 17.2. Hmm.. maybe 16.2? I am out of town and cannot check. But it seems like one can easily drive to cruising range of 0 with no fear of running out of gas. |
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Replying to: monte8 (Jan 19, 2008 9:23 pm) The HSD is only geared for forward motion. Reverse is electric. You might check the Prius board for a further discussion.
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