Now at 82 Mile Range

I’ve gotten to 73 a few times. Usually after mixed hv and normal driving. In a 150 mile day I use hv for big hills and speeds over 45 so most of my EV miles are at 45mph and under. Lately it’s been low 60’s with the ac on for 6 hours a day.

 

I hit 65.6 as an estimated high, and returned home from my 61 mile round trip with 5.0 miles to go. That was in central MD, about a 300 foot change in total elevation. Morning temps were around 60 and afternoon temps around 75. I did it with no AC either way, mostly local highways, with speeds around 45 on average, a short stretch in the HOV lane on the way home averaging around 55, and about 3 miles close to work with stop lights and slower speeds. All of it in Sport mode with max regen. Absolutely delighted to be commuting with no gas used.

 

We have warm temps. Best I see is 44 estimated miles. Mine has always been lower than folks in the forums. I live on a hill (about 800ft above the valley floor) is the only thing I can think of. Back when I thought my battery was damaged, i paid my dealer for the printout of the traction battery amp hours. I have it at home but I want to say it was 53.2 instead of the ideal 55. Still, don't think my car is broken and works fine, but I'll never see high estimated ev range. Just not going to happen in my case.

And yes, I know and do all the good things (climate control is off, and not needed this time of year) I run in econ mode, average about 20-40 mph, no freeway driving, no jack-rabbit starts etc. Anyway, just not happening in my car (and really never did). One of the best readings I've seen in 47 which happened right after I bought the car with hot summer temps. I think I saw 48 once and maybe 51 once in the summer. But that was last year. I'll see if I get anything better this summer. It isn't hot here (western Oregon) yet, but nice spring weather so far.

PS: I post this for the potential benefit of others who may also see low estimated EV range. i.e. you're not alone. BTW, if the person with 70+ wants to swap cars with me, I'd like that.

 

David- I'll give that a try. The 4 chevron regen and hold with Sport mode may improve things. I like driving the car in that mode anyway.

 

So, after driving for the first four months in EV mode, I tried Sport mode once and I was hooked. I just LOVED the feeling of instant torque when I touched the accelerator. Then, after discussions on this forum, where people talked about ECON mode and the benefit of slowly ramping up speed, I switched back to EV. Two days ago, I tried Sport again and was hooked again.

The issue though is that I'm wondering whether the loss of range in Sport mode compared to EV mode is overblown. In fact, is it even possible (heresy!) to suggest that I may get a slightly better range in Sport mode? Or, am I violating the basic laws of physics with this silly statement? I'm a business guy and not a science guy, so I never feel confident in anything I say about things like that.

 

The two unique advantages of ECON mode are the accelerator-pedal detent and the moderation of the climate control system. If you don't use the climate control system and you can control your ankle to prevent ICE activation, SPORT Mode can be as economical as ECON Mode. The unique regen-retention feature of SPORT Mode is an advantage over ECON Mode. However, I keep warning people that SPORT Mode is the gateway mode to smoking and drinking but nobody believes me.

 

Keeping regen locked in in sport mode may simply be training the driver to keep the accelerator pedal slightly depressed to avoid slowing down unnecessarily- something you can learn to do in econ as well if you prefer. I've had well into the 70s pure EV doing this in econ and I'm sure 80s would be possible with the right conditions. Regen is great and all, but all it really does is slow you down...

 

Same here - 55-60 majority of the time - past 5 months.
Sometimes I will get 65 miles per charge......

 

Are those of you seeing the higher ranges (50+) getting those after charging a fully depleted (2 bars remaining) usable battery, or a partially depleted usable battery?

I’m curious if using only the upper part affects the range. With a longer commute, I use my whole charge daily and typically see ranges around 42ish. However, when I’m not commuting and charge a partially full battery, I see the range jump up, even when I have similar driving conditions.

 

Love seeing really high EV mileages from plug-in hybrids. I hyper-miled on my 2017 Chevy Volt one summer night on backcountry roads averaging 20-40 mph speeds and some inclines. This was not an ordinary trip; I just wanted to test the limits of the Volt and see how many electric miles I could eke out of it, though thankfully the gas engine doesn't kick on until the battery is "empty" (or I turn on "hold" mode which forces the gas engine on, good for highway driving and saving the electric for city driving when I reach my destination), which is one reason I stuck with the Volt over the Clarity.

Under "normal, everyday driving", I usually average more around 68 miles of electric in summer, and 40 miles in winter with heater use and winter tires.

 

Well, that certainly explains the extreme range you're getting. Definitely an outlier data point.

​

 

Good point. The best way to maximize mileage is by coasting as often as possible. Regen is a lot better than friction brakes but coasting and letting the air or a hill slow you is the best. I try to do that whenever there’s nobody behind me.

 

Yes, I think it is always more efficient to coast if safe than to use regen and incur the charging/discharging losses from using the battery. This may cause more fluctuation in speed for your trip, but should yield maximum mpg. It is interesting that on the Volt that I can tell the difference in mpg on a highway trip if I forget and leave the shifter in L (maximum regen) other than D (low regen). With the cruise set, the speed tolerance is tighter in L and and has more freedom in D (the car allows more coast in D - low regen). Any highway trip with any hills has better mpg with lower regen setting.

 

Our temps have been in the 80's and I'm driving with sport mode, max regen. I've been careful to do slow start, and try gently press accelerator to stay in the charging zone when possible. I leave climate control off, and use windows. My commute is all flat about 5 miles each way, but I live on an 800ft hill (I mean 800 ft above the valley floor). Best I've seen thus far is 44 estimated EV miles. I've gotten pretty extreme with not using climate control, slow gradual starts and stops, using paddles to regen when down hill. My driving is mostly daytime so I'm not even using the headlights.

So I'm delighted to see others with high EV range (or estimate range) but have no idea how one does that. I do appreciate the comments and feedback. I wonder if living on a hill is simply a major deal with the EV range, or at least estimated EV range. BTW- not expecting magic advice to fix. I'm pleased with the car.

-Dan

 

I would think the hill has an effect. Do you usually leave the house with 100% charge? Regen is very limited above 90-95% SOC (as indicated by the Honda link app).

 

That seems to be one of the drawbacks of using ACC on the Clarity, it goes overboard with regen with very little coasting, it seems to be fighting too hard to exactly maintain the set speed, or maintain an exact to the foot distance between the car in front of you. Even if I have it set to maximum distance which gives you more breathing room, it still fights to maintain that exact distance. In most of these situations coasting would be adequate, but instead it uses regen almost exclusively.

I really prefer driving with ACC whenever possible, not only for convenience but I like the safety aspect, I find that it often notices before I do a slight reduction in speed in the car ahead of me, or cases where the car in front of me slows down during a one to two second period when I am looking at the Nav or radio. Those one to two seconds make a difference and I like that ACC starts slowing down immediately, I just wish it wasn't so aggressive with regen when it does so. I realize that with ACC turned off there is still CMBS, but that only activates when a collision is likely, whereas ACC is more proactive in maintaining a safe distance.

 

I read recently that it’s more fuel efficient to leave the windows up and use A/C as needed. Allegedly the aerodynamic drag from the open windows is more detrimental than the power needed to run the A/C. Maybe try that and see if it makes a difference.

Best I’m seeing is low 50’s, other than that one 60+ mile aberration after my 9 full throttle 0-60 runs. But we have lots of rolling and steeper hills, so that may be part of it I think.