I don't mean selecting the EV mode, I mean EV operation at speeds below 40 mph based on road and traffic conditions. Some folks say "avoid using EV, the electro-mechanical conversion efficiency means you're wasting gas charging/discharging the battery". However, Radioman's video makes it clear there are sometimes when EV is the appropriate operation. I can certainly see where Glide is the most efficient operation but the person behind you may not agree. The car is going to see that the battery gets charged, some from the ICE and some from breaking. Why not use EV when its convenient to do so?
Yes. Doing so in an optimal way will produce optimal fuel economy. Figuring that out for your specific situation is the goal. I think crawling between stop lights is the biggest EV abuse.
for the reason you stated. it takes more gas to produce electricity to recharge the battery than to power the car directly. study the pulse and glide technique threads. use the hsi screen for gliding. you can use a little bit of battery when gliding. power bar basically just a little to the right of true glide. but to keep car in ev as much as possible will definately reduce your mpg's.
I like to enjoy driving, going fast then slow, then fast, then slow doesn't seem like fun for me or the guy behind me. I'm not interested in extreme results. I'm getting around 50 mpg (actual not displayed) so I'll live with the inefficiency by using the methods in Radioman's video.
What I think many of us mean is "For best gas mileage, do not lock the computers out of choosing what is right by manually selecting EV" There are certainly times when the engine would be so inefficient that the battery is the more sensible power source. Do not discount the theory that recharging the battery can add enough load that the engine is in a more efficient part of the power band. I have never chosen EV, I certainly see the computers choose EV when they think it wise.
Jimbo, Thanks for your posting. You have reduced my confusion and provide a good perspective for the matter. I appreciate the alternate ideas to "always glide". Times when the battery is a sensible power source and charging adding to the engine load actually making it more efficient seem to make engineering analysis sense. As I said in my original posting I'm not interested in the EV selected mode. Letting the computers choose EV seems like the right way to go.
If you are looking for a very simplified rule of thumb go by this: If you can keep your same speed to decelerate very slightly than it is ok to use just a little bit of EV (maybe up to 1/4 of the EV side of the gauge). There are VERY few instances where it is wise to go to the very right of the EV area of the HSI and keep it there. You should do your best to avoid this. These recommendations are a modified P&G technique that should still get you pretty decent gas mileage but not piss off any other drivers. Although it is not 100% ideal I still am forced to use similar methods at times.
It may not be the best use of EV but I use it when driving through my neighborhood and parking lots. One it reminds me to keep it under 25 mph and second, I love the "Sneak Up On You" mode.
