I'll install my Coastal EV switch this week. I bought it primarily to get me to and down the long downhill near the house. In cold weather, the ICE runs all the way down, starting me off about .3 mpg in the hole most days. Now I'll kick the ICE in at the bottom of the hill where it runs anyway. Has anyone developed other ways to improve MPG with it? Thanks, Patrick
It may not help you all that much if the engine comes on and *begins* to warm up as you drive after the bottom of the hill. It still has to go through warmup stage, although you may be able to use a little more of its output for propulsion. But whether it's a prius or any other car, you really shouldn't put a heavy load on a cold engine.o Not to discourage EV-button use when appropriate, but how 'bout this: start it in the driveway and proceed gently to the top of the hill in question. Pull over and stop at a place from which you can effectively coast down from with no gas applied, and wait for the engine to reach 140deg and shut itself off. Now, let the creep get you rolling again, and the engine shouldn't light all the way down the hill but will be at least somewhat warmed up at the bottom. . _H*
I use it to get out of multi-storey or undeground carparks. With regards to improving mileage, I use it in places on my usual commute where I know it runs on EV during the summer. This way, I can let the engine run and keep warm (or continue warming up) in places where the engine has to run anyway.
Kick on the ice at the top of the hill. Let the engine run through it's warm-up on the way down. I am in a similar situation where I have a downhill to go on before i hit the main roads. Usually, i'll EV all the way to the top of the hill. By the time I get there, the ICE will come on and it'll warm up on it's way down the hill. The MFD usually reads 2.0L/100km as it makes it's way down the hill.
I have a stretch of road on my route to work which is slightly up hill, followed by a long stretch of flat. I kick in the EV during this stretch and by the time I get to the end, I'm usually down to the purple bars. The next stretch of road is all down hill for several miles, and the battery is almost charged by the time I get to the bottom. Using that technique, I routinely improve my gas mileage by several tenths. Doesn't sound like much, but it sure makes me feel better when I get to the office.
