Maximize your fuel savings by "Hovering the Hybrid"
In the spirit of frugal living, we’re shifting into high gear to show you how to get even more out of your hybrid vehicle. Regardless of the title of this article, you’ll still be traveling from rubber to highway, and with the following tips you’ll learn the best way to drive a hybrid.
My wife and I purchased a 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid that we are 100% satisfied with. It has enriched our ability to save gas dollars and maintain our frugal lifestyle. But just because you own a hybrid vehicle doesn’t mean your savings efforts stop at the purchase. Did you know that there are techniques you can use while driving your hybrid to get even more mileage out of your vehicle? Read on for the proper way to drive a hybrid.
Hybrids do their best mileage at speeds below 45 mph. Therefore, traveling on the streets, contrary to the advice of yesteryear, saves gas. At speeds below 45 mph, you can use the electric aspect of your engine to power it without the use of fuel. The longer you can keep your car in this mode, the more distance you’ll go without spending a penny.
Floating the hybrid, explained
We are very lucky to have a knowledgeable salesperson while we test the hybrid. He introduced us to the concept of “floating the hybrid”. When you step on the accelerator of a hybrid vehicle, depending on how heavy your foot is, you will be using the gasoline engine, the electric motor, or both at the same time. The gasoline engine is the most expensive and the electric motor is the most economical. When in true hybrid mode, which means that by using gasoline and electricity at the same time, you save more than you would by driving a gasoline-powered vehicle, but not as much as if you were running it solely in its electric mode. In essence, you’ll get the most savings the more often you drive in electric mode. And the act of consciously keeping the car in this mode is called floating the hybrid. Basically, you’re driving without using any gas.
Now, in the Toyota Camry Hybrid model, there is an electric display near the speedometer that shows when the car is in gasoline mode, electric mode, hybrid mode or if it is recharging the battery. We treat this screen like a video game, constantly trying to just use the electric motor whenever possible, but mostly when traveling below 45mph. The technique we use in our car is to accelerate to the speed limit, then slowly ease off the throttle until the display shows that we are using the electric motor only. We usually reach this mode with just a light press on the accelerator. When you drive a hybrid vehicle correctly, you assume a conservation rather than a performance state of mind.
To further attest to the video game technique, the Toyota Camry shows how many miles per gallon it got for each interval the car is on and the more you focus on how the car gets its power, the more money you can save. . For me, my highest score is a trip where I got 54 mpg.
In short, the engine status indicator on a hybrid was not intended as a bell and whistle. It is supposed to help you become more aware of how your car works and help you drive the hybrid efficiently. Regardless of which hybrid model you have, if you can figure out how to float it and take into account what part of the hybrid motor is running, plus try to keep it in electric mode as often as possible, you can really add to the savings. you receive and get even more from your investment.
