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Civic Hybrid -- gas/electric usage
Does software control the switching of the power source between
gasoline and the battery pack? Or is it more of a mechanical element that controls it? Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets used more. |
#2
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"Jeff" > wrote in message
oups.com... > Does software control the switching of the power source between > gasoline and the battery pack? Or is it more of a mechanical element > that controls it? > > Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power > is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to > average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving > is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and > it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during > acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever > dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the > threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets > used more. > The first mechanic that offers to do any twiddling with the system, run screaming from the shop. While it isn't rocket science, it isn't "use a bigger hammer" technology either. -- Kent Finnell From the Music City USA |
#3
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In article .com>,
"Jeff" > wrote: > Does software control the switching of the power source between > gasoline and the battery pack? Or is it more of a mechanical element > that controls it? > > Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power > is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to > average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving > is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and > it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during > acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever > dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the > threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets > used more. If it's like the Hybrid Accord, the battery power mostly goes to accessories. Turn on the A/C and it will drain to empty in heavy traffic. |
#4
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Jeff wrote:
> Does software control the switching of the power source between > gasoline and the battery pack? yes. > Or is it more of a mechanical element > that controls it? > > Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power > is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to > average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving > is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and > it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during > acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever > dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the > threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets > used more. > ok, if the batteries were to be discharged to 50%, where is the energy to recharge them going to come from? [that's a rhetorical question.] unless you discharge them & keep them discharged, there is no "net gain", so you're still going to run the motor to recharge those batteries, and that's what consumes the gas. your software, based on extensive research, knows how to optimise fuel consumption based on the driving you're doing. try & believe that the millions of $'s & years of research that preceeded your purchase were not wasted by incompetents. |
#5
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In article >,
jim beam > wrote: > Jeff wrote: > > Does software control the switching of the power source between > > gasoline and the battery pack? > > yes. > > > Or is it more of a mechanical element > > that controls it? > > > > Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power > > is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to > > average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving > > is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and > > it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during > > acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever > > dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the > > threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets > > used more. > > > ok, if the batteries were to be discharged to 50%, where is the energy > to recharge them going to come from? [that's a rhetorical question.] > > unless you discharge them & keep them discharged, there is no "net > gain", so you're still going to run the motor to recharge those > batteries, and that's what consumes the gas. your software, based on > extensive research, knows how to optimise fuel consumption based on the > driving you're doing. try & believe that the millions of $'s & years of > research that preceeded your purchase were not wasted by incompetents. The point is that the batteries in Honda's systems frequently hit 100% full or empty. The hybrid system does assist a little more on a full battery and regenerate a little more on an empty battery, but the adjustment isn't enough. On empty city streets, my HAH battery fills up because there's more regeneration than assist. In dense stop and go traffic, the battery empties because there's more assisting than regeneration. In both cases the car stops being a hybrid after a few minutes because its not adjusting to conditions. I have no idea how the EPA came up with the HAH's high milage numbers. |
#6
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In article >, Kevin McMurtrie > wrote:
>The point is that the batteries in Honda's systems frequently hit 100% >full or empty. The hybrid system does assist a little more on a full >battery and regenerate a little more on an empty battery, but the >adjustment isn't enough. Small clarification: Maybe the Honda's instrument panel's dial shows it at "100%" and "empty", but the battery itself is operating in a rather narrow State of Charge (SOC) range of perhaps (I don't know exactly what Honda is using) 50-80%. Probably an even narrower range. They *could* use it over a wider range, but then they'd be compromising battery life. >I have no idea how the EPA came up with the >HAH's high milage numbers. EPA doesn't come up with them, Honda does. Honda tests the car to a specific EPA-given drive schedule. EPA may check the results. I'm sure Honda tweaked the battery control strategy in part to give about as high a number on this test as they could (presumably also with consideration to: battery durability, emissions, drivability, real-world mileage ...). The lack of correspondence of this EPA cycle to "real-world" driving, does have a significant role in the EPA numbers being higher than most people's experience. And back to the main Q: I'm sure it is controlled electronically. But you'd be well-advised to not muss with it!! |
#7
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Kevin McMurtrie > wrote:
> The point is that the batteries in Honda's systems frequently hit 100% > full or empty. The hybrid system does assist a little more on a full > battery and regenerate a little more on an empty battery, but the > adjustment isn't enough. Which Honda do you have? I have a 2003 Civic Hybrid. I see my batteries hit 100% full on a long downgrade, after which there is no regenerative braking, obvious from the lack of little green bars when braking. There are other times when it looks full on the gauge, but stepping on the brake gives the green bars. I have never had this happen in traffic on moderately hilly or flat terrain. I have never seen less than two bars on the battery gauge. Somewhere just below half, the engine starts charging, noted by four green charge bars, even when I am headed up hill. This happens fairly frequently in the hills. The early Insights did not do engine charge, but I thought that wa changed in the second model year, and maybe even by recall on the older IMA programming. I just received a recall notice. My IMA is going to be reprogrammed to avoid some potential catalytic converter damage. -- --- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5 |
#8
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#9
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Jeff wrote: > Does software control the switching of the power source between > gasoline and the battery pack? Yes > Or is it more of a mechanical element > that controls it? NO. > > > Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power > is getting used? NO. > I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to > average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving > is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and > it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during > acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever > dip below the 80% mark. > I was wondering if they could adjust the > threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets > used more. NO; However I suppose Honda's engineers could "tweak the IMA" usage. Rest assured that the IMA system is highly optimized as, you are using it day to day. One tip: Use Econ mode for the AC system so the engine stops at idle. That's going to be good as it gets. -- Tp, -------- __o ----- -\<. -------- __o --- ( )/ ( ) ---- -\<. -------------------- ( )/ ( ) ----------------------------------------- No Lawsuit Ever Fixed A Moron... |
#10
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On 21 Jul 2005 10:06:57 -0700, "Jeff" > wrote:
Good night! I've had my 2004 now for 18 months and am getting 32 mpg. Dealer says that's about the expected mpg - excuse me? I think I should get at least 40 if they advertise 48. Had the recall computer update done last week, but they say not to expect any better - POLL - What mpg is everyone getting on their hybrid civics? >Does software control the switching of the power source between >gasoline and the battery pack? Or is it more of a mechanical element >that controls it? > >Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power >is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to >average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving >is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and >it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during >acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever >dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the >threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets >used more. |
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