Honda Civic Hybrid Hypermiling Tips
As I learn more about hypermiling in my 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, I'll post notes and links to tips here. If you have an HCH-II and are not getting at least 50 mpg (and you can actually get much more), then you really need to bookmark this page and check back often.
Disclaimer: Unless you're a complete idiot, you'll use your own brain when reading these tips. I do not advocate YOU try any of the tips below. I am simply stating how I am able to get excellent mileage in my own car. So, make your own choices as to how you'll drive your own car.
Last Update: 2/10/2007
- Slow down - Your wind resistance doubles between 50 and 70 miles per hour. There is no reason to ever go above the speed limit - ever. Especially in the city. Chances are, you'll just get to the red lights faster. Don't believe me? Drive at the speed limit for 1 day and count the number of people who pass you and are waiting at the red light when you get there. Then laugh at them loudly.
- Start recording your mileage - Getting into the habit of caring about your mileage enough to write down every tank in a log somewhere will help raise your consciousness level about your mileage. The more you care about it, the more you'll care how high you can push it. The Real Hybrid Mileage Database at GreenHybrid.org is a convenient place to log your numbers.
- Read Adapting Basic Hypermiling Techniques to the HCH-II. If you don't understand it all on the first read, don't worry. Bookmark the page and re-read it after a week. After reading this article, I immediately went from averaging 44-46mpg to averaging 52 mpg. Before reading this article, I had only reached 500 miles on a tank when I took a long road trip and used cruise control aggressively. After reading it, I've had 3 tanks in a row over 540 miles in the city!
- Coast - Especially if nobody is behind you, coast up to red lights. Chances are it will turn green before you get there and you'll be able to accelerate from a rolling start again rather than from a dead stop. Coast down hills too. Conserve that energy! But again, make sure nobody is behind you. Driving slowly is a common cause of accidents. Related to this, coast at the crest of a hill. As you approach the peak of a hill, let off the gas. Your momentum will carry you over the top and to the other side where you can start coasting down.
- Park in the sun - Seriously. I think this helps. On a cold day, parking in the sun keeps your car warmer. A warm car will get to "auto-stop" mode faster than a cold car, so you'll sit idling at fewer red lights while you're waiting for auto-stop to kick in.
- Turn off the car before putting it in park - Especially if you've auto-stopped when you pull into the parking space. This will let you turn off the car without having it kick in the gas engine again. If you put the car in park first, the gas engine will come on before you shut off the car. Every little drop helps!
- Turn off the AC - I know this is difficult during the summer, but it makes a huge difference. Instead of running the air conditioning, I'll drive with the front passenger and rear left passenger windows down about 4 inches each. This generates a nice airflow at most speeds that will help cool you off. When I come to a stop, I open the driver's window and front passenger window fully to let the breeze blow across the car.
- Find a whole slew of additional tips here!
I'll keep updating this page as I figure out more tips or learn more from other sites. If you have anything to share, please let me know in the comments.
-Jason