C-MaxSea

Like I said, Paul good job - a huge plus to you for making those vids for everyone looking for help. I was having a little fun with the note on hills. The point I wanted to make was how radically different our driving terrain is to yours, in general. Looking at the first vid, you were essentially driving in 45 mph speed zones the entire time with seemingly minimal change in elevation, what I would describe as absolutely optimal conditions. We rarely see anything like it, almost no 45 mph zones. Perhaps 90% of our driving is significantly different. With respect to speed, most of our trips are either short runs around town in 25-35 mph zones with cold starts, or on freeways at 58-65 +- mph. With respect to hills, we have some 'weeee' factor hills thrown in for coasting on every trip from the house - and subsequent hill climbs which quickly push the ICE acceleration past "2 bars" in order to keep pace with traffic. The net result with respect to speed & terrain in MPGs (your location to ours) is perhaps not great, but I do think more gentle terrain (which is a function of grade and not elevation difference - yours?) is more favorable (& certainly different) to the combination of "weeeee' down hill coasting and higher rev up hill climbs. Your 'hills' seemed perfectly suited to the C-Max, never having to push the ICE above the "2 bars". Summing up, I think this highlights (at least for me) the notion that there are three fundamental elements playing here, with regard to gas mileage: weather condition differences, driving pattern differences, and terrain differences. I would be so bold as to rate them with an arbitrary 55/30/15 significance; with weather differences being the preeminent 55% significance over our range of latitudes from Hudson Bay in Canada to Texas, driving patterns being secondary at say 30%, and terrain differences being as much as 15% of the difference 'equation'. Just thoughts, 'weeeeeeeeeeeeeing' down our drumlins in Seattle - and 'grinding up' at "2-3 bars" if in the opposite direction, Nick (((Difference+-+- say: 50-32 = 18; 55% = 10+-, added to 32 equals 42+-; 30% = 5+-, added to 42 equals 47+-; 15% = 3+-, added to 47 equals 50+-; then with aero/heat retention mods add 3-5 and you can get 53-55 MPG, .............voila )))

Hills? Paul, were those hills or inclines ? Hmmmm, what constitutes a hill ? We have much steeper inclines here in Seattle, perhaps even 'hills'. I think perhaps grades and inclines are more appropriate descriptors, certainly for our freeways around here. ;) Just pondering words. Not to negate the importance of elevation. On the contrary, I second your note that elevation is outrageously important. I can predict my MPGs very closely just based on elevation differences between locations. 50, 100, 150 foot differences in elevation will radically effect any MPG result - thus the looping reqs for 'real' results.

Speaking of 'modus operandi' - ours emphasizes 'low stress'. In other words, 'low stress' trumps 'time' and MPG's in our driving philosophy - thus like Snowstorm ECO Cruising with tapping (tapping in/out/up/down). 'To each there own'. There is nothing more stressful for us than to 'drive to the clock' (trying to save time). Hurried driving ('to the clock') is almost always harried driving, and almost always more hazardous - no thanks, 'been there, done that'. We will leave for our destination with appropriate times, or 'get there when we get there', and leave the stress behind. (Not to mention the loss in MPGs associated with speedier driving) Although 'playing the MPG game' and hypermiling and modding looks to be great fun (and we do now have the grill covers working for us), I/we have limited patience for that level of effort.. Great to see many going after it though. Good job Paul, glad you broke it down into multiple vids. The first vid was a little confusing about the 'two bar' because your pointer/ruler has two points on it - ;) (actually four points - two at each end). EV off the line, ICE to speed ...................... Ommmmmmmmming our way to MPGs Nick (sidebar; I would 'argue' the importance of burning up EV (HV battery) before cresting 'real hills' in order to save gas if the downhill side ahead is a big regen - perhaps meaningless, but it feels good ;) Science rules ?)

Best wishes Salprint. Thanks for checking out with the positive message. Nick

.......... and we just drive judiciously in a mild climate .............. :play: :play: :play: ......... our dashboard 'Lifetime' MPG has tanked this winter down to 48.0 (46 at the pump). - now to be saved by spring weather ! Forever driving cautiously &/or spritely as the case dictates, Nick (making the case for attitude, as opposed to just aptitude - Ommmmmmmm ;))

Says a ton. The C-Max driveline/drivetrain suits us perfectly - could not 'buy down', now that we are spoiled.

Great testament to the prowess of the C-Max 'design' & 'build' - still nothing 'better' all around. Ironically, we get better gas mileage on the 'freeway' than the city. Simple reason is that our city driving is mostly 5 mile 'cold start' trips - and our 'freeway' runs mostly 50 miles round trip with 'warm' ICE in 60 MPH speed zones. ;)

Thanks again, Paul. :mail: Grill covers are on and performing. Had my first good looped test run a week ago - 76 miles, 49.9 mpg (47+ pump) with two cold starts and one a bit warmer. Not very cold, but cool 37 to 47. The breakout was something like this: 38 miles @ 42-45 degrees and with descent - 54+- mpg; 10 miles @ 45-47 degrees and small ascent - 56+-mpg; and 28 miles @ 37-40 degrees in the dark & rain (wipers & lights) with ascent - 44+- mpg;;; all mostly highway, say 85%+- ,speed limit 60. It definitely felt like the ICE was staying warmer a little longer, and I think the new grill covers improved the mpg's perhaps a little, say 2 or 3 mpg. Totally unscientific anecdotal, but promising. Looking forward to Spring and Summer, anything 45 degrees and above for some great numbers. Hmmm, with so few miles on the car, maybe, just maybe I can push my lifetime up to 49 someday - wishful thinking I know. :play: :dance: :play: Nick

Congrats korax234. Great buy, sounds like you got all of the goodies. Hope it was treated well and has all of the updates, if there were any for 2015. Happy cruising, Nick

:victory: Congrats joshg678 ! Great start, not too hard eh, with Spring like weather. I see a 700 in your future. Nick

Nice work Paul ! Just a little air out of the Niro balloon I'd say. No match for the 5 year old design of the C-Max package of performance and benefits. EV only to 40 mph on the Niropriuss - eeeeeeeekkk !!!

I could not agree more - nothing worse for gas mileage (& the planet) than ICE idle charging, theeee worst. As far as your co-worker - ding him with EV quiet. :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: We all need sound retraining. ICE idle noise is not good 'white' noise. Yust MO, Nick

Thanks Paul, will do. Nick

:redcard: Beam me up Paul. Our gas mileage is dropping like a rock ! :raining: :raining: :raining: Our lifetime has drifted down to 48.0 on the gauge this winter (46 at the pump). Imagine that, frightfully close to falling under the glorious 48. I'll take one lexan grill cover kit if you are making any up. :shoppingcart_: We have now gone beyond the 4 year mark, so now I will be able to see what the grill covers net us. I'm one month late so I should really hurry up and get some on for the next four year test. Of course the next four years might not be exactly the same driving patterns, but it will be fun to compare. :kookie: :sos: :kookie:, Nick

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: and Welcome.

"Installing in Europe" link. BRAVO, :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: BRAVISSIMO !!! Up to 350kw (quick charge) charging stations throughout. Cheers to Ford, BMW, VW ..................... for stepping up on this. Too bad not in little ol' here :sad: :cry: :sad: Dare I quote "the ICE age is ending", sooner there than here sadly.

Welcome, congrats & enjoy 14MaxRVA. Sure glad we all have good warranties :drop: :drop: :drop: !!! Should be better than new when done. Nick

Does someone need to update/clarify/mutate/conflagrate/discombuberate …………………… Wikipedia on this point ? “Some vehicles that offer CVT are the Ford C-MAX hybrid, the Mitsubishi Lancer, the Dodge Caliber, the Toyota Corolla, the Scion iQ, the Honda Insight, Fit ……………….” Yust wondering, Nick

FWIW, the Fuelly Niro cited above appears to be located in Finland where it's a mite chilly right now; if so, I would expect the driver to be posting MPGs in the 50s by May/June (driving oh so slowly off the line). ????? You go Niro !

Indeed. Nothing missed here, we all know what averages are. Just having fun with a one-off opportunity. Results over time; we shall see. Good to see they pass Euro safety standards (trust they will pass ours too). Hmmm, aren't the Euros the ones who have been passing off dirty diesels to their masses for decades (VW, Fiat, Citroen, ...................... - I don't really trust them at this point for 'standards'. :flyaway: :shift: :flyaway: in our speedy, comfy, does it all C-Max, Nick

Those MPGs look awfully familiar - we get that with our C-Max and better; and with a range of 600 miiles ! :flyaway: :shift: :flyaway: Improved, yes, but another underpowered Priiius wannabe with a small tank - nyet, here. Safety/crash test results ??? Nick

About three weeks ago, friends of ours looked at the new priuss as well and hated it. They ended up buying a used C-Max Energi ! :) :) :) ( I still think the C-Max Energi is the best all around urban vehicle out there.) We hit the four year mark in three weeks with our C-Max (non Energi) and are still loving it. I particularly love the simple energy conservation aspect of the non-plugin. It is such an elegant 'solution' to addressing the most addressable aspects of energy loss throughout the inertia range, and creates a fun game out of it all. Plugging into the power grid is great, but complicates and messes with elegance of 'the game'. C-Max for the foreseeable, Nick ((( I have had two garages wired up for 220 outlets for a plug-in electric over 20 years in waiting ;) ........ hmmmmm, maybe a second/plug-in vehicle someday when the range issues are in the past )))