B-Day Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 As new hybrid owners, we are interested in applying efficient driving techniques in mountainous terrain. Town driving where we live involves up and down hills, including our extremely steep driveway, and we wonder how the pulse and glide approach is useful. Is it better to creep or press accelerator firmly up steep grades, use low gear or grade assist going down? So much to learn about this after decades of driving habits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus-A-CMax Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Depends on how steep is steep. Pulse and glide is generally for flats but my own Punch & Glide (see the Driving Tips section for my thread and read more about it there) - that works better but it needs at least 1/2 battery to make use of the EV to lurch and punch the CMax up. Put the car into Engage mode and see the blue EV climb way high before it kicks in the ICE to which point you already have met your need to give momentum to the vehicle and ICE is just literally a spurt. Now don't this on much longer inclines, you'll go nutz and be too slow but it's practical if you have say a dead stop and need to go up 330-500 yard steep rise. Longer rides up the hill, stick it on 55mph eco-cruise and sit back, can't fight physics unless you really, really want to play with the pedal. Down grade assist is cool, I actually use that to do a faster regen. I have not used Low gear yet as theres no incline that I have seen that is too steep and I do my share of hill climbing in my line of work. Good luck with it and welcome to the forum, lots and lots of reading that I think you'll enjoy :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RachelnLa Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Welcome to the board! Enjoy the new addition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generalbeluga Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) I have spent a lot of time on this forum and driving my C Max and have come to one conclusion; set your feedback in "Engage" mode and drive. Over time, watching the gage on your dash, you will learn what works best for your driving style and the terrain you live in. No two drivers face the same challenges, so relax and give the car about 3K miles before expecting the MPG to rise into the low to mid 40's. I started at 38 MPG on the first tank of gas and I am now getting almost 43 MPG on tank five with about 2,300 miles on the ode. Don't try to over think it or you won't enjoy the ride! :shift: Edited February 1, 2013 by Generalbeluga HannahWCU 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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