How to drive a hybrid

[LostinVA]

Okay, I'm getting a Civic Hybrid within the next two weeks. I've read you get better gas mileage -- both city and highway -- if you "learn to drive them right." So, hybrid owners... how is that???

[Goldom]

1. Calmly.

Honestly, you're gonna get better milage than a normal car no matter what you do. But I have found ways to maximise it. I drive a hybrid (though it's a Prius) exclusively - and have the advantage in that it is the car I learned to drive on, and can get 5-10 MPG better than my mother does in it. I find the best way is to coast as much as possible. I don't know about the Civic, but the Prius has a separate B gear that slows down the car while coasting, and thus it does not do so while in D, meaning you can go quite a ways without pushing the gas at all. If you can get up to speed, and then hold the gas down just enough to maintain the speed, your milage goes up much more than if you are flooring the gas and brakes every time you speed up/slow down.

[LostinVA]

2. Hmmm.... interesting

I try to "coast" rather than use my brakes in my regular car, so I know what you're saying... I'll have to see with the Civic. I've also heard you get alot worse mileage using the cruise, which is interesting to me..... it'll still get about 20 mpg more than the car I have now, and gas is $2.32 here, so..... that adds up. Thanks!

[Goldom]

3. Dunno about cruise control

We have two Priuses (Prii?) in the family, one from 200..3? and one from 2005 I think, maybe a year off on each. But one the original model and one the new one. The original one, which is the one I use primarily, didn't have cruise at all, but the new one does. When it's on it actually seems to control itself pretty steadily, so gets good milage. The newer model claims about 10 MPG better than the original, but honestly I haven't seen it. I prefer the original overall - it's a lot smaller, and thus better turning and such. The newer model also has this awful bar in the back window that cuts your view in half. The actual best key to good milage is to go downhill :). Every time you're climing you can see the milage drop down to like 10 or so, but shoots up once you're level again. The Prius has a monitor that shows its current milage, though I believe the Civic one doesn't.

[Taverner]

4. Cruise control gets better mileage

It lets the computer determine acceleration, so its smarter about it.

If I commute with CC, I usually get 55 mpg on average. Without it, I get 50 - but this is a Prius. Hard to tell with a Civic I'm told.

[Bamboo]

5. Drive like your tank is empty.

One way to save gas which can be applied to any car hybrid or not is to drive slower,I read that the most economical speed for the Prius is between 35-45mph.Look far ahead to plan coasting and change speed to time traffic lights.This will require travel in the slow lane,I rarely use the left lane anymore with any car I drive.Read sidewall of tire and inflate to maximum PSI of tire and ignore the sticker PSI on door or glove box.It is determined by salesmen and lawyers and an engineer who is liked by salesmen and lawyers.You will need to leave earlier to get to your destination so making your morning routine simpler would help.And lastly keep a sense of perspective since stress will make you drive faster.I read in Harper's that in China there are so many coal mines burning out of control that the CO2 emissions are equal to all the vehicle emissions in America.

[rustydog]

6. When you brake, the action charges the battery

so you have to anticipate stops and slow the vehicle before having to stop.

That is if I corectly remember what I was told