How to: Drive a hybrid more efficiently
There are way to drive hybrids like the Toyota RAV 4 XSE to get the best from it. Photo: Toyota NZ
While hybrids already provide great fuel economy with figures such as 5.4 litres per 100km, there are ways to get even better numbers from your vehicle.
There are a number of hybrid driving hints and tips that will help you to get the best from the system, improving fuel consumption and getting you further for less.
Here are some basic tips to help any car, hybrid or not:
Clear out the boot. Keeping the boot free of unnecessary weight will boost your car's performance and economy.
Check your tyre pressures – dig out your owner’s manual, and do a weekly check to ensure that your tyres are correctly inflated in line with the brand’s recommendation.
Think ahead – by planning your journeys, you can avoid traffic jams.
Closing the windows and sunroof at speeds above 80km/h will reduce drag, reducing fuel consumption.
Remove unused roof racks, boxes and bike racks – they’re a real drag too.
Steady as she goes – maintain a constant speed and don’t exceed the speed limit.
Try to avoid sudden braking or acceleration
Hybrid help
Become familiar with the hybrid information display so you can know how much energy is being used.
Keep the car in EV mode as much as possible by using the accelerator gently, and pressing it lightly but consistently.
Improve efficiency with ECO mode, which reduces aggressive throttle response.
Harvest time – braking gently and early helps the regenerative braking harvest more energy, which means EV mode can operate for longer periods.
Keep an eye on the dials and gauges to fully understand the hybrid system and manage the charge levels in the hybrid’s high-voltage battery.
If you’re in stop-start traffic, don’t put the car in neutral (‘N’) when stationary, as electricity will not be generated and the hybrid battery will discharge.
Consider using cruise control (where fitted) to maintain steady speeds.
When using climate control, the Re-circulate mode reduces energy usage.
Think about the environment! Constant or heavy use of systems like air-con, lights and wipers will increase energy consumption.
– Article courtesy of Toyota UK
