Clarity Issues

Yet the 2018 Hybrid Accord also has no rear cross traffic alert. I like the Clarity's exterior more than the new Accord, but I might give the interior edge to the Accord.

 

About that battery gauge - I now agree that it is way out of wack with reality, especially in cold weather. With the drop into the teens (rare weather for West Texas) my range estimate has declined from 51 to 43-44 (with max charge of 99% - no longer reaches 100%). Still, the range indicator is pretty accurate for my 6 mile drive to work (matching range mileage with actual distance traveled) but the gauge did not drop one tick, while HondaLink correctly reported battery percentage at 85% (hand calculation based upon range drop was 85.35%).

Something smells rotten in Denmark...(or is that Minato, Tokyo, Japan)

 

Yes, the battery gauge is hideously in need of better calibration. I'm surprised more owners aren't reporting this issue. I had hoped it would 'learn' over time, but that hasn't happened. As I've mentioned before, it's far better to use the numerical readout of mileage remaining for both electric and gas. Those numbers appear reasonably accurate.

It's too bad there isn't some calibration method that can be used as is available with the temperature gauge. Mine was reading about 2-3 degrees high, but I was able to get it pretty much spot-on with the available calibration range.

 

I guess it's fair to say that's not an issue with the car, but it's certainly an issue with manufacturer support for the car!

 

Calibration of the temperature gauge? I'm not sure what you are talking about.

On my 2013 Leaf I never really look at the estimated miles to empty it gives. I use the battery percentage gauge exclusively. Basically, if it takes 40% or less to get somewhere I know I can get home without stress. The closer to 50% I get on the trip out the more stressful the return trip will be. I have a drive this Thursday to a location I go to all the time without too much issue in the winter, but it is so cold right now I am a bit concerned about the range. Such is life with an electric car. At least the Clarity takes the stress away.

 

It's really more calibration of the battery percentage gauge. According to the range estimate change from home to work, and actual miles traveled, my hand calculated battery percentage nearly equaled the iPhone Hondalink estimate of 85% remaining - BUT - the battery gauge in the instrument cluster had not lost a single tick - it was showing 100% remaining.

I relish the absence of range anxiety - I can make it to and from the next nearest city - Odessa - on battery, but after that it is 120 miles north or south, and almost 350 miles east and west to Dallas or El Paso...range anxiety indeed.

 

The outside temperature gauge on the car can be calibrated, the remaining electric miles graph cannot. My temp gauge was reading 3F too high, so I used the car's ability to calibrate the temperature readout. It's nice that you have the option to adjust it. Not many cars give you that opportunity.

That's why I said it would be nice if we had the same opportunity to adjust the graphical readout of electric miles remaining. Even if you use the numerical readout as I do, the graphical depiction should still be reasonably accurate. It's not. It's so off I don't know why Honda even shows it. If there was a way to turn it off, I would.

Unlike you, I much prefer an absolute numerical readout of miles to empty, not a percentage. Why would I want to do a mental calculation of % remaining to how many miles I need to drive? If I can get that number directly from the miles to empty, that's a lot easier IMO.

 

Maybe it is all the years driving a Prius, but I like the flying bridge in the Clarity. Probably because it reminds me of the Prius. I also like the wood accents on either side of the gear buttons. I think it looks distinguished.

 

I won't disagree with the classy look, it's just such a sad waste of space, especially given that the drink holders sit under your elbow and the storage bin would barely hold a 1lb sack of coffee. Our Odyssey has a console that comes forward to the seats, larger bin, and still an open space below and under the dash for purse/tablet.

 

Where is this fuel economy display located. I have searched high and low for it and nothing.

 

Ah the one in the Garmin Navigation Map. Then no it isn't accurate. It is a calculated number based on the fuel economy information you provided at setup. It doesn't actually know the fuel economy. For a plug in hybrid like the clarity it is basically useless.

 

My experience with the Volt is when it starts the engine once, it will always run it to temperature. This usually takes up to 0.1 gallons in really cold weather, normally half that. I think the Clarity is similar in that regard.

 

OMG - 0.2 gal - I wish we were still in the days of gas station attendants - could you imagine the look on his face when all he could pump for you is 0.2 gal!

 

jdonalds originally suggested the Garmin eco pages might be of dubious value, but was kind enough to check them out. I think the first impression was correct, well intended by Garmin and Honda, but not well thought out. They have advanced versions that use OBD-II data, but likely not what we got.

I'm back to normal and eco for now, but I'm not so hard on sport. Maybe a tenth of gallon here and there, but otherwise, my gas use was the same with gentle driving in sport (near zero). I think cool / cold weather is much more significant. The engine is running a lot more here through the chilly days, even with the most gentle EV driving (but, I heat to comfort).

Using my old 30A service for the Volt charge cord, I installed a 5kW electric heater in the unfinished, unheated garage to at least bring the temps towards 0F. I think the manual said it might not start at something like -22F (we usually get a few days of -20F to -30F, lowest so far -19F (before the wind chill factor, which of course is only how people feel in a cold wind)). Originally, I was thinking of setting around 32F, but it's killing my solar energy credit budget, so I turned the thermostat way down.

Too bad the Clarity does not do a little more self-battery temperature control when it's plugged into L2.

 

Not sure if everyone is aware, but the Clarity does have it's own MPG readout based on each trip. I found that through the new skin and layout. It seems as if more info is available, but I suspect it's just easier to find with the new layout.

 

Tiralc, my best suggestion to fix your cold problem is to MOVE! I've been in -30 degrees before and I have no interest in ever feeling that again.

 

That's funny. Often, the worst is just for a few hours in the morning where I am now near Utica, NY. When I first moved to the area (from NYC metro area, and LI), it was in the foothills of the Adirondacks northwest of here. One morning it was -27F at the start of my 2 hour drive to Syracuse. I was pretty startled when I spritzed the windows and instead of getting clear, the windshield completely frosted over (turns out you have to use the RainX orange, or Prestone yellow low temperature stuff here).