Dan Albrich
Well-Known Member
My Clarity has driven about 1200 miles since the last gas fill before Christmas. Not as many miles as some in these forums but still great as far as I am concerned.
Drove to do some skiing today with some family. I live in Eugene, destination near Willamette pass known as Gold Lake snow park about 70 miles away and of course up the mountain pass.
A little less than 1/2 tank remaining. I know the route well, and a year after owning Clarity know a little about how it works thanks mainly to these forums. It's always a little hubbub getting everyone on the road, and decided not to fill up before leaving.
In my past I always (as a matter of course) filled up gas tank before going to mountain just to be safe. I think i had about 140 miles estimated HV range, and maybe 170 total estimated range with EV at trip start for about a 70 mile go and return trip ( or about 140 total miles). But here's where the knowledge comes in. I knew one might be cutting it a little close, but realized coming down the mountain one basically gets those miles for free (or better gains range).
Got to the ski location with about 90 miles estimated remaining (HV+EV). And one might think I need 70 miles of range just to get home. But I knew this isn't true with Clarity.
Also keep in mind at 40mpg, that's just less than 2 gallons of gas. Which on any other car would be concerning. There's a town called Oakridge about 25 miles from the destination with gas stations. Didn't stop there on the way up either. Got to destination with 70 HV miles remain, and 20 EV, or about 90 miles remaining total. No worry.
Had a great day visiting with family and skiing. Driving down, I knew there would be a near zero cost between ski spot and Oakridge. Turned out correct. I actually gained range coming down. I arrived at Oakridge with 103 total estimated miles due to the steep down hill 25 miles, then filled up gas. A full tank cost about $14.00 (about 5 gallons of gas) then back to town.
Anyway, I marvel at the long down hill and how efficiently our Clarity does. It comes at little, or no cost, or in some cases an increase in range. Try that in any gas mobile! At best a gas car can optimize coasting down hill to minimize fuel use, but can't increase range along the way.
-Dan
PS: Technically speaking I knew I could go home without fill. But one advantage of rarely filling is to seek out best pricing. Oakridge is a small town with low gas taxes. So the per-gallon cost was easily 30 cents per gallon less than at home.
i.e. I can sometimes wait for opportune fill-up timing
Drove to do some skiing today with some family. I live in Eugene, destination near Willamette pass known as Gold Lake snow park about 70 miles away and of course up the mountain pass.
A little less than 1/2 tank remaining. I know the route well, and a year after owning Clarity know a little about how it works thanks mainly to these forums. It's always a little hubbub getting everyone on the road, and decided not to fill up before leaving.
In my past I always (as a matter of course) filled up gas tank before going to mountain just to be safe. I think i had about 140 miles estimated HV range, and maybe 170 total estimated range with EV at trip start for about a 70 mile go and return trip ( or about 140 total miles). But here's where the knowledge comes in. I knew one might be cutting it a little close, but realized coming down the mountain one basically gets those miles for free (or better gains range).
Got to the ski location with about 90 miles estimated remaining (HV+EV). And one might think I need 70 miles of range just to get home. But I knew this isn't true with Clarity.
Also keep in mind at 40mpg, that's just less than 2 gallons of gas. Which on any other car would be concerning. There's a town called Oakridge about 25 miles from the destination with gas stations. Didn't stop there on the way up either. Got to destination with 70 HV miles remain, and 20 EV, or about 90 miles remaining total. No worry.
Had a great day visiting with family and skiing. Driving down, I knew there would be a near zero cost between ski spot and Oakridge. Turned out correct. I actually gained range coming down. I arrived at Oakridge with 103 total estimated miles due to the steep down hill 25 miles, then filled up gas. A full tank cost about $14.00 (about 5 gallons of gas) then back to town.
Anyway, I marvel at the long down hill and how efficiently our Clarity does. It comes at little, or no cost, or in some cases an increase in range. Try that in any gas mobile! At best a gas car can optimize coasting down hill to minimize fuel use, but can't increase range along the way.
-Dan
PS: Technically speaking I knew I could go home without fill. But one advantage of rarely filling is to seek out best pricing. Oakridge is a small town with low gas taxes. So the per-gallon cost was easily 30 cents per gallon less than at home.
i.e. I can sometimes wait for opportune fill-up timing
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