Clarity PHEV: real-world energy efficiency
- Thread starter Kieran973
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Nice, so those figures include the 50 or so EV miles each way? Just to be clear, your trip started with a full charge each direction and that was your only charge? Or was there one charge in the middle each direction?
I love the MPG of the Clarity for such a large car, it is unreal.
If total of 2 EV charges, that would only have about 5% impact on mpg figures, so still really good.
I love the MPG of the Clarity for such a large car, it is unreal.
If total of 2 EV charges, that would only have about 5% impact on mpg figures, so still really good.
Dana Mitchell
Member
Nice! I've been enjoying near 60 (57-59) miles per charge with the warmup. Mostly highway at 65mph. And some said that would never happen..
Started with a full charge on the outbound and maybe 75% SOC on the return. Charged for 1 hr during a meal on the outbound (partial; added 5.9kWh). Charged for 1hr 20 min during a meal on the return (to full; added 7.8kWh). I did not attempt to use the full battery charge each way: Outbound ended with around 10 miles remaining (didn't know hotel had chargers) and return ended with 30 miles remaining (forgot to switch to EV when I was within the battery's range).
Side Note: I've noticed that when you switch to HV mode, the vehicle will still drain the battery by 3 or 4 miles before holding the EV range. I suppose that while the ICE is warming up, the electric motor will continue to supplement significantly.
DVoran
Member
Read your post twice. Are you really asking whether you can drive 30 mile round trip commute using NO “electricity”? That is force the car to use gas only?
If so, not really. You can go in HOV mode to maintain a charge but will get an error message if charge is already above the EV charge level.
But if you’re really asking if you can make the trip using ONLY electricity then the answer would be an emphatic yes unless you’re in Sport mode and have a heavy foot or driving in subzero temperature.
My commute is 40 miles round trip with 90% on freeways at 65-75 mph and I can almost always make it driving in Economy mode and if the temp is over 65F.
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If so, not really. You can go in HOV mode to maintain a charge but will get an error message if charge is already above the EV charge level.
But if you’re really asking if you can make the trip using ONLY electricity then the answer would be an emphatic yes unless you’re in Sport mode and have a heavy foot or driving in subzero temperature.
My commute is 40 miles round trip with 90% on freeways at 65-75 mph and I can almost always make it driving in Economy mode and if the temp is over 65F.
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Ben Washburn
Member
I'm going from memory here, but it seems to me I've read that 14.4kws is the full usable charge equating to full EV miles. Full EV range is obviously dependent, but it seems to range from low 50s in ideal conditions to about 30 in the worst of the cold. So based on that, it seems like you'd get anywhere from 3.6mpkh to 2.1 mpkw. For comparing EV efficiency car to car I'd probably use 3.5 mpkw to compare to other car's EV 'mileage'. The problem, of course, is there's no way of knowing how much buffer other manufacturers have. You could assume everybody's the same, then you'd do the same math using 17 kwh for the Clarity, ending up with 2.95 mpkw.
But the problem is, it's all so situational. If you're like me, you'll probably do 90% of your miles on electric, so HV efficiency is almost irrelevant. If you'll be taking longer trips--and this is a great 'cruiser' for size and comfort and noise and smoothness of ride--then HV efficiency becomes much more important. But only you can put a weighting coefficient on your EV and HV efficiencies.
But the problem is, it's all so situational. If you're like me, you'll probably do 90% of your miles on electric, so HV efficiency is almost irrelevant. If you'll be taking longer trips--and this is a great 'cruiser' for size and comfort and noise and smoothness of ride--then HV efficiency becomes much more important. But only you can put a weighting coefficient on your EV and HV efficiencies.
EPA estimates the efficiency for you. They give in terms of MPGe, to convert to mi/kWh divide by 33.7 kWh/gal (this is a constant used by EPA). The EPA of Clarity PHEV in mixed driving is about 3.3 mi/kWh from the wall (not from battery as in car displays in some vehicles show).
Edit: Don't really need to know the capacity of the battery, but can estimate it based on EPA range. Like 47 mi range at 3.26 mi/kWh EPA figure and it is 14.4 kWh from the wall, which matches closely with what we actually see. Figure 88% efficiency charging and usable battery capacity would be about 12.7 kWh when used to 2 bars remaining (where engine starts).
Edit: Don't really need to know the capacity of the battery, but can estimate it based on EPA range. Like 47 mi range at 3.26 mi/kWh EPA figure and it is 14.4 kWh from the wall, which matches closely with what we actually see. Figure 88% efficiency charging and usable battery capacity would be about 12.7 kWh when used to 2 bars remaining (where engine starts).
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DVoran
Member
Haven’t really done as much analysis but here’s a screen shot of a spreadsheet I’ve been keeping since purchasing the Wi-Fi EVSE unit. Might shed some light on the conversation
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theskydiveguy
New Member
Hello All,
Ok so real world stuff here! I have a HUGE commute - 280Km's daily. I bought the Clarity to save some gas $$ vs. using my Accord (7L/100KM)
I drive EV in town and HV on the highway, of the 140KM's one way only about 8 are in town. I cannot charge at work.
On my return trip I switch off HV when I have the EV range to get home. I average about 3.8 - 4.2 KM/100L .
My questions to you are, is there any way to get that down? Any tricks I may not be aware of?
Thanks
Ok so real world stuff here! I have a HUGE commute - 280Km's daily. I bought the Clarity to save some gas $$ vs. using my Accord (7L/100KM)
I drive EV in town and HV on the highway, of the 140KM's one way only about 8 are in town. I cannot charge at work.
On my return trip I switch off HV when I have the EV range to get home. I average about 3.8 - 4.2 KM/100L .
My questions to you are, is there any way to get that down? Any tricks I may not be aware of?
Thanks
LegoZ
Active Member
Nice excel sheet!
So cost equal to a Prius hybrid- but you get such a better ride and much more comfort and safety as well as burn lots less gas
Teslawannabe
Active Member
Just a side note in response "to drive gently". My Clarity works very well with out driving gently. I have driven Ford Fusion Energy's and C Max Energy's both had to be driven very gently to keep the ICE engine off. The Clarity has enough torque to move the vehicle with normal traffic and not be bothered trying to feather foot it. That is what sold me, and my wife. Happy owner here
Just a side note in response "to drive gently". My Clarity works very well with out driving gently. I have driven Ford Fusion Energy's and C Max Energy's both had to be driven very gently to keep the ICE engine off. The Clarity has enough torque to move the vehicle with normal traffic and not be bothered trying to feather foot it. That is what sold me, and my wife. Happy owner here
I definitely have to feather foot it in sport mode merging onto freeways. But if you drive in eco mode you can get away with flooring it so to speak...
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