I ran out of gas...

leehinde said:
I had one episode where the car wouldn't let me add gas. It was early on in my Clarity ownership and the first time at that station, so I tried again at a different station and it worked. I haven't had the problem since.
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I had the same thing happen to me just once. The pump kept clicking off even though I knew it wasn't full yet. I had to estimate my fill up. I tried to listen to the fuel rising up the tank. Anyway, it didn't happen again so I suspect it was the pump.
 
I wonder how much weight makes a difference in this car to the mpg.
For example would carrying an extra 50 lbs. make a measurable difference?
 
It would make a difference but you would have to make really good measurements. From the EPA Fuel Economy website: Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by about 1%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
 
Chuck said:
It would make a difference but you would have to make really good measurements. From the EPA Fuel Economy website: Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by about 1%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
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Eight gallons of gasoline weighs about fifty pounds. Taking this unverified factoid at face value, we're talking about 0.5%. While I am for avoiding unnecessary items, I'm going to keep a full tank of gas, especially in the Winter.
 
Interesting.... Based on @Chuck and @MNSteve info that would mean about .2 mpg difference between empty vs. full and once you take into consideration this is a 2 ton probably closer to .1 mpg difference. There are so many things that would cause you to gain or loose .1 including just measurement error that it isn’t even worth thinking about it. MNSteve, good idea full tank not only is safer in winter but also keeps out air and moisture from the tank. Nice to know it isn’t affecting our mileage in any measurable fashion.
 
PHEV Newbie said:
That's about my average if I'm driving 50-60 mph. If I'm driving faster, the mileage drops as expected. This is a 2-ton car. It gets incredible gasoline mileage.
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I’ve been getting low to mid 30s for highway trips at 75 mph. Definitely a disappointment.
 
I am constantly amazed at the people who complain about gas mileage or EV range and then disclose that they drive 75 or 80 mph most of the time.

The EPA highway test is maximum 60 mph and averages 48 mph. At 75 mph you use 56% more energy relative to 60 mph, and range will be 36% lower. 64% of the 42 mpg rating is only 27 mpg, and 64% of the 48 mile EV range is 31 miles.

If those are normal speeds on the roads you drive, then fine, but realize that you are going to be below the average for mpg and range. I commute at a steady 60 mph and have always exceeded EPA ratings by 10% in any car.
 
Walt R said:
I am constantly amazed at the people who complain about gas mileage or EV range and then disclose that they drive 75 or 80 mph most of the time.
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My philosophy on this is that driving 80 instead of 70 saves me 10 miles for each hour I am on the road. That translates to 8.5 minutes. Is 8.5 minutes worth the increased gas consumption and the increased stress of driving 80 instead of the speed limit? I can envision a few cases where it might be, but generally I poke along at the speed limit. I find it more restful, more economical, and the time saved is not worth the extra hassle. Your mileage may vary (pun intended). If traffic is moving at 80 and I feel like I'm impeding traffic flow, I might drive a bit faster. Or not.
 
Stipulated that there are times when Interstates are the best option, but State Roads are often lightly traveled and have decent speed limits. And often better scenery as well.
 
I fully agree with you. Here in the East, I find I'm happy sticking near the 70 mph speed limits. I also found that when I don't speed as much, driving is less stressful and so I can drive for longer stretches - in other words, I may be making up the majority of the time "lost" by not needing to stop for breaks as much. As for the rest of the time, if I'm going to take a 5 hour trip, do I really care if I get there 20 minutes earlier?

MNSteve said:
My philosophy on this is that driving 80 instead of 70 saves me 10 miles for each hour I am on the road. That translates to 8.5 minutes. Is 8.5 minutes worth the increased gas consumption and the increased stress of driving 80 instead of the speed limit? I can envision a few cases where it might be, but generally I poke along at the speed limit. I find it more restful, more economical, and the time saved is not worth the extra hassle. Your mileage may vary (pun intended). If traffic is moving at 80 and I feel like I'm impeding traffic flow, I might drive a bit faster. Or not.
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Fast Eddie B said:
Stipulated that there are times when Interstates are the best option, but State Roads are often lightly traveled and have decent speed limits. And often better scenery as well.
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Heh. I overall agree with you, but I have discovered that not all lines on the map are created equal. I have been burned by deciding to take State roads because they looked more interesting, only to discover that they were TOO interesting, being curvy, hilly, narrow, and sometimes all of the above. I guess the grass is always greener, but after an hour or so of that kind of road, I begin to yearn for the boring Interstate.
 
Here in VT we only have one interstate. It is curvy and hilly, 65 mph speed limit, no billboards (if you don't know where you're going we're not going to tell you) , just trees and fields.
 
MNSteve said:
Eight gallons of gasoline weighs about fifty pounds. Taking this unverified factoid at face value, we're talking about 0.5%. While I am for avoiding unnecessary items, I'm going to keep a full tank of gas, especially in the Winter.
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I agree with you 100%, keeping the tank full is just plain good planning ahead, plus the benefit of keeping moisture out of the fuel system. I'm taking it slightly further by only putting 100% gasoline in the fuel tank. I've learned my lesson regarding E10 fuel in my small engines.
 
PSA: My HV range is more accurate now. It now reads 302 HV miles after almost running out of gas, filling up and driving in EV mode for 15 miles (note: first it read 329 HV miles). This is after going 35 miles past the fuel warning light in HV mode. When the attendant filled my gas up, the receipt read 6.75 gallons. Not quite anywhere near the OP, but then again I still had gas left in the tank.
 
If you over pump a modern car you’re just fillling your vapor recovery canister with gas and/or giving back gasoline to the station through their vapor recovery hose that feeds it back into their tank. Neither of which is doing your car any good and perhaps even some damage. Who know how the pressurized tank of the Clarity will handle being overfilled.
 
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