Hybrid car driving techniques to improve your efficiency
Hybrid vehicles are designed to improve fuel efficiency by combining electric and conventional power. This can help reduce fuel consumption and running costs compared with equivalent conventional petrol or diesel vehicles, while maintaining strong everyday performance.
However, maximising efficiency in your car is about more than just what’s under the bonnet.
How you drive your car will also have an impact on overall efficiency. Knowing how to drive your hybrid more efficiently can make a big difference, from adopting some simple hybrid driving tips to getting your car’s set-up right.
Below, we take a look at some easy, practical advice and techniques for fuel-efficient driving so you can get the most out of your Honda hybrid.
Hybrid car efficiency tips: Before you set off
Efficiency matters when you get behind the wheel, but there are some things you can do before you even get in your car to help maximise economy and boost efficiency.
Get the route right
Efficient driving isn’t all about acceleration and braking. Even if you remove the driver’s performance from the equation, the route and time of day of a journey can have significant impact on fuel economy. Planning a route that takes in main roads with good quality road surfaces, driven outside rush hour periods, can help make your drive more fuel-efficient.
Reduce any excess load
Over time, it’s easy to let your belongings build up in your car. Whether it’s a bike rack or sports equipment you only need once a week, the car can feel like a convenient place to store stuff. But this could also be impacting efficiency. A heavier car will require more fuel to keep it moving. So, by decluttering the car, you could be making your journeys more efficient.
Check your tyres
Maintaining your tyre pressure is important for safety, but it also improves fuel efficiency because there is less rolling resistance on the road. The correct air pressure for your car is usually specified in the vehicle owner’s guide or shown either by the driver’s door or inside the fuel cap. Try to check the pressure when the tyres are cold for a true reading.
Using the correct driving mode
Most hybrids, including Honda hybrids, offer an ECON (economy) mode which restricts performance to boost the economy. By reducing aggressive throttle response, adjusting the way the engine responds to the accelerator and altering the climate control system, this mode works to improve the hybrid’s efficiency even further.
Some full hybrid cars can also run on EV mode - on battery power alone - in certain conditions. Using just the battery means you’re not burning any fuel at all.
Fuel-efficient driving techniques
Fuel-efficient driving is all about adopting techniques that will help you get the most out of your engine. Things like driving smoothly at the most efficient speeds and more gentle acceleration and deceleration will have the biggest impact on efficiency.
Full hybrid cars like Honda hybrids can run on battery power alone in certain conditions. For instance, they will run solely on battery power up to certain speeds, depending on the charge in the battery etc. So, by driving to suit these conditions, you can have EV-like efficiency.
Drive as smoothly as possible
One of the driving techniques which saves fuel most successfully is to drive steadily and smoothly, and to accelerate and brake in a non-aggressive manner. Maintaining consistency, whether in your acceleration or braking, helps reduce the strain on your vehicle, which can maximise its efficiency. Proper use of regenerative braking (instead of the brake pedals) and an efficient automatic transmission system can help.
Drive at the most efficient speed
As well as driving smoothly, it’s important that drivers consider what speed is most efficient when trying to save fuel. Sometimes slowing down slightly can be enough to find the optimal speed for maximising efficiency. For example, the European Environment Agency (EEA) states that slowing from 120km/h to 110km/h could save you 12-18% in fuel usage.
Open windows slightly if needed
Does opening the windows increase drag and impact a car’s driving efficiency? According to real-world data, maybe not. In 2015, Fergal McGrath drove a standard Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC around all 24 contiguous EU countries and achieved an average of 100.3mpg, setting a new Guinness World Record. He drove nearly 8,400 miles, in temperatures of up to 40°C, and found that keeping the windows ajar, rather than using the air conditioning, was the most efficient technique.
Maximise regenerative braking
You can drive most hybrids using the accelerator pedal alone. That’s because of regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle down when you are not pressing the accelerator. The less you touch your brake pedals, the more energy gets channelled to your battery from the regenerative brakes. When you do have to brake, try to do so gently where possible.
Find out more about regenerative braking
Use the car’s displays
Most hybrids, including Honda hybrids, display information that you can use to drive more fuel efficiently.
1.The Trip Computer – Use this to monitor your real-time fuel efficiency.
2.Eco Drive Displays – This type of display shows how efficiently you are driving at a given time. For example, you might see a coloured bar indicator that shows green when your driving is most efficient, and yellow or red when not.
3.Drive Score – When your journey is over, most hybrids will show a summary of your driving performance and might even give you a score.
Frequently asked questions
Does cruise control use more fuel?
Cruise control can cause you to use more fuel, despite allowing you to maintain a more constant speed. While it can be useful for motorway driving, using cruise control elsewhere can mean it takes longer to react to changing road conditions, using more fuel as a result.
Are hybrid cars better for short distances?
Yes, full hybrids can run on EV Drive mode over short distances, which allows your electric motor and battery pack to propel your car. This means no notable fuel consumption and a reduced environmental impact.
Do hybrids switch drive modes automatically?
Hybrids can automatically switch between power sources depending on the car’s energy needs. At low speeds, they draw more from electric power, while at high speeds, they can utilise their petrol or diesel engine. This ensures optimum vehicle performance.
Do hybrid cars use fuel while idling?
Hybrids do experience some energy loss from idling. To combat this, when driving in a city, hybrids will automatically turn the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop and restart it when the accelerator is pressed. In highway driving, there is minimal idling.
Related reading
Ready to make the move to hybrid? Find out more about hybrid cars and discover if Honda hybrid is your ideal next move.
