What are some tips for driving a hybrid car?
- Utilize EV Mode in short distances
- Refrain from hard braking
- Maintain steady speeds
- Understand the hybrid information display
Hybrid vehicles are undoubtedly one of the most sustainable forms of transportation. If you’ve just recently purchased a car such as that of a Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid, then you’ve taken a step in the right direction in making your environment more sustainable. However, you can further take this up another notch by knowing how to drive a hybrid car efficiently.
Driving a hybrid car isn’t generally different from driving your everyday fuel-combustion engine. But if you truly want to maximize your vehicle’s hybrid features and qualities, you would need to inform yourself of the many different tips on driving a hybrid car. With these tips, you’re not only becoming environmentally friendly but also creating more economical choices for you. Continue reading to learn more.
Utilize EV Mode in short distances
The EV Mode, or electric vehicle mode, is one of the most distinctive features of your hybrid car. As you may already know, hybrid vehicles aren’t totally powered through solely electric batteries. They still make use of fuel combustion. If you’re driving in easily congested major thoroughfares in the country, then you wouldn’t be able to fully maximize your vehicle’s EV mode, in much the same way that you cannot do the same on long stretches of roads.
By using the EV mode in short distances, such as in suburbs, you’re enabling the electric battery to be more efficiently utilized. Further take advantage of this feature by driving at low speeds, such as when you’re backing out of a parking lot, or maneuvering your vehicle out of the driveway.
However, you should also take into consideration that using EV mode can reduce the sound your hybrid vehicle’s engine makes. As such, it’s important for you to pay close attention to your surroundings when this mode has been activated, as some pedestrians may not be aware of your vehicle approaching.
Refrain from hard braking
Whether you’re driving a fuel-combustion vehicle or a hybrid car, you should always see to it that you’re not abruptly pushing down on the brakes of your vehicle. This action is generally not recommended because of the potential engine problems your car might encounter, due to the high level of friction.
For hybrid vehicles, you can further slow down the wear and tear of the engine and maximize your driving experience by avoiding hard braking and also subsequently avoid a loss of engine power. Since your vehicle is also powered through regenerative braking, you would have to ease the foot pressure on the brake pedal. This allows sufficient time for the system to recover energy loss.
Maintain steady speeds
Another simple way by which you can drive your hybrid car more efficiently is by maintaining steady speeds on the road. Since your car’s engine is constantly using up electrical and fuel energy, you want to make sure that you’re not contributing further to its detriment by subjecting your vehicle to incredibly high speeds.
By maintaining constant speeds, you’re maximizing the car’s regenerative braking feature, as well as reducing the likelihood of getting into undesirable accident situations.
Understand the hybrid information display
Finally, a simple way of effective hybrid car driving is by simply familiarizing yourself with the vehicle’s hybrid information display. Aside from knowing valuable information such as Revolutions Per Minute, engine temperature, and fuel levels, the information display does a whole lot more. They collect useful information to help you drive more economically.
The information display is also predictive in such a way that it allows you to calculate how much more the vehicle can travel before its engine is exhausted. This enables you to better manage your driving speeds and create cost-efficient solutions for your fuel expenses.
Key Takeaway
If you don’t know the first thing about how to drive a hybrid car more efficiently, then you’re in luck because the guide above has set out to simplify the entire process for you.
Through a variety of simple ways such as driving at slow speeds, to more complex functions like making use of your engine’s EV mode and optimizing the information display, you’re able to fully maximize your vehicle use.
