[ydono]

I am new to the hybrid car and am a bit confused as to when the electric can be used. I thought the salesman said that it can only kick in after 25 mph - so how does it save gas on the freeway if electric can't kick in?

 

[SpareTimeGizmos]

I am new to the hybrid car and am a bit confused as to when the electric can be used. I thought the salesman said that it can only kick in after 25 mph - so how does it save gas on the freeway if electric can't kick in?

Somewhat oversimplified answer - the electric motor is used exclusively to move the car below somewhere around 40MPH. Above that speed the car has a direct, fixed gear ratio, option that allows the ICE (internal combustion engine) to drive the wheels directly.

While using the "direct drive" option the car will use some of the ICE power to move the car and some to charge the batteries. This maximizes the ICE efficiency at whatever speed you're driving. When the batteries are charged the car will automatically switch to electric only drive, even at freeway speeds, and will turn off the ICE. Honda did a beautiful job on this part and you won't even know that it's happening, but you can tell by watching the "EV" indicator on the dash. Whenever "EV" is on, the ICE is off and you're on electric drive only.

I believe that the car can also run both the electric motor AND the ICE in parallel on the freeway if it decides that it needs to. This gives you maximum HP at the wheels for acceleration and passing.

 

[EXcommunicated]

I am new to the hybrid car and am a bit confused as to when the electric can be used. I thought the salesman said that it can only kick in after 25 mph - so how does it save gas on the freeway if electric can't kick in?

SpareTime gave a good simple explanation above. The real beauty is you have zero need to worry about it. The car optimizes drive mode with no human intervention required. YOU don’t “use electric mode”, the car makes that determination.

 

[ydono]

Somewhat oversimplified answer - the electric motor is used exclusively to move the car below somewhere around 40MPH. Above that speed the car has a direct, fixed gear ratio, option that allows the ICE (internal combustion engine) to drive the wheels directly.

While using the "direct drive" option the car will use some of the ICE power to move the car and some to charge the batteries. This maximizes the ICE efficiency at whatever speed you're driving. When the batteries are charged the car will automatically switch to electric only drive, even at freeway speeds, and will turn off the ICE. Honda did a beautiful job on this part and you won't even know that it's happening, but you can tell by watching the "EV" indicator on the dash. Whenever "EV" is on, the ICE is off and you're on electric drive only.

I believe that the car can also run both the electric motor AND the ICE in parallel on the freeway if it decides that it needs to. This gives you maximum HP at the wheels for acceleration and passing.

So, there is still hybrid benefits when driving over 40 then?

 

[SpareTimeGizmos]

So, there is still hybrid benefits when driving over 40 then?

Yes, definitely. Depending on who you believe, this benefit may be even greater than what you get from regenerative braking while driving around town.

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Suggest you continue here for the Hybrid powertrain:

CR-V Hybrid Transmission - How Does It Work? (5G & 6G)

The ONLY example of that is regenerative braking. Umm, isn't going downhill an example of regenerative braking ?? Trying to take advantage of regen, to the point where it affects efficiency, would require a battery the size of those in plug-ins. You're saying that regenerative braking...

www.crvownersclub.com

And here for fuel efficiency:

(2022) CR-V Hybrid MPG Discussion [Merged Master Thread]

Correct me if i am wrong, but I am sure that screen is your average projected fuel economy, not your actual fuel economy. To get your historic actual fuel economy you need to go into the infotainment system. The only thing projected there is the Range. Info shows actual fuel consumption of...

www.crvownersclub.com

Cheers.