CJ and other hybrid owners:
just curious about what your fuel mileage is like when it is this cold. We all know that car batteries are extremely stressed when it is very cold, with heaters and defrosters running, etc, so does the engine run a lot more? How about heat in the vehicle?
Holy brrrrrr batman.
Well, we just arrived back in Saskatoon from Kindersley, the average is currently sitting at 5.9 L/100 (48 mpg). We filled in Kindersley. In the spring/fall that trip would be 5.4 L/100 (52 mpg), if we did that trip mid summer at +30 instead of -30 it would be about the same (5.9). (as a side note, in the spring/fall comparison, it is either down hill from Kindersley to Saskatoon or there is always a west wind, because the trip to Kindersley usually averages 5.6, while the trip back is 5.4). This trip was -26 to -30 and heat was not a problem.
The engine does run more but it charged the battery more. It was green (7 of 8 bars, it usually stays around the 4-6 bar mark) which we usually see when its hilly or going down the university bridge.
This year my last 3 (half) fills in the cold weather have been:
7.7 L/100…..36mpg
5.5 L/100…..51mpg
6.9 L/100…..42mpg
I looked back in my book.
Dec 07 was 7.9 L/100…..36mpg
Jan 08 was 8.8 L/100…..32mpg
Feb 08 was 8.3 L/100…..34mpg
Yes, one fill last January. That tells me it was cold and I didn't make many extra trips.
Bah humbug on the subject on batteries. I had a learning experience this winter but I won't elaborate here as this is getting long and its past my bedtime. If there is interest I will tell a story in another post.
G'nite
ps. I have an '04 prius
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