TLPLEXUS

I would like to announce that I am now a proud new owner of a 2010 Lexus HS250h. This is a base model with Navigation system and I have 45k on the odometer. So I have used 2 tanks of gas so far and I average about 32-33 MPG (Most of these were hwy driving). I was using either normal mode or eco mode when I hit traffic. I have not tried Power mode yet since I don't want my mileage dipped below 30MPG. A/C is on most of the time due to the hot weather in Orange County here in California.

Do you guys have any techniques on how to extract more MPGs out of these cars? Is there special tuning that Lexus can do to get higher MPGs than the EPA listing?

Some people are able to get over 40 MPGs consistently. I really don't know if I can drive like them though.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26774

Magellan55

the easiest way is to drive 10-15 mph below the speed limit, brake slowly far from a red light / stop sign, and never accelerate past the "green" zone :-)

Or just drive normal and enjoy higher mpg than you would driving a normal car.

TLPLEXUS

Thanks for the update. It is hard to do that in Orange County/Los angeles traffic since I will get tailgated and get angry looks from people. But I do drive way less aggressively in this vehicle than others due to the nature of this vehicle.

Is it better to brake early (light braking) instead of coasting (just letting go of the gas pedal) when coming to a stop? The LCD shows either method regenerates the electric motor but I have heard that coasting is not charging the electric motor as much as braking.

skywise

You can see how well your braking is regenning with the 'tach'.
As long as it's somewhere in the regen range, you're getting power back.
Coasting probably gets you power, but I doubt very much.
Something I've noticed is if the road is rough, the regen cuts out and you're left with normal brakes. (Not sure if releasing the brake will reset things or not)

Magellan55

It's certainly not scientific, but I've noticed that max regen occurs about where the regen area runs out - press harder than that, and you're generating heat instead of battery juice. Just coasting will regen a little bit, then you're wasting the rest on friction brakes at the end.

TonyHS

It's not extremely hard to get the upper 30's-40's range. What works for me is trying not to stop much..... I try to plan the stop lights by coasting as much as I can so I can get to the light and have it turn green. If I do need to stop I do slow down earlier and try to do the whole stop in regen. However I don't drive in heavy traffic much. But aggressive driving will usually get me into the low 30's. I'm also in the OC area.

ppercoskie

Just bought a 2010 HS250H on Tuesday and still learning how to drive it. Love it so far. Any tips or tricks? I do want to put in LED lights in the interior and change out the trunk light. Its my first Lexus and the previous car I had was a 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

TonyHS

Depends on how much MPG you want to get. But driving it more gently and using brakes as little as possible. If you can do some pulse and glide. It really is true that 45 to 55 is much better on MPG, I do see a good amount of loss when I'm going 70-80. However It's still rare for me to drop below 32 MPG overall.

Magellan55

Agreed - driving style probably has more impact than anything else. But little things help, like not putting a roof rack or air deflectors on it, keeping tires inflated, keeping it clean/waxed, replace air filter/oil as required, don't carry around unnecessary weight,

TheAirman

One trick to remember is........ 38 mph.

The HS suffers from last generation software and that's why the new Camry gets better mileage and had a bigger engine. Sometimes the HS has a mind of its own and will run on and on without shutting down when you don't need it too.

The only thing I have figured out to do is when you find the engine won't shut off, and you could run on electrics alone, is to run it up to at least 38 and lift the throttle and slowly reapply it not getting out of the first green zone and you can run a long time on electric alone. Just as long as you do not go above 41. You'll get a great mileage boost.

This works in areas that have mostly a 25 mph or so speed limit. Sometimes in these situations when it won't shut down, I drop back off the car in front of me, hit the gas, run it up to 38, lift the throttle, hit the brake and slow back down to 25, then glide the rest of the way on electrics alone watching the meter making sure I don't go out of the first green band.

Driving a hybrid and hypermiling is like flying an airplane. You got a few things going on at once, and you got to stay one step ahead and keep your eyes on the gauges. (Plus the road!)