We live in hilly western Washington State, USA, on a mountain. I commute 15.9 mi (25.59 km) one way to work after depending a ~700 ft hill, then take one of 3 routes. Using the most energy efficient route, I am able to obtain 64.5 MPG on the route home from work, and more than 70 MPG on the way to work, using every fuel saving driving technique that I know of in super ultra low traffic free flowing conditions very early in the morning for example.
2022 Toyota Corolla
1.8L 1798CC 110Cu. In. l4 FULL HYBRID EV-GAS (FHEV) DOHC Naturally AspiratedTricks to Improve Fuel Economy
Predict what's coming up in terms of traffic flow so you get to the light with speed while it changes from red to green, so you keep your speed or some of it. This inertial maintaining predictive focus means you use less energy or fuel to get back up to speed again after clearing the intersection. Wasteful drivers race to a stop with hard braking scrubbing away all their vehicle inertia as heat scraping brake pads against the brake rotors, then when the light changes their vehicle used more fuel or energy to accelerate from a stop back up to operating speed again, by comparison. Driving aggressively like that reduces our 2022 Corolla Hybrids fuel economy to 42 MPG, in sport mode, with fast driving like a racing simulation video game or similar.
Predictively Maintain Forward Speed
Keeping more speed when going around corners, though this wears out the tire tread faster resulting in shorter tire life, so your trading fuel savings for increased tire degradation, though striking a lower g-force corning speed to balance keeping your inertial in corners can find a happy middle :)
Vigilantly Observe & Anticipate
Watching other vehicle "body language" or how other people are driving nearby, including watch and looking for all posted signs, being careful to stay centered in your lane, avoiding pot holes and other road obstruction or driving as smart, focused with exceptional situational awareness, looking ahead and scanning your mirrors, but also trying to anticipate and predict in order to keep your vehicle moving and avoiding having to lose speed and waste energy to speed up again.
Research Fuel Efficiency Driving "Hypermiling"
This predictive focused "Hypermiling" can boost any vehicles real world fuel economy by 30 to 40 % as well demonstrated by Wayne Gerde's who I learned about it from on Green Car Congress's website many years ago studying how to get better fuel economy in our previous 2005 Prius II tech package purchased new back then and driven 160,000 miles over 17 years with no mechanical issues and basic maintenance.
Based on our fantastic 2010 Prius III user experiences of better than 45 MPG real world and excellent reliability, we decided to buy a lightly used 2022 Corolla Hybrid in 2023, saving $6800 vs buying it brand new. This meant Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, where the 2023 got 3.0, but not worth $7K in my opinion. I only paid $6K out the door with tax and license for our 2020 Yamaha MT03 motorcycle by comparison; it averages 56.8 MPG real world fuel economy on straight unleaded gasoline or E0 "Ethanol Free" :) The 320.3 cc parallel offset twin engine in our 2020 MTO3 refined in YZF-R3 since 2015, proven to be highly reliable, smooth and fuel efficient.
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| Press Photo of 2018 Corolla Hybrid LE at Launch 12th Gen. E210 Corolla w/ 5th Gen. Hybrid Synergy Drive 2ZR-FXE engine optimized since 2009 in Prius Our 2022 features improved Li-Ion hybrid battery |
The next section adaptive scraped from the following linked website posting (click hyperlink to see) https://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/11/20181128-corolla.html
The new hybrid system combines a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two motor/generators through an electronically controlled planetary-type continuously variable transmission (CVT) transaxle. Combined system output of 121 horsepower yields responsive performance.
The nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack employs a newly developed technology called Hyper-Prime Nickel (developed by Primearth EV Energy—originally Panasonic EV Energy—in Japan) to boost battery performance in a smaller and lighter package. The battery’s smaller size and flatter shape allow it to be packaged under the rear seat, rather than taking up trunk space, and also allowing a 60/40 split folding rear seat-back to expand cargo capacity. The battery location also contributes to the vehicle’s lower center of gravity, a boon to agility. A later revision of Corolla Hybrid LE in 2021 features a more compact, lower mass, higher energy density, higher power Li-Ion battery that further improves fuel economy and vehicle dynamics. A tire repair kit replaces the spare tire in the trunk further reducing mass.
1.8 L 2ZR-FXE engine works in concert with the hybrids transaxle electric motor generator (MG2), assuring responsive performance, while energy efficiency is achieved by using IPM MG1 traction motor with MG2 for hybrid battery charging. Variable blending of battery energy, power generation, engine power, and brake energy recovery, all contribute to exceptional system efficiency, substantially reduce fuel consumption that also lowers tailpipe emissions. The engines intake made of thermal insulating polymer, a departure from aluminum on previous iteration of the same engine. Polymer engine intake reduces thermal losses, further increasing fuel economy, while also enabling faster warmup from cold start.
Driving the Corolla Hybrid. The battery provides a subtle power boost when pulling away in order to put less strain on the engine, producing instant crisp acceleration with no shifting transmission due to the orbital gear blending 2 electric motor generators with the interactively optimized friction reduced engine.
A preload differential adds to the confident acceleration feel. During low loads and low differential rotation, differential-limited torque is distributed to the left and right wheels, yielding handling stability. At mid-range and high engine loads, the preload differential functions as an open differential. This improves handling performance by creating a confidence inspiring vehicle stability that works well in all types of driving conditions.
Corolla Hybrid has EV mode, which allows the vehicle to be operated as a pure electric vehicle for short distances, depending upon certain conditions, such as battery charge level. This mode is useful for operating the vehicle in parking lots or indoor parking garages, for example. The Vehicle Proximity Notification feature alerts pedestrians of the vehicle’s presence when running in battery mode.
Along with the expected NORMAL and ECO drive modes, a SPORT drive mode setting allows for an increase in power for stronger acceleration response when desired.
NORMAL mode: Allows the hybrid system to achieve an ideal combination of fuel economy and vehicle acceleration. The accelerator opening amount changes linearly in response to accelerator pedal operation.
ECO mode: Improves hybrid system efficiency by limiting power in response to light to moderate accelerator pedal input.
SPORT mode: Available power is increased, allowing for improved acceleration response.
Stopping the Corolla Hybrid. Another boost to efficiency comes from the Electronically Controlled Brake (ECB) system, which coordinates operation between the regenerative braking force of the electric motors and the hydraulic braking system force to provide optimal stopping power. By proactively using the electric motors to recover as much electrical energy as possible from the regenerative braking system, this extremely efficient cooperative control helps to maximize fuel economy.
An active hydraulic booster on the conventional (non-regenerative) braking system improves pedal feel and feedback for the driver. Critically, should there ever be a malfunction in the ECB system, the conventional hydraulic braking system can stop the vehicle.
Brake Hold, when engaged, is a convenient technology that reduces driver effort while waiting at a traffic light or while driving in heavy traffic. When the driver presses the accelerator, Brake Hold releases instantly. Brake Hold also helps when stopped facing upward on steep hills to prevent roll-back.
The engine. The 2ZR-FXE 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine was designed specifically for a hybrid application. The long-stroke configuration employs the Atkinson cycle, which uses a very high compression ratio (13.0:1) along with a shorter intake stroke (seeing intake valve open longer with variable valve control) and longer expansion stroke than the Otto cycle. The Atkinson cycle extracts more energy from the fuel with superior thermal efficiency, and the electric motors compensate for reduced low-end power (versus the Otto cycle) when the engine at low RPM and low power output, where the electric motor generators MG1 & MG2 produce peak torque at lower RPM. In this way the engine and electric motors are complimentary, contributing to enhanced performance while reducing fuel use, or greater energy efficiency.
Reducing friction in the piston skirts, crankshaft, camshafts, bearings, and the oil pump, while variable speed electric water pump more energy efficient than conventional belt-driven pump, while also enabling faster engine warm up and optimized cooling in different operating conditions. Toyota sought efficiency gains in every system. The highly-efficient air conditioning system, for example, uses S-FLOW control, which automatically optimizes airflow throughout the cabin according to the temperature setting, actual cabin and outside temperatures, sunlight intensity, and occupied seats.
Getting the engine up to operating temperature quickly is critical to conserving fuel and reducing emissions at start-up or cold start. Corolla Hybrid exhaust heat recirculation system speeds up engine coolant warm-up, pumping engine coolant to a heat exchanger located near the catalytic converter in the exhaust pipe system. That in turn allows the hybrid system to stop the gas engine earlier and more often in the driving cycle. The energy efficient HSD system turns the engine off regularly, and enables the Corolla Hybrid to coast with very light throttle pedal. Coasting does not regenerate power to change the hybrid battery, but allows the engine to turn off, and achieves the highest fuel economy in this "coasting mode" something you aim for when hypermiling or applying fuel saving driving tricks to get better fuel economy.
The PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater quickly provides cabin heat electrically in cold temperatures.
Hybrid Exclusives. The Corolla Hybrid rolls on 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels with low-rolling resistance tires. I removed the plastic wheel covers and revealed the beautiful magnesium aluminum alloy wheels :) The new multi-link rear suspension improves both handling agility and ride comfort compared to the previous-generation Corolla Sedan.
The instrument panel uses a high-grade meter with a 7-inch Multi-Information Display (MID). The MID shows the speedometer, as well as a hybrid system indicator/real-time battery charge status indicator. ECO accelerator guidance, also shown in the MID, can provide a guideline for maximizing fuel efficiency by coaching the driver on optimal accelerator pedal operation to match driving conditions. Drivers who like the visual appeal of seeing engine rpm can choose to display a tachometer.
The Corolla Hybrid features eight standard airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, and Smart Stop Technology. All Corolla models come equipped with a standard backup camera.
All 2020 Corolla models are equipped as standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, an advanced suite of integrated active safety features.
PCS (Pre-Collision System): Is designed to automatically activate the brakes to help avoid a collision or mitigate the impact force. PCS is able to detect a vehicle or pedestrian in day and low-light conditions, as well as a bicycle during daylight.
Full-Speed DRCC (Dynamic Radar Cruise Control): Designed for highway use, designed to maintain a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance and is also capable of low-speed following up to speeds of about 24 mph. The Corolla can stop when the vehicle ahead comes to a stop, maintaining an appropriate distance to it.
LDA (Lane Departure Alert) w/ Steer Assist: Designed to give the driver audible and visual warnings and, if necessary, provides steering assistance if it detects the possibility of leaving the driving lane. It also detects excess weaving within the driving lane that might indicate driver distraction, inattention or drowsiness.
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist): LTA is enabled when LDA and DRCC are both on and active. LTA employs a lane centering function that will make constant steering inputs to help the driver keep the vehicle in its lane. LTA is designed for uses on relatively straight highways to preemptively avoid unwanted lane departures and reduce driver fatigue.
AHB (Automatic High Beam): When enabled, detects the headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of preceding vehicles and automatically switches between high and low beams as appropriate.
RSA (Road Sign Assist): Designed to recognize speed limit, Stop, Yield, and Do Not Enter signs and display them on the vehicles MID to help assist the driver.
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