In article >,
jim beam > wrote:

> Jeff wrote:
> > Does software control the switching of the power source between
> > gasoline and the battery pack?
>
> yes.
>
> > Or is it more of a mechanical element
> > that controls it?
> >
> > Is it possible for Honda mechanics to "adjust" how much battery power
> > is getting used? I'm happy with my 2005 Hybrid, but I'd like to
> > average more than the 43.5 mpg that I'm currently getting. My driving
> > is 90% city (start and stop traffic). I watch the gauges closely, and
> > it seems that the battery doesn't get used as much as it could during
> > acceleration. In fact, very rarely does my overall battery power ever
> > dip below the 80% mark. I was wondering if they could adjust the
> > threshold/configuration of when the battery kicks in so that it gets
> > used more.
> >
> ok, if the batteries were to be discharged to 50%, where is the energy
> to recharge them going to come from? [that's a rhetorical question.]
>
> unless you discharge them & keep them discharged, there is no "net
> gain", so you're still going to run the motor to recharge those
> batteries, and that's what consumes the gas. your software, based on
> extensive research, knows how to optimise fuel consumption based on the
> driving you're doing. try & believe that the millions of $'s & years of
> research that preceeded your purchase were not wasted by incompetents.

The point is that the batteries in Honda's systems frequently hit 100%
full or empty. The hybrid system does assist a little more on a full
battery and regenerate a little more on an empty battery, but the
adjustment isn't enough.

On empty city streets, my HAH battery fills up because there's more
regeneration than assist. In dense stop and go traffic, the battery
empties because there's more assisting than regeneration. In both cases
the car stops being a hybrid after a few minutes because its not
adjusting to conditions. I have no idea how the EPA came up with the
HAH's high milage numbers.