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How I get over 50MPG driving my 2005 Civic Hybrid
Stats
I drive a 2005 Civic Hybrid CVT. It has 32,000 miles on it, and I've filled the tank 65 times since 2005. That's less than twice a month. And it only has an 11.9 gallon tank. My current Miles Per Gallon (MPG) average is 50.3. Most people driving the 2005 model of this car get at most 48 as a lifetime average, with many being less than that. I'm not bragging. I'm sharing my driving methodology to explain how I do this. Keep in mind, this way of driving is not for everyone. Speed demons need not apply :-) Average Speed
First, stay in the right or middle lanes on highways. The left lane is the fast lane, and we want to stay clear of it for two reasons: One, it eats up your mileage. Two, you will piss people off behind you if you don't go fast enough. Next, find your zone. I've found a sweetspot of just under 60 miles per hour gives me the best results. Auto Stop
The Civic Hybrid shuts its engine off at stop lights. This saves gas. Let it happen. Always keep the "Econ" button on your temperature controls enabled. If it is off, Auto Stop will not engage if you have the air conditioner on. Don't inch up on the car in front of you. This will start the engine, and Auto Stop will not engage again until you drive over 10 miles per hour first. If the car ahead of you moves up, leave the gap. Don't feel like you need to close it. Keep an eye on the light itself first, then the car ahead of you before making the decision to move. This avoids getting faked out by the car ahead of you inching up. Traffic
If you can avoid traffic, do it. Change your schedule a half hour here or there to find the lightest traffic times. Traffic = stop/start. Stop/start = bad mileage. Constant speeds are better than stopping and starting all the time. So actually, this hybrid is better on highways (some people think hybrids are better in the city, worse on highways). Maximize Momentum
Coasting. Do it. Often. You'd be surprised how little you really need to step on the gas to keep a constant velocity. Also, while going downhill, you may think to just let it coast completely to get the maximum benefit to your mileage. But what I have found is that this is the best time to actually give it a little gas since this is when you can really afford it. Take advantage of the car's instant mileage display to give it just enough gas to add momentum, but not too much to decrease effectiveness. Doing this on hills will help keep your car moving with less gas since the gravity of the hill plus the extra little kick you put into it push it along significantly. Conclusion
Doing a few simple things can go a long way. These things may not work for everybody, and actually driving under the speed limit may put some people off. But in this era of rising gas prices and dependency on foreign oil, every little bit helps. Remember, folks. The most important thing is to drive safely, regardless of mileage. The above is how I drive and may not be optimal for other people with different driving styles.
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Contributor's Note
This article was written about how I drive my Honda Civic Hybrid to maximize my MPG...my methods may not work for other drivers.
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Green Hybrid
 
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