View Single Post
Old 11-05-2009, 10:16 PM   #4 (permalink)
MetroMPG
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 57.73 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,082
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by darcane View Post
For a single set of helical cut gears, 98% is good, but not tremendously higher than average.
That's good context. Any idea what average would be?

The Solectria Force Geo cars also all used custom single speed gearboxen.

I couldn't really get away with it in the low power ForkenSwift... well maybe I could (the Citicars were all single speed 48 volts). But I like to have the ability to downshift to keep amps low when cruising (or climbing very steep stuff at low speed), and upshifting when I want more power.

I actually do use all 5 gears - but mostly 2 & 3 with a bit of 4 once in a while. I could probably get away with just 2, 3 & reverse. Wonder what kind of difference it would make...
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote