[JRMichler]

Back to the original purpose for this thread.....

The heater kept the cab warm at -22 deg F with the heater blower on the slowest speed. At speeds lower than about 35-40 MPH, the engine runs to maintain heat. This is one reason for the loss of mileage on cold days and low speeds.

This truck is powerful. I passed a car on the highway by flooring it until past the other car, and reached 80 MPH. It then shifted into electric mode when I lifted off the gas pedal.

I have been using Normal and ECO modes. The ECO mode turns off the engine at slightly lower temperature, and holds it in electric mode until slightly higher power than Normal mode. The differences are small, and I did not notice any significant change in MPG. A true comparative test is difficult because the MPG is so sensitive to temperature and wind.

The gas mileage is sensitive to outside temperature. Highway mileage at 0 deg F is about 35 MPG, while about 42 MPG at 30 deg F. Both numbers vary depending on the wind. I am eagerly awaiting warmer weather.

Pulse and glide is easy. One challenge is that lifting off the gas switches to electric mode with regenerative braking activated. In order to glide, it is necessary step on the gas just hard enough to hold the regenerative braking to zero. P&G would be much easier if the default regenerative braking was changed to zero. Regenerative braking would still be activated by the brake pedal.

A binary driver, one who is hard on the and hard on the brakes with little coasting, will not benefit from a hybrid. Such a driver will spend little time in electric mode. Hard on the brakes means that little regeneration energy will be collected.

So far, after almost 2000 miles, the dash MPG meter reads about 3.4% higher than actual measured tank mileage.