If you hold the left paddle it will keep the regen until you hold the right paddle. You can also just use the brake pedal for regen, just watch the green bar on the left gauge and get a feel for them. Either way, regen works down to about 7-9mph then normal brakes kick in.
MPGs with 2023 Hybrids
As I've gotten used to driving a hybrid, I've found it quite interesting how driving habits seem to impact fuel economy in ways I didn't initially expect. I likely will not change my driving style in the interest of maximizing fuel economy over time, but in the past week or two have paid a bit more attention to check if my 23 touring model is in the expected MPG range. So far it definitely is with my average in the 42-44 range with mixed city and highway miles. But with some caveats ...
If you truly push the car non-stop very aggressively, yes fuel economy suffers and you'll be lucky to be in the 30s especially if you're in a hilly area. No surprise there. But ... on the flip side if you drive the car very conservatively as if you were trying to conserve gas (as I would in any other traditional ICE), fuel economy also seems to suffer. That is, If I gently accelerate to desired speed with light pressure on the accelerator, the engine is on the entire time fueling either the battery or the drive motor, and the direct drive clutch is not engaged until you get to desired speed. Fuel economy suffers this entire time. However, if I accelerate more briskly to desired speed - whether it's 40, 50, 60, 70, whatever - then settle into that speed, the engine turns off and you're EV, or the direct drive clutch engages for higher MPGs. Maybe this is old news for hybrid owners, but I found it quite interesting. And I've found it very useful to use regenerative breaking to both charge the battery and save the brakes. In a few short weeks, driving a different car that doesn't have this feature is suddenly odd! I really like that feature. Regardless, it's been refreshing that in my limited experience more aggressive driving actually seems to yield better MPGs!
Curious if others have noticed this?
If you truly push the car non-stop very aggressively, yes fuel economy suffers and you'll be lucky to be in the 30s especially if you're in a hilly area. No surprise there. But ... on the flip side if you drive the car very conservatively as if you were trying to conserve gas (as I would in any other traditional ICE), fuel economy also seems to suffer. That is, If I gently accelerate to desired speed with light pressure on the accelerator, the engine is on the entire time fueling either the battery or the drive motor, and the direct drive clutch is not engaged until you get to desired speed. Fuel economy suffers this entire time. However, if I accelerate more briskly to desired speed - whether it's 40, 50, 60, 70, whatever - then settle into that speed, the engine turns off and you're EV, or the direct drive clutch engages for higher MPGs. Maybe this is old news for hybrid owners, but I found it quite interesting. And I've found it very useful to use regenerative breaking to both charge the battery and save the brakes. In a few short weeks, driving a different car that doesn't have this feature is suddenly odd! I really like that feature. Regardless, it's been refreshing that in my limited experience more aggressive driving actually seems to yield better MPGs!
Curious if others have noticed this?
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It seems to me that in Normal mode, the regen generally defaults to 1 or 2 bars out of the 6. So it is definitely still "regenning" all the time. I have used the paddles to kick it down to level 6 and then it has a much stronger deceleration feeling when you let off the gas (which I don't actually love anyway) but in Normal it feels like it doesn't hold that setting forever. Someone else posted that Sport mode does hold whatever setting you choose on the paddle.I test drove a 2023 Accord ex-L yesterday and was very confused about the regen paddles. You use the paddles to produce regen when slowing, but for the next slowdown, you start from zero with the regen? Does a driver need to use the regen paddles religiously to get the max city MPG? When the FEDs do the mileage testing, are they using the regen paddles? What difference in MPG can a driver using the paddles aggressively produce versus ignoring them?
I like to be involved in my driving (sure do miss the manual trans) but flipping the paddle seemed tiresome...
This explanation will use some words slightly differently than what is normal. I find it helps to understand the complete process.
- Slowing is any process that forces a reduction in the car's speed.
- Friction slowing uses the brake pads in the wheels.
- Regen slowing uses the 181 HP electric motor as a generator.
- There actually is a third kind, that applies only when the battery is full, called Engine slowing. It still uses the 181 HP motor as a generator, but that drives the generator as motor to spin the engine. This works just like engine braking in a conventional car going down long hills. I can't say about the Gen11, but in a Gen10 you have to have selected at least level 2 with the paddles to get it.
- Coasting is when you let up on, or completely release, the accelerator pedal to activate slowing.
- Coasting uses only regen slowing.
- The regen paddles set the maximum amount of regen slowing, when you release the pedal.
- You can moderate the amount, up to that level, with slight pressure on the accelerator. This is called "One Pedal Driving," and it does not use energy to counter-balance the slowing. It just regenerates less. You won't "waste fuel" unless you press so hard that you actually accelerate.
- Braking is when you press the brake pedal to activate slowing.
- Braking uses what is called "blended" slowing.
- A computer will determine how much slowing you want, above what the paddles indicate, from the pressure on the brake pedal. It will apply as much regen as is possible, and then whatever mix of front- and back-wheel friction is safe to make up the difference.
@jkash99 Agree with this ... and to your final sentence I'm guessing that more aggressive driving in city/suburbs may have also helped increase MPGs in addition to ambient temps and interior climate controls. Just a hunch from my experience where those other two factors have been constant. Not saying to drive it like like you're at Le Mans, just don't take your time getting to your target speed (during which time efficiency is very low). And this only applies to city driving. On the highway, higher 75+mph constant speeds really tank the MPGs (pun intended!) as many have already noted. I'm happy with the car in most all aspects outside of highway MPGs.Just did my first actual fill up. According to fuelly, 40.7mpg. Better than the cars read out. I am impressed that it got that high considering it’s been sub 50deg most of the time.
For those curious, just did a 10 mile journey to and from doggy daycare on city/suburban drivings. Drive there I had the heat on and was driving carful since the pup was in the car, 30.5mpg. On the way back no heat on, car was already warm and driving more aggressively, 54.8mpg. Goes to show much ambient temps (mainly to heat up the engine and battery) and climate control impact fuel economy
@cajun and @Jeff, thanks
I agree it feels 100% natural to just use the brake pedal...I am still amazed by how well they have blended this....I expected jerkiness or odd braking feel but it is perfect IMO. The paddles I guess can get you to that "one pedal driving" that people talk about, but I don't like that feel....I am used to two pedal driving, my other cars are two pedal drving, so that unnatural feeling of huge deceleration as soon as I let off the gas pedal just feels weird. So I am happy to let the Normal mode do everything in "Auto" as it knows best. One less thing to futz around with.
One question though....let's say I was coming down Pikes Peak and so in a normal car I would shift down to a low gear to avoid burning up the brakes and use engine braking to my advantage. Is that an application of the manual regen paddles here? Or is the system smart enough to do the same heavy level of regen if it knows you are going downhill and so just applying the brake pedal gets the same place?
I agree it feels 100% natural to just use the brake pedal...I am still amazed by how well they have blended this....I expected jerkiness or odd braking feel but it is perfect IMO. The paddles I guess can get you to that "one pedal driving" that people talk about, but I don't like that feel....I am used to two pedal driving, my other cars are two pedal drving, so that unnatural feeling of huge deceleration as soon as I let off the gas pedal just feels weird. So I am happy to let the Normal mode do everything in "Auto" as it knows best. One less thing to futz around with.
One question though....let's say I was coming down Pikes Peak and so in a normal car I would shift down to a low gear to avoid burning up the brakes and use engine braking to my advantage. Is that an application of the manual regen paddles here? Or is the system smart enough to do the same heavy level of regen if it knows you are going downhill and so just applying the brake pedal gets the same place?
That is, indeed, one of the the best ways to use them. Think of each click as a downshift, with less jerking.One question though....let's say I was coming down Pikes Peak and so in a normal car I would shift down to a low gear to avoid burning up the brakes and use engine braking to my advantage. Is that an application of the manual regen paddles here?
But they do have another positive use. While the paddles don't accomplish anything that the pedal (this is where I feel like I am quoting Dr. Seuss) can't, they do so more smoothly and with the certainty that all of your slowing is dome by regeneration. You can use them to train yourself for how to gradually approach a red light for maximum benefit.
There are actually 6 levels with the 2023 Accord.The regen paddles are 100% optional and I actually find I get worse MPG when using them. The brake pedal will use blended braking which will use regen braking first and then use the brake pads when needed. The paddles are fun to play with but they only allow you to set 4 different levels of deceleration. If you use the brake pedal instead, the computer can choose the exact amount of regen braking to use so that you don't waste too much of your momentum.
There are too many times I hit the paddle shifter and realize I applied too much braking and have to hit the gas pedal a little to get to the line for the red light which wastes fuel. The computer will know what to do a lot more than I will and using the pedal is 100x more natural for me.
Anyone know if using the left paddle ever activates the brake lights?
Yea it does. Monitor the center part of the gauges where the digital accord is while you are using the paddles or normal brakes. They come on. For the paddles, I think you have to hit it a couple of times for it to turn the brake lights on.Anyone know if using the left paddle ever activates the brake lights?
On first pull off left paddle, just slows it a little.Anyone know if using the left paddle ever activates the brake lights?
Second pull, slows more, and also activates rear brake lights.
You can tell by looking at the little car on the screen. Mine doesn’t activate the brake light on the first push but does on subsequent ones as the braking becomes more aggressiveAnyone know if using the left paddle ever activates the brake lights?
You can tell by looking at the little car on the screen. Mine doesn’t activate the brake light on the first push but does on subsequent ones as the braking becomes more aggressive
here’s my latestYou can tell by looking at the little car on the screen. Mine doesn’t activate the brake light on the first push but does on subsequent ones as the braking becomes more aggressive
Is this function through the car's screen or on an app?here’s my latest
View attachment 550311
App is MPG trackerIs this function through the car's screen or on an app?
The best way to judge MPG is to actually measure how much fuel you are putting in the tank and then recording how many miles you have driven on that tankful to calculate MPG. Just going by an App reading can many times be inaccurate and mostly optimistic. 55 MPG sounds very generous. I’m guessing you had a strong tailwind to get that figure.
I think you enter the fuel and mileage data into the app and it spits out the number. While certainly on the upper fringes, if he's got an EX-L I could maybe see it. I'm getting 51mpg on a tank on my 2017 HAH and it's combined rating is 48mpg... the 2023 EX-L rating is 51mpg combined. So maybe?The best way to judge MPG is to actually measure how much fuel you are putting in the tank and then recording how many miles you have driven on that tankful to calculate MPG. Just going by an App reading can many times be inaccurate and mostly optimistic. 55 MPG sounds very generous. I’m guessing you had a strong tailwind to get that figure.
At least with fuelly you enter the ODO value (which it calculates distance traveled) and then you enter gallons fueled. I’m not sure why you are skeptical of everything lol. “MPG with data is wrong! 0-60 with data is wrong! I don’t feel it’s correct”The best way to judge MPG is to actually measure how much fuel you are putting in the tank and then recording how many miles you have driven on that tankful to calculate MPG. Just going by an App reading can many times be inaccurate and mostly optimistic. 55 MPG sounds very generous. I’m guessing you had a strong tailwind to get that figure.
At least with fuelly you enter the ODO value (which it calculates distance traveled) and then you enter gallons fueled. I’m not sure why you are skeptical of everything lol. “MPG with data is wrong! 0-60 with data is wrong! I don’t feel it’s correct”
Okay, I think I got it now. The Hybrid is good for 5.8 0-60’s, low 14’s in the 1/4 mile and almost 60 MPG. 🤣
Manual calculation is the only way I would to do it to be sure instead of believing in the gospel of what some App tells me. Also, different environmental conditions and altitude changes can skew that value.
Where are the gas turbo guys taking App screenshots of their car achieving low 40 MPG‘s? I’m sure it can be done, but a lot of Hybrid owners on here would be skeptical as well.
A fuel mileage app that you can download and use on your smartphone is NOT some sort of hocus pocus.Manual calculation is the only way I would to do it to be sure instead of believing in the gospel of what some App tells me. Also, different environmental conditions and altitude changes can skew that value.
It is a calculator!!!
You enter the odometer reading and the gallons of fuel entered into your tank and it does the SIMPLE math and creates a chart/graph for you over time.
It is just like the old days when your Mom left a small notebook in the glovebox to record the odometer and gallons put in the tank (and the price per gallon like my Mom did) and did the math, longhand.
it’s really a simple concept
“Let me make up some numbers and use that to prove my point!”Okay, I think I got it now. The Hybrid is good for 5.8 0-60’s, low 14’s in the 1/4 mile and almost 60 MPG. 🤣
Manual calculation is the only way I would to do it to be sure instead of believing in the gospel of what some App tells me. Also, different environmental conditions and altitude changes can skew that value.
Where are the gas turbo guys taking App screenshots of their car achieving low 40 MPG‘s? I’m sure it can be done, but a lot of Hybrid owners on here would be skeptical as well.
Firstly I’m sure the 1.5T can get in the 40’s on the highway. No one has discredited them on Facebook or Reddit that I have seen so not sure why you are bringing that up.
Weather conditions don’t “skew” results. The results are just different. Skewing data implies it’s wrong but it’s a fact cars do better in warmer weather for fuel economy.
The apps are calculators. Not sure why someone needs to do it by hand. Im assuming you don’t use computers at work? How could you trust your results are accurate?
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