[andrew]

For the Hybrid, is there a way to get the gas engine to stay on when stopped or get it to come on before moving when a light turns green.

I did some minor mountain driving today.
If I was stopped going up hill, it seemed the EV didn't always have enough umph to get me moving quickly.
I might have been to light on the pedal as well, so some of this might have been driver error.

Anyhow it seems there are situations when I don't want to get moving in EV mode only.

Thanks

 

[InfinitiPlusOne]

Yep, put some pressure on the gas pedal to make the car take off faster. Steady applying pressure on the gas pedal is better than punching it hard. If you punch it too hard, the wheel might slid and traction control kick in which cut power to the engine and cause this rocking motion that can slow you down. With the hybrid, the key to lots of power and torque is the hybrid battery. When both gas engine and battery power the car at the same time, it's an awesome feeling of power and speed. It does take some time to get the timing right.
The best way to drive (especially in the mountain) is manual shift + Personal mode (Sport transmission and Standard+Quick setting). This rarely put the car in EV mode from a complete stop. The battery always seem to charged up faster and both gas engine + hybrid battery always seem to power the car at the same time when you punch the gas pedal.
This is what I called thrill ride

I might have been to light on the pedal as well, so some of this might have been driver error.

 

[druhoops]

sport mode and transmission in manual sometimes keeps the EV from kicking in at a stop. You can also gently tap the gas with foot on brake to start the gas motor.

 

[andrew]

I definitely need a bit more behind the wheel time.
I think I had the transmission in standard mode and the steering in the slowest/lightest setting granny style.

I'll try what you guys suggested.

Cheers

 

[selzini]

I'm assuming you were on a hill. The car has a hill-holder function, and I'm sure that it will require more oomph to start the car than you get with just the EV mode. Explanation of the feature is on 5-112 in the hybrid manual.

 

[kazilla]

Yep, put some pressure on the gas pedal to make the car take off faster. Steady applying pressure on the gas pedal is better than punching it hard. If you punch it too hard, the wheel might slid and traction control kick in which cut power to the engine and cause this rocking motion that can slow you down. With the hybrid, the key to lots of power and torque is the hybrid battery. When both gas engine and battery power the car at the same time, it's an awesome feeling of power and speed. It does take some time to get the timing right.
The best way to drive (especially in the mountain) is manual shift + Personal mode (Sport transmission and Standard+Quick setting). This rarely put the car in EV mode from a complete stop. The battery always seem to charged up faster and both gas engine + hybrid battery always seem to power the car at the same time when you punch the gas pedal.
This is what I called thrill ride

I think the motor trend (or C&D, not sure) review mentioned that a "quick stab at the pedal" resulted in the best 0-60 time. I know they didn't love the car but I assume they ran a number of tests and experienced the best results by performing the above.

Standard+Quick is fun but that might be a setting that could get inexperienced drivers in to trouble on sharp turns (those often found in mountains). It isn't a forgiving setup and Heavy+Quick or even Standard/Standard might be more suitable for those conditions... at least until one is familiar.

To each his own though and that's why this steering is so great. I personally prefer heavy+quick when I am not used to an environment because it is more difficult to overcorrect.

For the record though, I use standard+quick in personal mode because I think sport is already heavy/quick.

 

[andrew]

I haven't had time to play around with this much more.
I wonder by quick stab if they mean they just mashed it or did a quick stab to get the engine to engage and then punched it.

Quite honestly if it's pulling 4.9 second 0-60 times while starting in EV mode, ... I'd say WOW.


I haven't mashed on the peddle from a dead stop yet.
I'm still getting used to driving the car.
I want to do that before hammering anything.

I wil try what InfinitiPlusOne suggested as well and see if I can find the sweet spot.

 

[InfinitiPlusOne]

It's definitely take some time to adjust to DAS and it's different weight/respond setting. It's all base on personal preferences. I like Heavy+Quick when I am going over 65mph on the highway. I like Standard+Quick when going under 65mph, spirited driving and do lots of sharp turn. Standard+Standard is great for normal driving. The nice thing about DAS, you certainly will not get bored with the steering wheel. Hopefully future update of DAS softwae provide more weight and respond setting to make things even more interesting.

Standard+Quick is fun but that might be a setting that could get inexperienced drivers in to trouble on sharp turns (those often found in mountains). It isn't a forgiving setup and Heavy+Quick or even Standard/Standard might be more suitable for those conditions... at least until one is familiar.

To each his own though and that's why this steering is so great. I personally prefer heavy+quick when I am not used to an environment because it is more difficult to overcorrect.

For the record though, I use standard+quick in personal mode because I think sport is already heavy/quick.

 

[druhoops]

tried this today at stoplight...a quick stab at the throttle (while stopped and foot on brake) started the engine, but then it went right back to EV. So - I put it in neutral and held the pedal to the floor (while braking). Computer kicks in and holds RPM at 1000. Put it back in D <don't worry, at 1000 RPM, nothing dramatic happens>. When light turns green, let off brake and ease up on throttle. If you don't ease up on throttle <which I tried for fun>, you get the equivalent of a "launch mode" - nice quick acceleration from standstill. I have no idea if this "mode" also exists for non-hybrids.

 

[tonypgst]

Druhoops, that sounds interesting. Might need more info and a video on this. I'll have to try this next time I'm out with the Q alone. It is just strange that you can't rev the car while stopped and in park, just not used to it at all yet.

 

[andrew]

tried this today at stoplight...a quick stab at the throttle (while stopped and foot on brake) started the engine, but then it went right back to EV. So - I put it in neutral and held the pedal to the floor (while braking). Computer kicks in and holds RPM at 1000. Put it back in D <don't worry, at 1000 RPM, nothing dramatic happens>. When light turns green, let off brake and ease up on throttle. If you don't ease up on throttle <which I tried for fun>, you get the equivalent of a "launch mode" - nice quick acceleration from standstill. I have no idea if this "mode" also exists for non-hybrids.

Whao!

I think some of my problem was just being new to the car and not used to the pedal.
That mountain drive was basically my 2nd or 3rd drive in the car.

Now I realize give it a bit of pedal and the gas engine comes on pretty fast.
I think I just wasn't putting the pedal down hard enough at launch because I was still used to the G35 gas pedal feel.

 

[druhoops]

Druhoops, that sounds interesting. Might need more info and a video on this. I'll have to try this next time I'm out with the Q alone. It is just strange that you can't rev the car while stopped and in park, just not used to it at all yet.

I've found that in park, I can rev to 3500 (no higher) before computer kicks in. In neutral, only 1000 RPM. Might be a Hybrid thing, though.

 

[selzini]

I've found that in park, I can rev to 3500 (no higher) before computer kicks in. In neutral, only 1000 RPM. Might be a Hybrid thing, though.

I experimented today. When stopped, and the car NOT in EV mode I put it in neutral and stepped on the gas. Nothing happened. The tach stayed at 1,000, and the engine didn't rev. I looked at the VID display of the engine-battery-car, and it showed the engine "feeding" the battery, though there was no noise. Very strange.

 

[druhoops]

I experimented today. When stopped, and the car NOT in EV mode I put it in neutral and stepped on the gas. Nothing happened. The tach stayed at 1,000, and the engine didn't rev. I looked at the VID display of the engine-battery-car, and it showed the engine "feeding" the battery, though there was no noise. Very strange.

yup - that would be your engine barely turning at 1000 rpm, charging the battery. You probably just couldn't hear the engine - but at 1000 RPM, it's running (quietly). Now try it in park, and it should get to 3500 and stay there when the gas is mashed to the floor.

 

[hunter81]

I wish there was a way to turn off EV mode completely. I wouldn't use it often, but there are times when I want to have that full charge on tap to have some fun, especially if I want to surprise another driver in a car they think is faster. Also, I can't get the car to stay out of EV mode when at a stop even when I have set to sport and the shifter set on manual. When I do that I push the gas pedal a little and the engine comes on and stays on for about 2-3 seconds and then dies again. I read the BMW Active Hybrid 3 manual and its sport mode deactivates EV mode and the auto stop at a stop light. If Infiniti would program a sport+ mode or something that does the same thing this car would be beyond perfect for me. Anyone figure out any new tricks at least to have the gas running at a stop light?

 

[hunter81]

Incidentally I learned the Active Hybrid 3 will only run EV up to 35 mph normally and up to 45 mph in Eco mode. Also, its engine is not Atkinson cycle. That explains why the city mileage is only 2 mpg more than the 335i and why the highway mileage is unchanged. The Q50 will cruise in EV up to about 65 and the Atkinson cycle really helps for gas powered highway driving.

 

[selzini]

I wish there was a way to turn off EV mode completely. I wouldn't use it often, but there are times when I want to have that full charge on tap to have some fun, especially if I want to surprise another driver in a car they think is faster. Also, I can't get the car to stay out of EV mode when at a stop even when I have set to sport and the shifter set on manual. When I do that I push the gas pedal a little and the engine comes on and stays on for about 2-3 seconds and then dies again. I read the BMW Active Hybrid 3 manual and its sport mode deactivates EV mode and the auto stop at a stop light. If Infiniti would program a sport+ mode or something that does the same thing this car would be beyond perfect for me. Anyone figure out any new tricks at least to have the gas running at a stop light?

Yeah, I know how you feel. It's the same with the peanut butter I bought. When I got it home, it actually said on the label that it had peanuts in it! How ridiculous! It's almost as bad as when I bought an ocean-side cottage. No one told me that I would have to put up with the noise from the ocean. Why in the world would you want to be wasting gas at a stop light???? Yes, you bought the hybrid for the extra power and torque, but seriously??? Your post is the most incongruous one I've read yet.

 

[hunter81]

Yeah, I know how you feel. It's the same with the peanut butter I bought. When I got it home, it actually said on the label that it had peanuts in it! How ridiculous! It's almost as bad as when I bought an ocean-side cottage. No one told me that I would have to put up with the noise from the ocean. Why in the world would you want to be wasting gas at a stop light???? Yes, you bought the hybrid for the extra power and torque, but seriously??? Your post is the most incongruous one I've read yet.

Yea, I know it's insane to want to have full control of your car's stored energy. That's why I bought a Prius instead of a "performance hybrid."

It's a 360 hp car, but not when there are only 2 bars. I just want the option. Oh, and by the way, you don't save much gas not idling at a stop light for 10 seconds. Maybe that's why other people on here are trying to figure out how to do a gas powered launch, which makes your post, well, a little incongruous with the thread.

F1 racers can strategically control when they release the stored energy of their KERS system. Perhaps this is not the right approach for racing? I'd love to hear why you think not having this option is better for a car that is supposed to be as much or more about performance as it is about efficiency.

I'm sorry you're having hard time with the peanut butter you bought.

 

[andrew]

It would be nice if they let you fine tune the EV vs Gas Engine experience a little bit.
It's probably wishful thinking at this point.

At least they give sport mode.
I've barely used it, but it does seem to give a lot more umphhhh off the line than standard mode.
I haven't quite figured out why though? Seems like maybe it's pushing the electric motor harder right from the start?

 

[erasat]

Incidentally I learned the Active Hybrid 3 will only run EV up to 35 mph normally and up to 45 mph in Eco mode. Also, its engine is not Atkinson cycle. That explains why the city mileage is only 2 mpg more than the 335i and why the highway mileage is unchanged. The Q50 will cruise in EV up to about 65 and the Atkinson cycle really helps for gas powered highway driving.

hunter, I've been cruising in EV mode while traveling at 70-80 MPH so it's not just up to 65mph.

Take a look at the video I posted in the Q50 MPG thread and you will see, on that one there was some downhills during those cruising speeds, but I've been able to sustain the EV mode in normal straight roads for 2 or 3 miles and 70-80 MPH. Again, I think it all depends on Roads types, traffic conditions, and even terrain/geography, in a summary in tons of factors, but what I mean is that it is not limited for up to 65MPH.