Economical driving

Drive economically and environmentally conscious by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops and adapting driving style and speed to the current traffic conditions.

Planning for electric driving

It is important to plan electric motor use carefully to achieve the best possible mileage:

Charge

  • Charge the vehicle regularly by plugging it into an electrical outlet. Make it a habit to always begin trips with the hybrid battery fully charged.
  • Locate charging stations along your route.
  • If possible, choose parking spots with charging stations.

 Note

Charge the vehicle from the electricity grid as often as possible!

Preconditioning

  • Whenever possible, precondition the vehicle before driving by connecting the charging cable to an electrical outlet.
  • Avoid parking the vehicle somewhere where the interior will become too hot or too cold while the vehicle is parked. If possible, park the vehicle in a climate-controlled garage.
  • During a short drive after passenger compartment preconditioning, turn off the passenger compartment fan or the air conditioning in a hot climate.
  • If preconditioning is not possible when it is cold outside, use seat and steering wheel heating first. Avoid heating the entire passenger compartment to reduce the amount of current being taken from the hybrid battery.

Driving

  • Choose the Pure drive mode to help minimize electric power consumption.
  • Maintain a steady speed and a generous following distance to traffic ahead to minimize braking. This drive mode has the lowest power consumption.
  • Balance energy requirements using the accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the instrument panel to see available electric power and avoid starting the combustion engine unnecessarily. The electric motor is more effective than the combustion engine, especially at low speeds.
  • When braking is necessary, brake gently using the brake pedal. This will recharge the hybrid battery. A regenerative function is integrated in the brake pedal and can be augmented by the electric motor's braking capacity when the gear selector is in mode B.
  • Higher speeds increase energy consumption - air resistance increases with speed.
  • Activate the Hold function in the Function view at high speeds when traveling farther than is possible using the hybrid battery's capacity.
  • Whenever possible, avoid using the Charge function to charge the hybrid battery. Charging the battery using the combustion engine increases fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
  • In a cold climate, reduce heating of the windshield/rear window, mirrors, seats and the steering wheel.
  • Maintain the correct pressure in the tires and check pressure regularly.
  • The type of tires used could affect energy consumption - consult a retailer for advice on suitable tires.
  • Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle - the heavier the load, the higher the fuel consumption.
  • Roof loads increase air resistance and increase fuel consumption. Remove roof boxes, ski racks, etc. that are not in use.
  • Avoid driving with the windows open.
  • Do not keep the vehicle still on an upward gradient by using the accelerator pedal. Use the brakes instead.

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