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Mountain highway driving

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IndyRav4H

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi, hopefully today we will take delivery of our Limited Hybrid. In the not too distant future we would like to drive to the Colorado Springs area, so some mountain highway driving will be expected.
Has anyone experienced this type of driving and have any tips? I'm primarily concerned due to this being my first hybrid vehicle and my overall lack of experience driving in the mountains. Any info about downhill transmission range and brake application so as not to harm the brakes/entire vehicle. This is a Kansas boy, so mountain driving is a rarity for me. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
My limited is my first Hybrid as well and had the same questions..

From what I understand, If you brake softly, you will use regen and charge the batteries. If you press harder, you use the system physical brakes.
After the batteries are fully charged, you will allways be using the Physical brakes as the batteries will not be over-charged....
So if the down hill is very long, AND the batteries are fully charged....
You may want to use manual shifting to use engine downshifting to save your brakes and this will not charge the batteries....

On a long downhill, the S mode downshifting will save your brakes w/o overcharging the batteries...


I hope i'm correct...
 
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#4 ·
www.rav4world.com

S mode - Manual Shifting

My first Hybrid Vehicle - Love the Rav4 Question... Lots of hills here.. When going downhill, the braking required is past the Charge mark, meaning I'm using the "actual Brakes" and not only the Regen brakes. Would it be beneficial to use S mode to better charge the battery, and save on my...
www.rav4world.com www.rav4world.com

FYI
 
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#5 ·
IndyRav4H said:
Hi, hopefully today we will take delivery of our Limited Hybrid. In the not too distant future we would like to drive to the Colorado Springs area, so some mountain highway driving will be expected.
Has anyone experienced this type of driving and have any tips? I'm primarily concerned due to this being my first hybrid vehicle and my overall lack of experience driving in the mountains. Any info about downhill transmission range and brake application so as not to harm the brakes/entire vehicle. This is a Kansas boy, so mountain driving is a rarity for me. Thanks.
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The system is pretty smart. There really isn't anything you need to do that you wouldn't do in any car. The HV system will use a combination of regenerative braking, friction braking and engine braking on downhill stretches. It will do this pretty seamlessly. There's no need to use the S-shifter at all, as the system uses the same engine braking automatically. In fact its less efficient to use S-mode shifting. So just drive it.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
IndyRav4H said:
Hi, hopefully today we will take delivery of our Limited Hybrid. In the not too distant future we would like to drive to the Colorado Springs area, so some mountain highway driving will be expected.
Has anyone experienced this type of driving and have any tips? I'm primarily concerned due to this being my first hybrid vehicle and my overall lack of experience driving in the mountains. Any info about downhill transmission range and brake application so as not to harm the brakes/entire vehicle. This is a Kansas boy, so mountain driving is a rarity for me. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
#9 ·
IndyRav4H said:
Hi, hopefully today we will take delivery of our Limited Hybrid. In the not too distant future we would like to drive to the Colorado Springs area, so some mountain highway driving will be expected.
Has anyone experienced this type of driving and have any tips? I'm primarily concerned due to this being my first hybrid vehicle and my overall lack of experience driving in the mountains. Any info about downhill transmission range and brake application so as not to harm the brakes/entire vehicle. This is a Kansas boy, so mountain driving is a rarity for me. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'd recommend using Normal or Sport for long climbs. On long descents make sure to downshift to keep your brakes from overheating, let your transmission/engine do most of your braking; same as any other car.
 
#10 ·
First off, Colorado Springs really isn’t that high an elevation (unless you drive up Pike’s Peak) so if that’s the only area you’ll be driving, no sweat. Secondly, the Rav’s system should be able to handle anything you should encounter there. I could see going into Normal or Sport if you aren’t getting enough grunt going uphill.
We went out there a few years ago with our ‘13 gas Rav and it handled traveling all over Colorado just fine. The 2019 Rav has more HP and handles way better.
 
#11 ·
Numbers said:
I'd recommend using Normal or Sport for long climbs.
Click to expand...
It makes no difference which mode you use, other than it changes how far you have to press the pedal. Eco mode does limit (very slightly) the max amount of power you get when you floor it - but most people won't notice it.
On long descents make sure to downshift to keep your brakes from overheating, let your transmission/engine do most of your braking; same as any other car.
Click to expand...
This is incorrect. Its not "same as any car". The hybrid system already blends regenerative, friction and engine braking automagically. All you need to do is use the brake pedal. Overheating the friction brakes is extremely unlikely unless you are driving like a madman and standing on the pedal.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Many years ago we were driving west bound on I 70 coming out of Eisenhower Tunnel descending to the Dillon area. Driving an 89 Grand Voyager with Chrysler's first electronic controlled auto-trans. I thought I had it in a low enough gear and didn't realize how much I was using the brakes until, at a Dillon shopping area I saw some whisps of smoke coming from the front brakes. New pads were installed on returning home. I initially asked about the mountain driving, not wanting a repeat. Thanks again for all the input.
 
#13 ·
I find going down a hill, even when the battery is fully charged, with the cruise control set, that the system/vehicle will maintain the set speed without me having to do anything else.

P.S. I live in Colorado
 
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#14 ·
rdgrimes said:
It makes no difference which mode you use, other than it changes how far you have to press the pedal. Eco mode does limit (very slightly) the max amount of power you get when you floor it - but most people won't notice it.

This is incorrect. Its not "same as any car". The hybrid system already blends regenerative, friction and engine braking automagically. All you need to do is use the brake pedal. Overheating the friction brakes is extremely unlikely unless you are driving like a madman and standing on the pedal.
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I'm familiar with hybrid "magic" car operation; drove one for the last 6 years. Regenerative braking effect is excellent but no match for 5% to 7% grades for 5 to 10 miles, such as on I-70 on either side of the Eisenhower tunnels. Other mountain roads in Colorado have far worse grades.

I've driven there and judiciously used gearing to save my brakes and maintain a safe and legal speed. You do what makes you comfy.
 
#15 ·
Tip Tank said:
I find going down a hill, even when the battery is fully charged, with the cruise control set, that the system/vehicle will maintain the set speed without me having to do anything else.

P.S. I live in Colorado
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Does the cruise control apply the brakes to maintain a set speed, if necessary? I don't know, just asking.
 
#17 ·
Just drove down the west coast on a road trip...

On down hill, set cruise control and it will active regen braking to keep your speed stable and safe. Had a couple of mountain passes where the battery topped up and resorted to using friction brakes. Otherwise, mostly perfect recapture of energy for use on the up hill.

On up hill, even on Eco mode (my default), it has plenty of power to go up hill.

Generally stayed under the speed limit and tried to favor driving 55-65 mph with adaptive cruise control... getting 40 mpg even with hill/mountain up and down. In SOCAL with 90-100F temps outside, even with A/C use, getting 40 mpg too! Helped by lots of traffic congestion meaning low speed low air drag.

If I drove a gas RAV4, probably would be getting 20 mpg!
 
#19 · (Edited)
Numbers said:
Thanks for that info.

Then I would be hesitant in using cruise control on very long descents. What happens if brakes fade; drag shoe leather like Fred Flinstone?
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Sorry, I misspoke. I meant it would be likewise, not otherwise. So yes, regular cruise control should apply the brakes just as they do in radar cruise mode. But truth is that I haven’t tried that yet.
Brakes fading would probably be the same whether it’s a hybrid or gas but I’m just not sure how much “braking” the hybrid tranny adds, if any. That would be a great test for someone to do on a long steep downhill.
 
#20 ·
Just keep it in Normal mode. Colorado Springs doesn't have steep grades unless you go up Pikes Peak or venture to Mount Evans, etc. It's really down in the flats. I live in the mountains outside of Boulder, had a Prius briefly (not enough clearance for where I live) & currently have an XSE.
 
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