[PHEV Clarity and Volt]

My PHEV Clarity has 3,000 miles on it since I got in 8/2018. I love the car, but it has some issues. I am used to all EV driving of my 2014 Volt and I am not a fan of the engine engaging when I accelerate hard. Honda, please make a pure EV mode button and also add a regenerative brake button that will stay on in any mode. That said, the interior is amazing and so is the room. The car could not be better for my LA driving. My commute is 56 miles and I always make it home with 1-7 miles of range left. My car when fully charged shows a range of 60-62 miles average. I don’t hyper-mile, like tailgating trucks, but I do use the regen brake as needed and cost to stops to take full advantage of the regen charging. Sport mode is a must in stop and go traffic with the regen fully engaged. Unlike my Volt that allows full regen in any mode, Honda should also do this. I have achieved a high of 72 miles on a charge, but that was not my normal drive and did involve climbing a step hill then descending a low grade hill for several miles. In comparison my 14.4 KW Volt is estimated at 38 mile range and I would get 51 miles of range on my normal commute. Lately my Clarity ice engine has engaged too often for my liking. I am assuming that it is because I use a Garmin and it is drawing on the 12v battery. I don’t know for sure but the Ice has run 4 times in two days and every time I have had a full charge and under low acceleration. That is why I’m on this forum, to see what others have experienced.

 

[Cruiter]

I've never owned a volt so can't offer reliable info on that but have owned two Lexus true hybrids. I do agree that the Clarity is really great for commutes inside it's battery range. I'm retired and rarely buy gas though happy to put fresh stuff in the tank on occasion.

I read somewhere in one of the many manuals and guides (wish I could find it right now LOL) that the 12v battery is charged by the 'ICE'. Maybe that's why your engine is starting when the traction batteries have plenty of juice stored. Just a guess that may or may not have merit. The 12v still runs everything it does in a normal car with the exception of A/C, heaters and such leaving the traction batteries to primarily power those and the electric motor/generator operation.

BZ on getting such good mileage.

My PHEV Clarity has 3,000 miles on it since I got in 8/2018. I love the car, but it has some issues. I am used to all EV driving of my 2014 Volt and I am not a fan of the engine engaging when I accelerate hard. Honda, please make a pure EV mode button and also add a regenerative brake button that will stay on in any mode. That said, the interior is amazing and so is the room. The car could not be better for my LA driving. My commute is 56 miles and I always make it home with 1-7 miles of range left. My car when fully charged shows a range of 60-62 miles average. I don’t hyper-mile, like tailgating trucks, but I do use the regen brake as needed and cost to stops to take full advantage of the regen charging. Sport mode is a must in stop and go traffic with the regen fully engaged. Unlike my Volt that allows full regen in any mode, Honda should also do this. I have achieved a high of 72 miles on a charge, but that was not my normal drive and did involve climbing a step hill then descending a low grade hill for several miles. In comparison my 14.4 KW Volt is estimated at 38 mile range and I would get 51 miles of range on my normal commute. Lately my Clarity ice engine has engaged too often for my liking. I am assuming that it is because I use a Garmin and it is drawing on the 12v battery. I don’t know for sure but the Ice has run 4 times in two days and every time I have had a full charge and under low acceleration. That is why I’m on this forum, to see what others have experienced.

 

[Gunslingerheel]

How long did the ice run each time?