I don't understand why folks who don't like Eco mode make statements like "there is NO GAIN in using Eco mode to climb hills." That may be true in mild weather, but when the heater is sucking power big time in Winter, or the A/C less so in Hot Summer weather,there is indeed a point in using Eco, because it reduces the power used by the HVAC, and that matters, especially on slow climbs. Please just add that caveat, and I'll stop doing it myself...
How often do you drive without ECO?
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I must agree with this. Previously I have state ECO does not have any use and you can achieve the same economy by just being more gentle on the accelerator, and I still think this is mostly true especially in Summer. But this is the first time I am experiencing real Winter temperatures with the Leaf and my economy really took a hit no matter how economically I try to drive.
SO then one day I remembered this ECO button actually exists and said ok what the hell let's try it. And I must admit the economy improved more than I thought it would. So now I actually would recommend ECO in colder weather.
SO then one day I remembered this ECO button actually exists and said ok what the hell let's try it. And I must admit the economy improved more than I thought it would. So now I actually would recommend ECO in colder weather.
I am wondering though if the defogger has to run 5mins in Eco mode, or just 1 or 2 in regular mode, what actually results in the least usage of power?
Lately, with the wet, dirty, leaf covered roads, my wife has been complaining that it's been difficult to moderate wheel spin.
I suggested it would help that issue if she try ECO.
It lasted all of two stop signs.
Previous to this car she was driving a MX5 and previous to that a Honda Civic SI.
She says she'll try harder to ease up on the go pedal.
I suggested it would help that issue if she try ECO.
It lasted all of two stop signs.
Previous to this car she was driving a MX5 and previous to that a Honda Civic SI.
She says she'll try harder to ease up on the go pedal.
Bombastinator2
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Never. The car is so powerful it scares me without eco on
Bombastinator2
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Depends. It’s not about saving “gas” for me. It’s about the car being too fast and me getting in trouble. Even with eco mode on there is torque steer under high acceleration. Only front wheel drive sports cars do that. It’s severe enough that equal length axles should be considered. (May have even already been done in later models) Also, you can do all those things WITH eco on and save even more, so if that is the end goal the argument doesn’t make sense.
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Bombastinator2
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Well, more dogfish anyway. Even with eco mode on the car still pulls an 8 second 0-60, which is all that anyone ever really needs off the track. Compare it to a dodge demon or something sure. But compare it to any car that gets more than 18mpg, no.
That 8 second 0-60 is because full power is allowed under WFO conditions. The car is much more sluggish than that with less than full "throttle."
Bombastinator2
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Didn’t know that. For me wtf conditions seem to include catching up with someone I’m trying to follow that I got separated from and merging on the freeway. In that case though it’s not an 8 second time it’s a 6.2 second time. My GTI autobahn was the fastest 4cyl Volkswagen had made to that date, had waaay too much power, and did a 6.8. Good that I hav “crazy” on tap if I need it though.
Bombastinator2
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“Does not” may be extreme. It sort of makes the thing 2 different cars, like a turbo, which can be handy.
rogersleaf
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Both ECO and e-pedal are on constantly. However, can say the same for my Ridgeline. Typically don't drive cars aggressively when I need to achieve high chassis life/mileage.
I turned on ECO the day I bought my 2020 LEAF SL Plus and have never turned it off. (I also use B Mode exclusively.)
The way to quickly get out of ECO is to "put the pedal to the metal," which I do when I need to merge with unaccommodating traffic.
The way to quickly get out of ECO is to "put the pedal to the metal," which I do when I need to merge with unaccommodating traffic.
gwscheil
Member
My 2018 has always been in ECO mode until the last recall, when the dealer cancelled it. Had a very nervous drive home until I realized ECO had been switched off. Basically, without ECO the throttle was constantly bouncing around - very hard to maintain constant speed. I never use cruise control. Back to ECO always, B mode if going any distance. Epedal requires a different driving style, which is bad because I still have a 2007 Yaris as backup and long tripper.
Jeffs231Leafp
Just a guy who loves saving energy
I love ECO as it keeps my economy high. I also use e-pedal both are on all the time. When I think about it around town I use B instead of D too. All will increase the range of the EV.
As I said back on pg 2 mine stays on all the time. I made my living driving heavy trucks, often doing "heavy haul" permit loads that weigh more than the "legal" limit, and are permitted on a case by case basis.
For that reason, I view regen as I did my Jacobs retarder in my truck, it is there to slow not to stop. Mostly I set CC and let the car decide when to regen.
Coasting in neutral, while not that dangerous in a car, is still likely to be against the law (if you care). As the electric motor is always connected to the wheels regardless if powered or not, it make little difference in terms of wear and tare on the drivetrain.
I already have a car that costs 1/2 as much to drive to town, I am not going to play around with coasting in "neutral" (there is really no such thing on a Leaf).
As for Eco, it provide a easy liner pedal to power action. I don't need or want it more sensitive.
Any way you look at it, the HVAC system reacts quicker (don't have to wait for the engine to warm) than ICE car and the A/C portion is just as fast.
I guess driving something that may take a mile or more to get up to highway speed at 170,000 lbs has insulated me from needing to be the 1st at the merge point on an on ramp!
For that reason, I view regen as I did my Jacobs retarder in my truck, it is there to slow not to stop. Mostly I set CC and let the car decide when to regen.
Coasting in neutral, while not that dangerous in a car, is still likely to be against the law (if you care). As the electric motor is always connected to the wheels regardless if powered or not, it make little difference in terms of wear and tare on the drivetrain.
I already have a car that costs 1/2 as much to drive to town, I am not going to play around with coasting in "neutral" (there is really no such thing on a Leaf).
As for Eco, it provide a easy liner pedal to power action. I don't need or want it more sensitive.
Any way you look at it, the HVAC system reacts quicker (don't have to wait for the engine to warm) than ICE car and the A/C portion is just as fast.
I guess driving something that may take a mile or more to get up to highway speed at 170,000 lbs has insulated me from needing to be the 1st at the merge point on an on ramp!
I never use the eco mode and don't understand the why anyone does but I always use the e pedal. Not sure what the eco mode does that the e -pedal and a person with a good central nervous system can accomplish working together?
I agree totally. I like to drive carefully and ECO mode suits me perfectly so it's on the whole time. After service it tends to be left OFF and I don't like it to be so responsive!
TronJockey
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ECO is an attempt to save a little juice when accelerating from a stop. While very efficient at most speeds, electric motors are not very efficient when just beginning to spin up especially before they are turning at all (like the instant the accelerator is pressed). At this point there's typically a large in-rush of current which is very inefficient. ECO mode tempers this a bit by placing a bit of hysteresis (lag or "mushiness" if you will), into the accelerator response. It's not much and under most circumstance barely noticeable. If you mash the accelerator the car may sense a panic or emergency and ECO mode will be overridden and the car will respond as it would in normal driving mode. If you're engaged in a scenario where there's a lot of stop-n-go (city, traffic, etc...), ECO will help save some overall range. Under normal and or highway driving ECO won't do much at all. However, leaving the car in ECO mode can help to greatly extend tire life. I was able to get 55k miles on the first set of tires on my 2015. I'm hoping to do nearly as well on my 2019.
Chad E. Mo
Zero Credibility
On my highway commute, I keep the dork switch active (Eco) until I reach the "clover leaf of death" interchange by my office, then I dodge the swarm of idiots and Costco shoppers until I am safely parked. If I work late enough, there is nobody around, so Eco is active until the next battle.
It stays in Eco, but you get full power while you have it floored. I also seem to remember something about a time limit of 30 seconds of full power, but don't remember if that's this scenario or a different one.
