In other Honda products vibration when VCM is activated has been noted. I can't tell anything at all in my Sport Hybrid which compared to products where people are concerned about it, is a good outcome. Anyone aware of any tells that VCM is active in the RLX or Sport Hybrid?

 

I occasionally feel something when approaching a grade at highway speed. It feels like a gear shift, but it is most likely the VCM going back to 6 cylinders to climb the hill. Not objectionable by any means.

 

I could tell in the RLX that I had before the Sport Hybrid.

I don't think that I can tell in the Sport Hybrid. Might be psychological.

Did anybody ever say for sure if the KC2 has different camshafts?

 

I cannot tell---I have resorted to watching speed/rpm combination combined with MPG. In straight line drive with no elevation on road...I can see the MPG jump while the speed and rpm stays constant with a slight change in pitch from engine (when it is on, of course)...I think that is the VCM working.

 

Exactly this. It's almost like a downshift, but at about 1/2 the impulse.

Unless you know what it is, you wouldn't even notice it.

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Same experience with my RLX-PAWS

 

Darn near imperceptible in the wife's RLX.

Far more perceptible in my Accord.

 

Interestingly, it was also a lot more noticeable in my RDX.

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Holy Thread Revival!

Today I was doing some highway cruising with the SH which has been rare for most of my RLX ownership. Most of my jaunts are short commutes on B roads where steady constant speed is rare. SO I am behind the curve on some of the different sensations the SH exhibits while it shifts power sources. I have learned the feel of the DCT and the slight 'bumb from behind' as the ICE kicks in while driving at moderate speeds. I also have experienced a rare situation where the logic was confused by feathering on / off throttle on slow residential streets and paring lots. This occurs when the ICE is about to turn on / off and perhaps at a tranny shift moment just as you reverse your throttle input to conflict the logic.

But today I was cruising on a 50mph road @ 50-55mph (the EV top threshold). The road was relatively flat with slight inclines and declines. This is where I noticed the VCM. When the car went into EV mode (on level ground < 55mph) or or when on a slight decline I felt the EV 'bump', much like a gear shift. I have become accustomed to it. But in some cases I felt more a slight 'tug' and noticed the MID AVG MPG would jump up (to about 40 MPG - but not maxed to 50 MPG as when in EV mode). I believe this was the VCM sensation?

I realized by my driving habits I have not been in many constant velocity drives in this speed range, which may have prevented me from becoming familiar with the VCM power shifts. Perhaps I am extrapolating to much from the sensations but the EV 'bump' does map to rear electric motor engagement whereas the VCM 'tug' maps to the FWD source. Am I making sense?

Obviously I have not put enough miles on the car, especially in a cruising drive situation (I just hit 5500 miles today) to just be experiencing this sensation where I could describe it. And I would expect the VCM sensation to be the same in PAWS models (minus the EV 'bump' sensation). Or am I just being to damn sensitive!

Side Note: I stopped by my dealership today to make my Christmas well wishes. The GM invited me to experience an NSX tomorrow (it was being delivered tonight). I pray my 6'3'' frame will not fit comfortably so that my conspicuously empty, tidy second bay of the garage gets a resident I have been subconsciously preparing for?

Merry Christmas!

 

"I pray my 6'3'' frame will not fit comfortably so that my conspicuously empty, tidy second bay of the garage gets a resident I have been subconsciously preparing for?"

Merry Christmas Tampa, but I think there is a Freudian slip above

 

Tampa:

Yes what you are feeling is the VCM......I feel it as a small momentary surge of power switching on and off. Describing it as a "tug" is correct, as I also feel it "pulling" the car forward.
I do a lot of highways driving, so I am extremely tuned to it. It was exactly the same sensation with my P-AWS, but I am used to it now.....
I can recreate it at will, but the MID instant millage readout confirms it (as you mentioned above).

I hope you love the NSX 2.0......what an awesome sight that would be......RLX SH next to the NSX 2.0!

Merry Christmas all.

 

I went back to the dealership today. I took the same route in hopes to duplicate the ride conditions. The sensations where the same, so I think I now know how to distinguish VCM from EV engaging and disengaging.

Something else I noticed (not having done highway cruises) was that the battery would only charge up to 60-70%. I would have thought that battery level would top out in highway cruising with the ICE fully engaged? Or perhaps there is reliance on the batteries while in VCM mode to handle the draw of A/C accessories etc? I was beginning to think there was something awry with the charging system. But as soon as I exited the highway into B roads with traffic stops, etc...the batteries charged up full with typical behavior. Is that what other's experience?

Last, (and aside from VCM) this is how I spent my Christmas Eve (morning):

 

I think that at cruise, system does not fully charge batteries to provide "room" for regen braking. This would max mpg rather than use ICE to charge at highway speed. In other words, let braking do the majority of charging. Not sure how complex the logic would have to be, but seems like it could be done.

 

Highway driving keeps the battery at 50% for me. Driving from NY to Boston (about 180 miles), the battery charge never goes above 50%. Press the "Sport" Button, and then it will charge to 100% even on the highway.....at least thats how it is in my SH.

I can only speculate but I think that is how it is intended to be (50%-60%), because it is not necessary to have the battery fully charged while on the highway.

Look nice, and only a hair over $200,000......

 

charges to 100% in sport makes sense to allow EV's to give as much power as possible when needed