neuronbob

So after posting videos on Sport Mode, I now post a video showing the other, "green" side of this car.

Pure electric mode is good for parking lot speed, though if you feather the throttle, you can make it to over 25 mph. The problem is that when you are pulling away from a stoplight, the people behind you will be upset as you are feathering the throttle. For a normal pull-away from a stoplight, the ICE engine needs engaged. What I notice is the car starting to move, then more power as the ICE engine engages.

I keep getting stares when I'm in parking lots because people see the car moving but don't HEAR the car moving. It's probably a bit disconcerting or at least disorienting to people who have lived with only ICE engines for 100 years.

Pure electric mode also activates when you are coasting and below 55 mph in my car. At that time, feathering the throttle to maintain speed also avoids activating the ICE engine.

getakey

what happens at highway speeds?
Does it go purely ICE at a certain speed - not accelerating, just cruising?

neuronbob

The electric engines can contribute at any time for torque vectoring as part of the eSH-AWD. They are used for propulsion at least in part, up to 78 mph. Above that, only the ICE engine propels the car, via the front wheels. Or at least that's my feeble understanding of the tech.

getakey

I was wondering more about what happens around 65 to 70, straight line, constant speed.
I would think it would be mostly ICE if not all ICE until you need to accelerate or corner

neuronbob

If you look at my Sport Mode videos, attend to the Power Distribution monitor, you'll see the rear wheel power stop in the upper 70's. So there is rear wheel power at 65-70.

ptbarnett

I posted this comment in another thread, but I think it's worth repeating here:

I was cruising through a shopping district near my house.... It's like an open air mall, but there are streets running through it and parking in front of the stores.

I was only driving 10-15 mph, in EV mode. I had to watch the pedestrians very carefully, as a pair of women were engrossed in conversation and walked out right in front of me.

My wife's Prius makes an electronic "growling" noise when the car is in EV mode and it is in motion. This is her second one: a previous 2007 model didn't have that "feature".

George Knighton

The Canadian market cars make an artificial noise, but I don't know what it sounds like.

hondamore

Hey George, could you please share the source stating that the Canadian model will have an esound generator in EV mode? I've looked and looked and I can't find that listed as a feature anywhere. Just curious regarding any and all differences in the Canadian model.

Personally, I would hope that the noise generator can be turned off as I believe I would prefer the silent mode (subject to testing of course).

fsmith

The Hybrid Owner's Manual says the Canadian model (only) has an acoustic alert when in EV mode at low speed.

hondamore

Thanks, that's why I couldn't find it - the Sport Hybrid RLX owners manual is rarer than the Gutenberg Bible.

ptbarnett

They are all available online:

Owner's Manuals | 2014 Acura RLX | Acura Owners Site

And even though it says just "RLX", all the manuals are for the RLX Hybrid.

I downloaded them to my iPad and read them before I even took delivery of the car. The "delivery" was a short conversation.

Zoommer

I believe the US has issued a notice for comments....not sure if it is implemented yet. Here is a link:
Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)