abcdpeterson
04-24-2009, 11:31 PM
I found a coworker with a Prius, and she is enjoying trying to get better mileage with each tank.
She is willing to listen to some tips, so.. I would like to start with some basic concepts that can be built on.
Her last tank went 427 miles I’m guessing she is getting in the mid to upper 40’s for MPG.
With the basics She should quickly go into the 50’s for mileage, and 500+ mile tanks.
At that point she will have a good base to work from, and then we will see how far she wants to push the mileage UP :)
So… I am looking for Feedback on my basic tips. My plan is to send her the link to this thread. So please keep in mind with any feedback that the person who this advice is meant for is not a hypermiler (yet;))
So “my” tips for Prius Basics. Only 4 tips to start..
Start off with same basic tip for any cars.
* Drive so you can safely avoid using Breaks. You paid for the fuel that got you moving, don’t though it away with the brake pedal. Even with regenerative braking in a hybrid, you do NOT capture as much power as your loosing.
* Avoid drawing power from the battery pack. Look at the battery pack NOT as a primary way to provide power, but as a poor method to recoup some of the power lost from breaking. The Prius will even run the gas engine to recharge the battery pack if it gets low, and that will HURT mileage a bunch. Without a plug in option there is just no good way to put power back into the battery pack.
I found with mild acceleration the Prius would draw from both the Gas and Electric to accelerate. When the Prius did that I would accelerate a bit harder to and the Gas engine would kick in a bit harder and car would stop drawing from the battery pack. Once it stopped drawing from the battery I found I could even let off the accelerator a bit and the Prius would stay in Gas only mode.
* Glide! If you see traffic or stops ahead that will cause you to slow down, Glide. By glide I mean, coasting with NO arrows going any direction on the integrated display. If I remember right to get all the arrows to stop, back off the accelerator so the Prius Just enters regen mode (putting power to the battery pack) then ever so slowly/gently push the accelerator so the regen stops but not enough to cause the Gas or electric to kick in to move the car.
* Keep an eye on the instant mileage in the integrated display. Especially when driving at a steady speed, like on the freeway. It is amazing how much you can often let up on the accelerator bringing the Milage up while losing little to No speed.
She is willing to listen to some tips, so.. I would like to start with some basic concepts that can be built on.
Her last tank went 427 miles I’m guessing she is getting in the mid to upper 40’s for MPG.
With the basics She should quickly go into the 50’s for mileage, and 500+ mile tanks.
At that point she will have a good base to work from, and then we will see how far she wants to push the mileage UP :)
So… I am looking for Feedback on my basic tips. My plan is to send her the link to this thread. So please keep in mind with any feedback that the person who this advice is meant for is not a hypermiler (yet;))
So “my” tips for Prius Basics. Only 4 tips to start..
Start off with same basic tip for any cars.
* Drive so you can safely avoid using Breaks. You paid for the fuel that got you moving, don’t though it away with the brake pedal. Even with regenerative braking in a hybrid, you do NOT capture as much power as your loosing.
* Avoid drawing power from the battery pack. Look at the battery pack NOT as a primary way to provide power, but as a poor method to recoup some of the power lost from breaking. The Prius will even run the gas engine to recharge the battery pack if it gets low, and that will HURT mileage a bunch. Without a plug in option there is just no good way to put power back into the battery pack.
I found with mild acceleration the Prius would draw from both the Gas and Electric to accelerate. When the Prius did that I would accelerate a bit harder to and the Gas engine would kick in a bit harder and car would stop drawing from the battery pack. Once it stopped drawing from the battery I found I could even let off the accelerator a bit and the Prius would stay in Gas only mode.
* Glide! If you see traffic or stops ahead that will cause you to slow down, Glide. By glide I mean, coasting with NO arrows going any direction on the integrated display. If I remember right to get all the arrows to stop, back off the accelerator so the Prius Just enters regen mode (putting power to the battery pack) then ever so slowly/gently push the accelerator so the regen stops but not enough to cause the Gas or electric to kick in to move the car.
* Keep an eye on the instant mileage in the integrated display. Especially when driving at a steady speed, like on the freeway. It is amazing how much you can often let up on the accelerator bringing the Milage up while losing little to No speed.