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We have a 2008 Prius and when you hit between 12 to 15 mph then the engine cuts in early and you don't use much battery usage and more fuel.We got about 39 mpg going from here in Phoenix to New Mexico on about a 900 mile round trip.We thought even bucking a high wind it might be better.Coming from Flagstaff to Phoenix we got 54 mpg and 44 mpg going to Flagstaff.Any easy way to get more use of electric tome and less gas engine time? In 2 yrs We plan to get a 2010 vehicle the Prius,

You don't want a lot of battery assist on the highway. All that energy has to come from the gas tank, too. Have you found and studied both the general Hows and Whys article and the Prius II article (both by xcel) on the upper right of the home page?

For highway, you'll want to be familiar with super highway mode and high-speed pulse & glide. Also, be sure you enter stage 4 before the freeway so all techniques are at your disposal.

Cross winds and head winds are killers, as is speed. What tire pressures are you running? Hobbit got 57.9 or some such mpg on a cross country round trip trek last summer. Boston to Oregon and back. He's shall we say above average, but gives you an idea of Prius II potential on the open road at speed.