Don't want to make people behind me mad anymore

Tideland I think Hobbit is right about this. The HSI bar position is an indication of the power being used, if you have the bar in the same place you should have the same result, as far as speed or acceleration, regardless of which of the 3 modes your in.

I have done some previous tests and have good indications that it works that way. I will try to come up with a repeatable test we can all try to either prove or disprove what we think.

Of course what we find will only be for smaller power levels where the HSI operates. At higher throttle positions there is absolutely no difference in the modes.

 

The top of the green fat end is usually enough for changing speed if you are already going down the road but is not usually enough for getting up to highway speed.

With an uphill or short on ramp getting up to merge speed for the freeway usually requires a throttle position well off scale to the right.

But except for getting up to freeway merge speed I think somewhere between the top of the fat bar and the top or the red zone is normally enough.

What I haven't tested yet is how much fuel is used by different rates of acceleration. I think accelerating at the exact same HSI position up to the same speed a number of times, then repeat at a different HSI position, and averaging the MPG results for the different positions might give some idea?

 

Maybe we are saying the same thing in slightly different ways. I was trying to point out the the position of the HSI bar indicates the actual power being used.

Yes, if you are in ECO you will have to use more pedal to achieve that amount of power or bar position than you would in PWR or Normal.

I tried an experiment today. At 50 MPH on a level road I held the gas pedal absolutely still, didn't even move it a mm, and switched from ECO to PWR. Over a period of 3 to 4 seconds the HSI bar went up (to the right) about 1 cm and the speed of the car increased slightly. Going from ECO to N or N to PWR moved it about half that amount. Of course if you go from PWR down to ECO it moves it back to the left and you slow a little.

I tried it several times going over the same stretch of road in both directions and got the same results each time. So to me this proves that the HSI is telling us the actual power being used. The position of the throttle pedal needed to produce that amount of power is, however, mode dependent.

All of that is probably completely academic but it made me happy to know for sure what it is telling me.

 

SD LOCAL,

Don't speed just to satisfy aggressive drivers - you're rewarding insanity.

Just drive at the posted speed limits at rush hour and let it be their problem if they want to drive like a gearhead.

I've found the past three years more ways to slip in hypermiling without offending non-speeding drivers.

 

I'm no scientist, but I agree with this. I find the only difference in the 3 modes is how far you have to push the pedal to get the same result. You can get up to highway speed in eco mode just as fast as power, but you have to push the pedal harder.

 

Just drive it! We have three Prius's. We drive them like regular cars. They scoot and are fun, plus they return 45 MPG even when driven aggresively with the A/C on, which is my style. We just got a 2010. I am going to flog it pretty hard as well. I expect even more fun and even better mileage. We'll see.

 

Slower drivers should keep right whenever possible.

 

Except in England, Australia, and Japan.

Tom

 

The average US vehicle has been constant at 21mpg since 1988.

Since then we have improve 0-to-60 from 15 to under 10 seconds, increased the weight from 3000 pounds to 4000 pounds, increased the speed limit from 55 to 65, 70, or even 80.

There were a number of cars in the 80's that could go 40mpg - more than today.

So if I go with the flow in a Prius today, how am I a lot greener than driving a 5-speed Civic in 1985?

 

You would be greener in the 1985 civic since you wouldn't have used the materials or energy to build a prius. But you would be more comfortable and safer in the prius. If you can handle keeping and driving that civic, more power to you!

I get irritated by people that go extra slow and cause accidents because they think they have more right to the road. If there is a lot of traffic go with the flow like the op stated. Its my first month, and the displays do hypnotise me a little, but I'm almost over that break in period. I'm used to driving a much faster car, so I'm expecting high 40s from the prius. If I drove like an idiot slowing people down, I think I would only save 20 gallons a year.

 

Thought we were talking about San Diego.

 

austingreen,

I need to clarifiy a few things.

Back in the 80's I had a couple of CRXs but for sake of apples-to-apples comparison did two sedans: Civic and Prius. It's not a completely fair comparision....tailpipe emissions are definitely cleaner - cars are safer, but my point is fuel economy has not improved that much.

Got to ask: Why is going at or under the posted speed limit ALWAYS going to impede traffic? Can't I drive around rush hour, yield to those behind, leave the passing lanes alone?

Over time, I think you will find it's possible to not pace the speeders while not offending them (except the ones with a chip on their shoulder) - I did.

 

Hey, I was agreeing with you. I'm not sure if you need all the air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, etc. The 85 civic had an adjusted epa average milage of 34mpg. The new hondas and toyotas have all grown. I would have liked to have waited to see the new cr-z, but my old car is gone.

I can't drive close to the speed limit at rush hour. On Monday I think I got around 80mpg in stop and go on the highway. But I regularly see people not accelerating fast enough to merge, or driving 10mph under the speed limit, when the left lane isn't open. What your describing sounds fine.

 

I thought it was a global forum.
Less than 10 out of over 70 posts came from people in San Diego when Tom posted: -

Add New Zealand, India and may parts of Southern Africa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Countries_driving_on_the_left_or_right.svg

 

Sorry if I did not pickup the agreement enough.

80mph in Austin rush hour is good. Dont be suprized if you can do more in the coming months....over time I've learned to look for tailgaters well before they hit and usually get them to pass.

 

How do these go together? How can you be attentive and ignorant at the same time?