Diary of a wimpy pulse and glider

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by 2009Prius, Jul 6, 2011.

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  1. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Diary of a wimpy pulse and glider.

    I have been practicing the technique of pulse and glide for my daily commute of 18.6 ~ 18.7 miles (one way) of local roads (25 ~ 40 MPH PSL) over a combination of some flats, some rolling hills, and some steep hills.

    Yesterday and today the weather was warm and traffic was light and I broke my own record. :)

    Yesterday 2011-07-05: Elevation profile (traveling from right to left):
    [​IMG]
    MPG photos:
    [​IMG]

    Today 2011-07-06: Elevation profile (traveling from left to right):
    [​IMG]
    MPG photos:
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 2009Prius, Jul 6, 2011
  2. Spcalan1

    Spcalan1 New Member

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    very, very nice.
    I am happy with my 42 mpg ( without trying ), because it is much better than my 10mpg from before.
    But I would love to get 50-60 on my short 7 mile run to work each day...
     
    #2 Spcalan1, Jul 7, 2011
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  3. Spcalan1

    Spcalan1 New Member

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    What is the graphs from?
    Looks cool and informative..
     
    #3 Spcalan1, Jul 7, 2011
  4. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    #4 2009Prius, Jul 7, 2011
  5. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    It gets better at the end of the day: :)

    [​IMG]
     

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    #5 2009Prius, Jul 7, 2011
  6. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Awesome!
     
    #6 mikewithaprius, Jul 7, 2011
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  7. PaulHS

    PaulHS Member

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    Those are definitely not wimpy numbers!
     
    #7 PaulHS, Jul 7, 2011
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  8. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Update: just added elevation profile in the original post. Go to
    Geocontext-Profiler
    to make your own. :)
     
    #8 2009Prius, Jul 8, 2011
  9. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    89.7 MPG (MFD) over 18.6 miles

    and better:
    [​IMG]
     

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    #9 2009Prius, Jul 12, 2011
  10. ksstathead

    ksstathead Active Member

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    Can you share your pulse technique and speed band?
    Great results, btw!
     
    #10 ksstathead, Jul 12, 2011
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  11. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Thanks! I try to give the ICE a more or less smooth start to around 1600 RPM, especially if the car was standing still or at low speed or the engine was cold, but soon after that I push it up to 2000 RPM and hold there until the car reach the target speed. If the car was already moving fast then I go for 2000 RPM directly. The speed band depends on the posted speed limit (PSL) and whether there are cars behind me - I try not to impede traffic. In general I don't go 5 MPH above PSL or 10 MPH below PSL. Some rough estimates of the speed band:
    PSL | Pulse up to | Glide down to
    25 | 27~30 | 20~24
    30 | 30~35 | 26~30
    35 | 34~37 | 30~33
    40 | 35~40 | 33~36
    I also try not go beyond 40 MPH to avoid ICE free spin during glide.
    Very occasionally there are aggressive tailgaters that I just move to the side to let them pass and then creep up on them at the next red light. :D

    By the way I found the mysterious dropping out of S4 actually does not cause much "damage" to the fuel economy. When that happens I just keep the car at a steady speed and the ICE RPM is low - kind of like the superhighway mode but at low speed. Eventually it will go back to S4 and I start pulse and glide again.
     
    #11 2009Prius, Jul 12, 2011
  12. ksstathead

    ksstathead Active Member

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    Most enlightening. Thanks.
    I guess those are a bit higher speeds than I would have guessed.
    I don't do much warm engine driving except on the freeway, but I will try your regimen in my gen3 when I have an opportunity. I can go up to 45 mph vs your 40, though the wind resistance begins to impact more.
    I can also use a wider delta speed as I have light traffic a lot of times.
    Here is the south-central kansas elevation profile: _________________________:)
     
    #12 ksstathead, Jul 12, 2011
  13. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    89.8 MPG over 18.7 miles

    [​IMG]
    :)
     
    #13 2009Prius, Aug 24, 2011
  14. mmcdonal

    mmcdonal Active Member

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    Those are impressive numbers. I have to say, however, that I got a ride in a first gen Prius in 2003 or so, and the driver was using pulse and glide, and I thought she was touched in the head, or the car was just a bad car. I didn't get a Prius until the 2010 model, because of this experience. Uncomfortable for the passengers. I did get a 2007 Camry Hybrid, however.

    I have never used this technique. I am more of a "float and feather" kind of driver, once I am up to the speed of traffic. This is good for low-50's usually, even with AC on all the time, and never using ECO mode. Of course I am always looking for a 3-ton barn door to get in behind. There are plenty of PU and SUV drivers to do this with in my commute.

    I drive for my comfort and the comfort and safety of my passengers, sometimes using PWR to move us with traffic. I NEVER impede traffic, or play "slow down," as even many non-hybrid drivers do (I think more for a power trip than the mileage in their case.) It is speed differential that causes accidents, not speed.
     
    #14 mmcdonal, Aug 24, 2011
  15. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    There are the majority of us who think that the posted speed limit is the minimal speed one should drive, :eek: and only a small minority of us who think that the speed limit is the maximal speed allowed on the road. :rolleyes: And of course in this democratic country the majority rules. ;) Had I defied the rule of the majority I suspect I would get 100 MPG daily. :)
     
    #15 2009Prius, Aug 24, 2011
  16. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    It is to bad that we are always in a hurry!!! Even when we are going no where. Crazy bunch we are! Hal
     
    #16 Hal W, Aug 24, 2011
  17. mmcdonal

    mmcdonal Active Member

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    I can understand people rushing to get home, but when they are rushing to work in the morning, all I can think is they want to be the first one there so they get to turn on the copier or something.
     
    #17 mmcdonal, Aug 24, 2011
  18. goober_nut

    goober_nut Member

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    Gah!! I'm busted!! :p
     
    #18 goober_nut, Aug 24, 2011
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Awesome MPG. Was it pre-warmed? What strategy did you use?
     
    #19 usbseawolf2000, Aug 24, 2011
  20. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    I answered the 2nd question a few posts ago (quoted above) and I am experimenting with pulsing at ~1600 ~ 1800 RPM (feels more "natural" than 2000 RPM) since last fill up. I do use EBH for the morning drive and it seems to help a tiny little bit (shorter initial warm up time).
     
    #20 2009Prius, Aug 24, 2011
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