1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Very quick glide question

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Phish0742, Jul 12, 2011.

  1. Phish0742

    Phish0742 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    15
    1
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Just got a 2011 Prius III and have spent the last week reading up on this site about 2 hours a day trying to learn everything possible. The last couple days I have really been looking at gliding.

    My daily commute to work is only 2.1 miles. The majority of it is uphill. So of course my gas mileage is bad going to work. But the way home it is very good because its obviously downhill. Should I be using the glide technique as I come home down hill as opposed to coasting and charging the battery? I know its short distance but I would like to maximize the mpg as much as possible.

    Yes, I tried to search.
     
    #1 Phish0742, Jul 12, 2011
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That is a short commute. What is your SOC like when you arrive at work? (0-8 bars)
     
    #2 spiderman, Jul 12, 2011
  3. Phish0742

    Phish0742 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    15
    1
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    usually around 5-6 bars. It helps that I start pretty full from all the charging coming home from work.
     
    #3 Phish0742, Jul 12, 2011
  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I am not expert but I would venture to say glide (little/no regen) as opposed to coasting (w/ regen). The ICE will run to warm up anyway which will force recharge. Of course to verify, you can run a tank both ways during similar weather to see.

    And of course the best way to maximize FE would be to leave the car at home and walk or ride a bike. ;)
     
    #4 spiderman, Jul 12, 2011
  5. Phish0742

    Phish0742 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    15
    1
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I cannot disagree with you one bit. I tried riding a bike, but its all uphill to get there and I was a sweating pig when I arrived.....I'm a teacher so it didn't bode well.
     
    #5 Phish0742, Jul 12, 2011
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^ I hear you.

    Just curious, did you consider an EV when you bought the Prius?
     
    #6 spiderman, Jul 12, 2011
  7. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What I do is use glide anytime the speed is more useful than the charge. A hill with a stop sign near the bottom gets coast, a hill with another hill after it get glide, and so on. Only put energy in the battery that you have no other way of using.
     
    #7 Corwyn, Jul 12, 2011
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You may even want to look into an engine block heater. Even if you are not in a cold climate it can help you get through the warm up stage.
     
    #8 F8L, Jul 12, 2011
  9. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Is that likely to be worth it? If he went from 40 MPG to 50 MPG on the trip he would be saving 1.05 cents. Around here that would buy him 66 Wh of electrons. For a 400 watt heater that is ten minutes of heating, is that enough?

    [to say nothing of the 15 year payback on the price]
     
    #9 Corwyn, Jul 12, 2011
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It likely wouldn't pencil out but it might make him feel better. :)
     
    #10 F8L, Jul 13, 2011
  11. Phish0742

    Phish0742 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    15
    1
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thats exactly what I planned on. I wanted the 2012 PHV Prius as soon as it comes out. Even though my daily commute is super short, I travel a ton and frequently take 100-200 mile weekend trips. Therefore I needed a plug in hybrid rather than just an EV. My dealer was adamant that the extra price for the PHV wasn't worth it for me. He claimed that it wouldn't pay itself off and I would be better getting the 2011.
     
    #11 Phish0742, Jul 13, 2011
  12. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Ah, I see. Yeah, it would seem the PHEV would have been perfect and it sounds like the dealer just wanted to make a sale. Well the resale should be good and next year when the PHEV hits the lot you can pick one up. :)
     
    #12 spiderman, Jul 13, 2011
  13. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    924
    123
    11
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    I would bet on closer to 20mpg on the uphill trip.

    My 12 mile commute is just enough to get over 45 in the morning.
     
    #13 billnchristy, Jul 13, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)