TTAC on the Prius C and how it has less braking regen than the liftback

Nice article. Michael Karesh wrote it.

 

I read it as "It is more rewarding, but harder to hypermile the c than the liftback"
It once again stresses how much 'drive it like it had no brakes' should be your first lesson.

 

The first part of the review is a carefully worded putdown of the Consumer Reports test.

 

Well if the regenerative braking is most effective below 40 mph... Sounds perfect for my city commute that rarely lets me sustain 60 km/h for more than about 30 seconds before I have to stop for a light or congestion.

Galaxy Nexus ? 2

 

Yup, a very fair assessment. And insightful, too, re the braking.

 

Reading the comments on the article, it's a bit surprising how little most owners know about how the Prius operates. Then again, I suppose that reflects that many Prius C owners are people who wouldn't have bought a Prius if the C model hadn't been available.

The only thing the author didn't mention in talking about the regen braking difference between the C and the hatchback is that at higher speeds, or more demanding braking, that shifting to B-mode would help slow the vehicle a bit more without using the friction brakes. It won't charge the battery any better, and in some circumstances (anytime your braking demands don't exceed the battery's regen capability) may charge it less, but if you have to stop from high speed where the C's regen just isn't optimal, then B-mode can at least help save the brake pads a bit of wear. And it doesn't cost anything in terms of fuel since none is burned in most cases while your foot is off the accelerator.

As far as I'm concerned, vehicle testing should occur in two phases-- one with an apples-to-apples comparison for normal driving so that the consumer can see how a vehicle's performance directly compares to all other vehicles; and another in which the vehicle is tested in the manner for which it was optimized (off-road testing for 4x4, towing and hauling for pickups, hypermiling for hybrids etc.). This way consumers could get a better idea of how much additional potential a vehicle has within its own particular niche of use compared to other similar types of vehicles.

After all, nobody complains about a Ferrari or Bugatti Veyron being tested to see how fast it does 0-60, 0-100, its top speed etc. even though you'll never be able to use any of that legally on public streets in traffic (one tester who tested the Veyron reported that driving the car at top speed would burn through an entire tank of gas in something like 8 minutes)-- so why would testing a hybrid on a hypermiling driving cycle be such a contentious thing? It really shouldn't be treated any differently than any other specialized vehicle in that regard, and I'm not certain why this isn't completely obvious to car testers and consumer/automotive publications.

 

The only places on my commute where "B" might be effective, there are signs advising me "no engine braking permitted in urban areas" - so much for that!


Galaxy Nexus ? 2

 

I suspect that is a noise ordinance, the Prius is not loud in B.

The Manufacturer of Jake Brakes calls them Compression release engine brakes, the Prius does not do Compression release, so the law may not apply.
http://www.jacobsvehiclesystems.com/files/file/vehicle-noise-and-compression-release-engine-braking-28307b.pdf

 

Interesting. I had thought that it'd be something safety related.

Galaxy Nexus ? 2

 

The jake brakes start about 50 seconds in. Quite distinctive sound.

 

Interesting article.