Drove down to Torrance to visit my parents for New Year's. Rough trip outline was as follows: –Fuel economy at a steady 81 mph (by speedo, =79 mph by GPS) on flat road was 42 mpg –Fuel economy at 76 mph was around 48-49 mpg –Due to this car's smaller gas tank, I actually now need to stop for gas on this trip. At 42 mpg average, 400/42=9.5238 gallons, while the tank is 10.6…that's a little too close for comfort for me and requires ignoring the low fuel light for nearly 50 miles… –At these higher speeds, air definitely blows through the vents even with the fan set to OFF –Car has no problems keeping speed going both up and down grades while on cruise control (the Tejon pass is 1,499 ft at the north, 4,144 ft at the top, and 1,362 ft at the south). Because the downgrade is very gradual, I was only able to regen 0.6 miles of EV (cruising speed 76 mph), which were immediately used up in HV mode at the foot of the slope. –I seriously need to tint the hatch window and get tinted side view mirrors asap. The lights from cars behind you is seriously the most stressful part of this entire trip (I started out at 5 pm so most of it was at night).
I wonder if they can give you a $300 speeding ticket based on this post? Probably not... But not only are you wasting gas, you're driving way too fast!!! Why not drive at or below the speed limit? It might save you from an untimely death... Or worse your need for speed might kill someone else who drives slower than you! THINK!!!!
Those are good numbers. I assume the 81 and 76 mph gas consumption rate was on flat highway after you had used up all the grid charge and had a consistent start/end battery level in the battery (no "EV Boost")? How long of a distance did you drive at each speed for your measurement? Did you measure this by resetting the trip odometer or some other way?
Probably not, since the speed limits were 70 and 65, respectively, so I'm always under 10 miles over the speed limit. I was driving with two cats and it was late at night – I had no desire to arrive in Los Angeles an hour or two later. I also prefer to separate myself from clumps of cars as quickly as possible for safety and sanity reasons. I started out with no charge. The numbers are off the MID and I filled the tank at the beginning of the trip. For the 42 mpg number, my initial mileage was higher, but after setting 81 on cruise and driving for an hour, it fell and stayed at 42. That was for 156 miles. The next segment was until I got gas, 141 miles, 42 was displayed as the trip summary (this included driving over the Tejon pass). Last segment was gas station to my parent's, 50 miles and 50 mpg, with the last 4 miles done at about 40 mph and the rest done at 76.
Have you ever driven I-5 from NorCal to SoCal? It doesn't sound like it. 75-80mph is pretty much the norm. Even at 80mph you have to stay to the right for faster vehicles. LOL lensovet, I just made the same trip at similar speeds (75-85mph) from Woodland to Chatsworth. I got 45.7mpg down there. I forgot what I got coming back but it was better since there was no rain. Driving by myself I would have tried to stay at 70mph or less but my girlfriend doesn't want to sit in a car for an extra hour+.
Yep ... I've driven I-5 a few times in my 09. I'm a slow driver by CA standards (I drive the speed limit ) and people would actually give me the finger and/or horn for travelling "slow"....lol. Once in L.A. it was downright dangerous to NOT travel over the speed limit with the flow. Oh and Mr. Priuscamper ... if speed kills please explain the phenomenon experienced in Montana when they raised the speed limit to NO limit and there were LESS accidents than when there was a speed limit.
Given that climbing over Tejon is easier on the return (gentler slope going up, steeper slope coming down leading to more regen), I suspect I'll get something higher too. Also, 197 miles @ 42mpg + 50 miles @ 50mpg is how much overall? Too lazy to do that math, but it's obviously above 42…
Actually... all my 400K driving over my lifetime on the highways of CA, OR, WA is exactly why I object to all y'all in the fast lane blowing by... Good gas mileage & driving defensively from wingnuts (aka: 80%) is why I always drive to save lives! Especially tonight! Drive safe everyone! Let's make it to 2014... The 2015 models are gonna blow your mind!
I've made a similar trip: Sacramento to Los Angeles, also 400 miles each way; took the family of four. Averaged about 64-65 mph there on I-5, got 59 mpg including starting off with a full charge. On the way back averaged 70 mph, and got about 55mpg with full charge at the start.
Yeah that obviously is a factor too. At some points of the trip, the outside temperature dipped below 40. Sure doesn't help to have that cold air going past the engine at 80 mph.
Perhaps even a better temp situation - the trip was around Thanksgiving, and as I recall, the high temp outside was in the 7os and all driving during the day and did not use A/C - so good temp conditions. On the ride there and a bit on the way back I did some "drafting" behind trucks, which seems to have helped.
I haven't been on I-5 going towards Grapevine for years, but as i recall, the right lane pavement was in worse shape due to large trucks beating on it so much. Hopefully they've repaved.
Prius liftback? I don't expect a 4th Gen to be flashed next January in Detroit. I'm thinking two years from now for unveiling and first cuts in mid year as '16 Prius. Although I'd like to see 4th gen in a year.
