Question on MPG

The LiIon battery in the PiP can take a charge faster than the NiMH battery in the standard Prius, so regenerative braking is more efficient (less reliant on the friction brakes). Also, on long downhills, the extra capacity can be used to store the energy where the battery in the standard Prius would be full and the system would have to dissipate energy with engine compression braking.

 

This doesn't really make sense. The advantage in using lithium comes from its higher energy density, which translates to more capacity per pound. The NiMH battery that most Priuses use is actually more reliable and longer lived than the lithium units - it just has a lower capacity.​

 

Energy density aside, it's more efficient. Toyota says it and real world numbers prove it.

 

Got this today, all while in HV/Eco, combined suburban/highway driving, top speed in mid-60's.

Learning to feel how much I can push the pedal without kicking the ICE on - or even coax it up to 75+ MPG with the ICE on - especially when I'm not being followed too closely as I try not to annoy other drivers. A lot of it is luck: getting a good clean trip without too much unexpected braking after accelerating on gas, or having to accelerate too hard to placate the occasional tailgater. You can teach an old lead foot new tricks.

BTW my PiP is still a virgin (never been charged).