How will a PiP Perform in Hilly Terrain?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Steve Ryan, May 30, 2014.

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  1. Steve Ryan

    Steve Ryan Junior Member

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    Thanks - the descent/capacity numbers are a key bit of information for me. I'm sure the Prius will make good use of regeneration in up-and-down terrain. My situation is that I have a steep 1400 foot descent just 8 miles from home, so the battery will already be mostly "full". The average grade according to Google Earth is 16%, with a maximum of 24%.

    I'm definitely looking for ways to keep the speed down. Most vehicles are painfully slow in first gear, but go too fast in second on this grade.
    In tourist season (this is near Yosemite National Park) we regularly see city drivers with smoke pouring off their brakes at the bottom of the hill.

    The last 2 miles before the steep grade are also downhill - 600 feet in two miles. That happens to add up to the number you quoted. Perhaps I will be able to adjust my overnight charging so that I reach the high point with the battery very low and then regenerate all the way down.

    It sounds like I'll be fine going back up, based on the many experiences described here.
     
    #21 Steve Ryan, Jun 4, 2014
  2. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    Rozi did you have it in B mode? Read my post above.


    iPhone ?
     
    #22 Paul Schenck, Jun 4, 2014
  3. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Regenerative braking like that should be at least 50-60% efficient overall and possibly a bit higher. The losses going through the motor, inverter, and battery just aren't large enough to drag things down to 32% efficiency regenerating into the battery and then back out again.

    Also, you can avoid a good portion of regeneration by Driving With Load (DWL) where you gain speed coasting downhill and then use up that momentum driving up the next hill.
     
    #23 Jeff N, Jun 6, 2014
  4. -Rozi-

    -Rozi- Member

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    No, I had it in D mode. That smell occured when driving up a >10% hill for 10 minutes. For the first time in car's history.

    A few days ago I did another mountain pass with even longer ascend. This time I did pull over and checked under the hood. There was no smell, engine compartment was not too hot, I could almost touch and hold everything under the hood. I guess it really was only some manufacturing process residue burning off the first time.
     
    #24 -Rozi-, Jun 20, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2014
    Chazz8 likes this.
  5. -Rozi-

    -Rozi- Member

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    1. I wonder if it would be possible to estimate regen braking efficiency by comparing the EV distance loss on a hilly vs. level road. Anybody has any straight & hilly road to compare with straight & level one? Set the cruise control to the same speed and watch the numbers.

    2.Unfortunately, DWL is almost never possible in hilly terrain around here. There are always some turns between a descend and the next climb. The mountain roads are too curly and the car coasting downhill gets too fast to make the first turn.
    So regen is a bless. Saving 30 or 60% is still infinitely more than saving none as regular cars.
     
    #25 -Rozi-, Jun 20, 2014
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