EV battery recharge question

Yes.

 

the more, the better! otoh, there is a larger price to pay getting up the hill. flat is best.

 

I consistently get better mileage in the mountains than I do on the flats in my 2004, and not by an insignificant amount (mid 60s, usually in the mountains).

 

i'm not that surprised.

 

1-2 hrs downhill???? What mountain are you descending, Everest?!

 

make sure you are using DRCC for cruise control so that the car maintains your speed for you, so it will stay in the ECO range better and longer, and maximizing your downhill charging

 

If you think you can judge when to turn back to EV mode in order to use up the charge before arriving at your destination, then yes.

Use EV to get to the main route that is the way to your destination. Go Hybrid then, and switch back to EV when you get close to your destination. You could go into EV Auto if you have more charge than you need to cover the distance from the main road/highway to your destination, but this involves more mental work and familiarity with the car's capabilities. Which can be more effort than a person would want to put into a simple drive.

 

Here in Florida I'm lucky to drive down a hill for 1/4 mile. Sorry can't help you.

 

This is 51 miles, and about the longest descent I cover.

 

In March of 2009 I drove a 2005 Prius from Newark, Delaware to Corvallis Oregon. Here is the GPS track with altitude:



The altitude graph with its distance scale was flipped to match the map track. The high points in the center around 1400 miles was leaving Denver and heading over the Rockies. When I got to the western side back to Denver altitude (Grand Junction, CO), my mpg reading was several mpg higher than when I started climbing out of Denver. Engine only on the climb, battery full all the way down. Never did need to use "B" mode.

 

If you didn't use B mode on the way into Silverthorne after passing through Eisenhower Tunnel, I don't know how you did it. I need B mode and occasional foot braking to keep to the speed limit on that descent. I also use it all the way down Floyd Hill.

 

Yah, it surprised me too, but traffic was really flying (March 2009 was warm and dry in a winter of little snow) and I only needed to use brief occasional foot braking. Never had any concern about overheating the brakes. The car still has its original brakes.

 

Auto B mode invoked when the battery filled up?

 

Didn't seem to. No indication on the shifter display, no obvious increase in engine braking, just a fun coasting at 75 mph with an occasional tap on the brakes. There were plenty of less steep parts where I even had to use the accelerator pedal or have a truck run up my nice person.

 

If you didn't use either brakes or B-mode down that hill, you'd be over 100mph 1/3 of the way down. If you used brakes, that's not good.