First Long Drive - ECO Score Very Low?

If the Prius scores things like the efficiency coach in my CMax, any speeds above about 50mph start dragging it down.

 

The rating is broken up into 4 categories - see where you scored low and work on that one...

 

I guarantee that your Eco score and your MPG's would improve by setting your cruise control speed lower than 65. Also consider that using your climate control will lower your score. When setting your A/C or heater, a score will come up when you choose a setting. The best score is 5 bars. If your temperature setting drops it below 5, your Eco Score will drop.

You will see a huge improvement in your score if you get off the highways and take secondary roads. You may think it will take longer due to lower speeds, but often times the secondary route is significantly shorter and the trip will take the same amount of time. Try Google maps to plot your route and choose the option to avoid highways, tolls and ferries. You may be surprised by the results.

 

I'm planning to drive from Nashua, NH to Virginia Beach, VA soon. Just for grins I mapped the distance using your suggestions, avoid highways, tolls, and ferries. The distance went from 589 miles and just under 10 hours to 740 miles and just over 16 hours. I'll stick to the toll roads for this trip. Maybe another day I'll try the slower roads and see what the mileage works out to. On my last trip to VA, I got 55.6 MPG using the toll roads and bridges.

 

Did I forget to mention that it doesn't work so well on long trips? But it does let you enjoy the scenic routes. Sometimes you need to stop and smell the roses.

 

Is this the first 200 miles?
Perhaps you have the trip meter set wrong?
Is that the eco score or miles per gallon?
My first 200 miles was a different story (mpg-wise), see "pretty decent" below on this thread.

 

As an endorsement of @krousdb advice:

In 2005, I did a commuting study:

• Not shown are the half-dozen other, alternate routes. Compared to long distance runs, optimizing the urban, frequently driven routes can easily cover 2/3 to 9/10ths of all miles driven.

Even my alternate, long distance routes should be investigated when NOT under a time limit. Typically, on the return trip, but they do need to be investigated. First time with a scheduled appointment is not the time to discover the 'road project' on the two lane road. <wink>

Route planning pays big dividends over frequent trips. You'll find the Prius really likes lower speeds and sometimes, these are short-cuts.

Bob Wilson

 

My 2018 Prius IV is getting significantly better mileage than my 2010 Prius IV did. I live in an ideal spot to try for some high MPG figures. We live at about 500 feet and drop a couple of hundred feet down to Salem, Oregon. I can take the state 4 lane highway or back roads going into town--two small towns with low speed limits. The back route avoids a pretty good hill. Going to Salem on the main highway, ideal weather conditions--no rain or wind, about 72 degrees, hitting traffic lights on green, I made it to my first stop at 72.5 miles/gallon. Second stop was a few miles farther, hit the lights on green except for one stop sign, and got an incredible 82.5 miles/gallon for the 15.4 mile trip. Ran other errands which dropped my mileage down around 75 mpg, and ended up back at home at 70 mpg for 40 miles--back roads home. I have 3204 miles on the car and MPG is 60.2--this is from early December in bad weather driving until better weather starting in April. This is Totota's computer generated mileage figures. My last two fills (once a month) have been 57+ mpg and 58 mpg hand calculated when computer says 60. I'm a happy camper with that mileage--couldn't have done it without the help I got on this forum with my first Prius.

How do I change my info from 2010 to 2018 Prius? Found my account but the table doesn't go to 2018--probaby because I was in a previous generation before.

 

Go to your personal details page. Click the "Vehicle" link:

In my list, it includes the 2019 models and I'm sure we all get the same list.

 

At least in Gen 3, ECO is a user interface for the gas pedal, if you are in CC, where you do not operate the pedal, it has no effect.
(In Gen 3, it also alters the A/C, but I believe that is separated in Gen 4)

 

Minimal braking will get you a low score on ECO-Stop for a start, as you're not getting enough regen.
I find that driving it like a normal car and letting it do the maths, I usually get 70-80% without trying.

 

Just using the cruise control at all kills my eco score. I let the car take over the throttle and it slaps me for my profligate use of fuel.

 

Yeah, setting the cruise at 90 doesn't help Jerry.

 

It's not so bad if you switch the display to metric first.

 

cruise control using the ECO mode slows the acceleration...

 

True, but it still gives way lower marks than I get w/o cruise control. I still use cruise most of the time, though because it's more relaxing.