Hybrid performance gadgets

Me too!!
Video was great,trying to find Costal web site.

 

I feel P.T. Barnum said it best ..."There's a s......" (fill in the blank).

We need a real expert to check these things out. Where's Doc Willie when you need him?

Doc, what do you think??

ZC1

 

I think the old timers are laughing so hard that they've done major internal
organ damage and are rolling on the floor trying to activate their Life Alert.
(That would be ROTFTTATLA for you tek-no wizards reading this on your
iphones and wanting to text message a response.)

I feel confident in predicting that the only "Hybrid Performance Gadget"
currently available that is guaranteed to help improve performance works on
the driver side of the equation.

It is the ScanGaugeII. Buy it. Use it. You will get better MPG/FE.
It will actually pay for itself in time.

ScanGaugeII - Trip Computers + Digital Gauges + Scan Tool

Save $$$, buy yours at the PriusChat store:

PriusChat Shop : ScanGauge II Scan Tool + Digital Gauges + Trip Computers [ScanGaugeII] - $159.95

What are you waiting for?

 

So you are saying this ev mode mod is a bucket of manure

 

please explain how a gauge will improve MPG and FE

 

The gauge wont improve your FE. You will improve your FE by modifying your driving with use of the SGII. Search some of the Scan Gauge threads. It does work I assure you.

 

The scangauge just informs you, and it works....

But the other stuff - I just have this to say:
WOW snakeoil with 100% bullshit included.

 

There is a truely massive amount of information on this forum about how
you can use a ScanGauge, hereafter SG, to get the best possible MPG/FE.

Unfortunately, Toyota has provided only the most basic instrumentation. And
half of what is there -- the screen with the fat yellow bars -- is useless in
providing real-time information that can be used to understand what is going
on under the hood. The SG provides the missing info: RPMs, IGNition
(advance), coolant temperature, throttle position value, daily and trip
cumulative MPG, and much, much more.

I can understand that you have no reason to believe me, only just out of
Newbie-dom. Hell, I've only been on this forum since Jan '08, and I've got
only 5237 miles on my Prius. Fair enough. Go and see what the experts
have to say.

Use the search function at the upper right of this page to search for threads
using keywords like: ScanGuage, Grill block, Super Highway Mode,
operating Stages, coolant temperature, MPG, RPMs.

Be prepared to spend a month or so of evenings.

Not convinced that other PriusChat posters know what they're talking about?
Visit these recognized high MPG sites and see what they have to say:

CleanMPG, An authoritative source on fuel economy and hypermiling

Fuel Economy & Emissions - GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars

Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - Ecomodder.com Fuel Economy Forum

Need I mention that here too you should use the resident search tool to dig
into their mass of knowledge?

Be not afraid, it is actually a lot of fun and very informative...
and your wallet/check book will be forever thankful for your effort.

Edit -- Oh, I forgot: Standard Disclaimer: Other than having bought, and am currently
happily using their product, I have no connection whatsoever with ScanGauge.

 

Personally I don't see EV mode being anything other than what some other Priuschat members have said, paraphrased, not really worth it. Of course, your mileage may vary.

I thought it would be a great feature, at first, if you could actually drive far on it, not. The EV mod certainly doesn't qualify for the performance moniker.

ZC1

 

There is an EV mode, in most cases it doesn't "increase your
fuel economy" unless you use it right, and it's FREE or the minor
cost of a couple of simple electric parts. Try this for the
seminal installation guide. I wouldn't recommend Coastal's
widget, because many people are having reliability problems with it.
.
The rest of it -- well, a site that can't spell its own products
right is immediately suspect in my mind. Not to mention that
what they're offering is WAY overpriced if it's any good at all.
.
_H*

 

The most effective ways of improving MPGs are to drive right and keep the tires inflated:

Don't speed. As with any car MPGs fall off fast above 65 MPH or so.

- Accelerate briskly (this makes most efficient use of the engine)
- Gliding (no arrows on the "Energy" display) is better than coasting
- Coasting is better than braking
- Braking is better than stopping

Check tire pressures at least monthly. Many people inflate the original tires to 42/40 PSI front/rear because it noticeably improves MPGs.

 

About what?

EV mode: Useful in a few limited situations.

Coastal Tech's EV switch: Unreliable. Recommend other options. IMHO of course.

Other milage performance enhancers: Ain't seen nuthin' yet worth the paper that the hype is printed on.

Scan Guage: Yes. Better insturmentation --> better driving --> better milage.

 

.
I agree Coastaltech's website lacks confidence inspiring professional appeal, however, their products and instructions make up for it in a clean, prompt way! No issues here yet with their EV switch - way better than I could have jimmy-rigged the same components.

The EV switch is good for short distances like a parking lot/driveway, and in those contexts, helpful for mpg (imo)
.

 

I am trying the EV mode gadget. It was very inexpensive and so if it doesn't work...no big deal. I am having such fun with this car that I am not worried about $75.00.

It just plugs in to the car where, as I understand it, in Europe it is actually built into the car. It does put your car in electric only mode for short, slow jaunts. It is not useful above 33 mph. I will let you know if I end up with any better mpg than I have been getting.

 

I don't think there is anything magic about 65 MPH. As with any car MPGs fall off faster as speed increases, regardless of whether the faster speed is 45 MPH, 55 MPH, 65 MPH, or 75 MPH.

 

No Danny, there is a 'magic' number, but I thought it was 55 not 65.
You wil get better mpg at 55 than 45

Can't say I have any facts on this, but feeling very sure.

 

That hasn't been my experience with the Prius.

For that matter, take a look at the chart here:
http://priuschat.com/forums/fuel-economy/14675-most-efficient-speed-best-mpg-4.html#post385271

There is a sharp drop off between 41 and 42, but even so 42 is still better than 43, and 40 is still better than 41. Based on various tests performed by various Prius owners here at PriusChat, the "magic number" seems to be right around 20 MPH. Anything faster or slower than that reduces MPG and the further you get from 20 MPH the worse it gets.

 

Rotfttatla!!!!!