Gen III Prius, 51 city mpg, Myth or Fact ?

I would think that the answer would be that at 40+ mph and on flat roads the ICE is more efficient than the electric motor. The electric motor is using battery power and the ICE will have to run eventually to recharge the battery.

 

I am averaging in the low 40s but my typical drive between cold starts is usually less than 5 miles/15 minutes, always with lots of hills and stop/go traffic. On trips that have allowed the engine to warm up I have noticed an uptick in MPG but those trips are few and far between.

Also, someone else said they had a city drive of 15-20 minutes with only 5 or 6 stoplights. I don't know what the official definition is but I don't think that can be considered "city" driving any more than driving on a freeway that happens to go through a city. I have 5 or 6 stoplights/stop signs per mile, at the least. Sometime I'll count how many complete stops I average per mile and try to figure out how that factors in to MPG...

 

My last tank was 578 miles, 68.3 displayed and 65.0 calculated MPG. My current tank is around 420 miles and 71 displayed MPG, but over thos 1000 odd miles, none have been freeway or over 50 MPH.

 

I'm the "someone else" and in thinking about it, I actually have two stop signs and eleven lights in my 15-20 minutes of driving. However, the moment I see a red light or a light that just turned green with cars at a standstill, I pull my foot off of the gas and allow myself room between me and the car in front of me so that if they brake, I am not forced to do so as well every time. My first tank (dealership filled), I averaged 47 MPG, second tank 51 MPG, and I am currently averaging just over 55 MPG on this third tank, all because I have been much more diligent on how I accelerate and what traffic is doing around me. So, even though I have the eleven lights, if I pay attention I usually only have to stop at half or less. Stop signs are another issue.

 

OK... I guess that qualifies as city driving. I don't recall if I've ever been to Lubbock - is it pretty flat? Must be in the 70s or 80s by now too. I think most people who get better mileage, in addition to having mastered some of the driving techniques discussed at length on these forums, probably live in flat hot places like Florida, Phoenix, and certain parts of Texas. Folks in the cooler, hillier places like the Northeast and Northwest seem to report worse mileage, from my totally unscientific survey.

I try to accelerate as gradually as possible from complete stops, start coasting as soon as I see a yellow light, and I watch my little hybrid indicator obsessively - but I'm still managing only about 42 MPG. But I think that's more because I almost never drive far enough to allow the engine to properly warm up.

 

Lubbock is definitely flat and dry. My biggest hurdle out here for MPG is high winds, which at this time of year average 25 MPH and gust up to 45 MPH regularly. In fact, looking out my window right now, the sky is close to the same color as a tan Prius!

 

City driving, usually mid-50s. Lately, though, after viewing the YouTube video I found on one of the posts here, I'm getting 57-58. I took my first "long" highway cruise last week. Didn't go much over 70 mph and kept it pretty steady. Over 260 miles, my average mpg was 51. No BS! I've had plenty of practice with my 2006 Prius, and just a bit of common sense will let anyone achieve great mileage.

 

I bought my 2010 in October. I have gotten about 48-51 MPG on every tank. I don't drive 'special,' I don't over inflate my tires and I don't tailgate to draft. I also use only regular mode and never switch to electric. Basically I am happy with what it is.

My driving is usually under 5 miles to work or shopping and an occasional 30 minute drive partially on the highway. I now have a 2" receiver on the car that I mounted myself (Thanks, I'm recovering nicely) and a bike rack mounted in it. Total weight is about 60 lbs. My first trip with two adults, two bikes and some supplies will be tomorrow. I'll post the mileage.

I do notice that mileage is worse when the car is not warmed up or the weather is cold.

 

Sounds like you should hook up a wind turbine to the battery and maybe also put up a sail

 

Getting 51 mpg is no bs but its not all car but a lot of you is needed.

Meaning it all depends on your drivng style and if you want to get 51mpg you will need to learn how to drive green or the Prius hyper miliage techniques.

 

I usually get 55-60mpg during summer and 47-50+ during winter....I have very hilly terrain....this is in the inland nw...mostly city driving with 20% highway

 

That's the problem then... Gradual acceleration is evil in mpg-land with the prius. Look up the pulse/glide technique.

 

I'm familiar w/ the technique and have been working on it. I watched one of the videos posted here recently too. But it seems no matter how quickly I accelerate to reach my target speed (often going all the way into the full red PWR area), after that point I have to keep the meter pretty far over to the right on the HSI to maintain that speed or even gradually decelerate. If I allow the meter to drop down to just right of the CHG indicator (barely holding my foot on the accelerator), the car slows down pretty quickly unless I'm on a down slope.

I have another couple of posts on the forum including one I started today that touch on this. I'll keep trying to learn pulse & glide but so far it doesn't seem to be working for me. I've gotten my best mileage so far on a trip to the mountains on the freeway using cruise control - even uphill to the pass was probably better than what I've managed so far in the city.

 

I guess you haven't seen the photos of GenIIs pegging their displays at 99.9 over full tanks.

Of course, those are achieved by serious hypermilers, not ordinary mortals.

 

Around town driving and speeds ranging from 30 to 45 MPH, several lights, hills, I get between 55 and 60 MPG for a 4 mile trip. That's starting with a cold engine and usually includes a quick stop at the corner store!

 

Also it depends on the terran.

If you live in SF area then forget high mpg because steep hills are one of Prius nightmares.

 

Iceman,

Interborough highway with congestion is like EPA city test. I started and ended in NY City.

Your route and trip duration does not reflect EPA test and do you expect to get EPA MPG rating?

At least 27 MPG you are getting is roughly twice you would get from a non hybrid midsize car.