Gas mileage interface question

First off, which generation(s) of Priuses are you asking about? The 3rd gen (model year 2010+) marked a very big change in the UI and the energy monitor and history screens became no longer accessible via touchscreen. For US Priuses, they'd always had a color touchscreen aka MFD until model year 2010. More functionality was added on the 3rd gen, but it became harder to use (no more touchscreen) and see due to smaller size, but it at least was moved more to eye level.

There are some Boston area Prius owners who might be willing to show you how it works. However, you'd probably want a demo from a 3rd gen and 1st or 2nd gen. 2nd gens are model year 04 to 09.

As for how much people use or whether it's a game, it totally depends on the person. Some couldn't care less or be bothered. Others make it a game and some do a lot of counterproductive things (usually due to lack of info or understanding). Others are hypermilers and so on...

An example of how 2nd gen owners can use it is via Pulse and Glide plus Warp Stealth in the Prius II for maximum FE … - CleanMPG Forums. Our own Doc Willie put together this video on pulse and glide at

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Looking for no arrows on a 3rd gen is (from what I understand) pointless and it's too hard to see the arrows on the 3rd gen anyway (they became too small).

Here's an example guide for the 3rd gen: HSI. The HSI is new to the 3rd gen and there's no equivalent on the previous gens.

An example of a proposed design was at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/84493-next-generation-mfd-check-out.html.

 

Angie you have posted this in a forum about a car that does not exist yet, and won't be sold for another 6 months. You may wish to have a moderator move your poll.

I own a GenII Prius and will answer for my car, Gens I and III are very different, there are minor differences in Gen II by year and by options.

1 It is impossible to turn off the Multi Function Display, so it shows mileage screens approximately 99% of the time. Since you are bombarded with Fuel Economy information, you tend to pay attention to it.

2. I try in minimize the amount of gas I use, not maximize my MPG. MPG is a way to keep score once you are sure you have the shortest route.

3.Well I hate to run into things, that would be the most important. I listen to my car a lot, if that was the question.

4.the screen could be more boring, it tends to be too addictive.

 

I already flagged the 1st post as being in the wrong area since it's not Prius v related. That's what the mods seem to want per http://priuschat.com/forums/priusch...-clearly-in-wrong-area-forum.html#post1219542. But... you already know that.

 

Yes, I flagged it as well. But I also explained WHY the thread might move and gave the OP the opportunity to 'turn themselves in' rather than 'get caught'.

 

I believe the hsi indicator is the one most use. It gives an indication of electricity and gasoline use, or recharge but does not provide full feedback. I would prefer gauge that had arcs showing the efficiency of the engine, this can also be done with color. The part on the hsi on the left side somewhat indicates charge or discharge of the battery. How about putting in an instrument with real information? The whole instrumentation seems old, small, and not well placed. There is a huge mostly open dash. A key guage to show engine temperature is missing so people often buy a scan guage to show this "hidden" information.

It is not an awful display, but it looks like something someone in the mid 90s designed to look high tech. In 2011, the instrumentation on something like the ford fussion looks much more informative.

Social media, I think this should not be put in the car from car companies. Its a distraction. Do we really need prius drivers tweeting the latest mpg from the car? It would be nice though if you could wifi some car information to your phone when your parked though;-) The stereo, even top of the line with nav has to me an awful ipod interface. Toyota really needs to get to work with providing a head unit that actually works with the media people play. I bought an aftermarket unit for this reason. Toyota seems to have presented a new hu at the detroit auto show. I am not sure if it still has the basics wrong, as that seemed to stress apps and social media.

 

Ange:
The HSI is the most useful screen, with the second most useful (and interesting for newbie passengers) being the screen with the model car that shows arrows to and from the engine and battery.

The most useful scenario would be to be able to toggle back and forth between these two screens. As it is now, you have to page through a series of bar graphs that should not even be visible while the car is moving. The data graphs should only be available when stopped so that they can be studied if someone really wants to (I never do).

Two more comments: 1) the instantaneous mpg indicator should be visible in all screens; 2) It would help the driver who is paying attention to the operation of the car if we had an engine temperature gauge and a digital tachometer.

Good luck in your class.

 

Always!

The HSI Display and the MPG graph.

Location. Place it in front of the driver. Look at the Honda Insight's display for an idea of what I'm talking about. As stated before, make the instantaneous MPG larger. That itty-bitty bar graph is hard to read for us older folks. INCLUDE A TEMP GAUGE. Scrap the 1980's blue neon digital display and go for something more 21st century.

I'll let the kids opine on that.

 

I always use the display. I only have mine for a week but I can tell you that I always try my best to get the best possible mileage given the traffic conditions, and the display is a big help with the real-time energy use (gas or electric) and average consumption.

As a gamer myself, the answer is definitely YES. There are some videos relating to game that might interest you. Here and here.

In my Prius I have HUD of my speed and MSI and I always keep that on, very cool and useful. For the main display I usually check the consumption graphs to show me how I've been driving and the real-time energy flow monitor.

The numbers are a bit small in some screen, and I have very good eyesight. Bigger and clearer numbers will make it easier to read, especially when driving.

Better sound-proofing would be very welcome, thought it is not a big concern for me. The biggest problem for me is the rear view visibility, quite a bit of blind spot.

Hope I answer all your questions, anything else feel to to ask me directly.

Good luck with your class

 

To the OP, I believe SparkieBlues has an actual HUD (heads up display) and not what some people mistakenly refer as a HUD that's actually NOT a HUD.

The HUD isn't available on North American Priuses but one can see it at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/77364-video-hud-in-action.html.

 

IMO, the first thing you should do is NOT to look at the current Prius display and decide what to re-design. First, you should come up with some guiding principles and write them down. Then look at the current design and see how well it achieves what you want.

For example. Things that change quickly and are important need to be large and obvious. (and things that don't change often and/or aren't very important can be smaller)

Looking at the display, the speed is good. It is the largest item and argubly is important. But now look at the gas guage and the mpg display. They are the same size and symmetrical. Pleasing to some UI or graphical desginer but totally silly. You rarely need to look at teh gas guage, it doesn't suddenly change values (not normally) but the MPG display is constantly changing and it has the same tiny 10 blips as the gas gauge. No matter what anyone does or says people are going to be looking at this a lot. But it is more difficult to see and takes more than a glance to read it. But the HSI display can be read at a glance.

Another principle. It shouldn't take lots of clicks to get to the display you want. There are too many toggles of the 'trip' and 'display' buttons -- 2 or 3 should be the max when driving. Doing some setup and rare things can take more...but when stopped.

3PriusMike