A 100 MPG indication usually means electric only, but not always. If you had a ScanGauge, it would sometimes show 100-300 mpg under certain conditions while still burning gas. The engine is started with the traction, or hybrid, battery. The control system won't let electric mode run it down below two bars before it forcibly fires up the ICE for recharging. You could defeat this by burning lots of electric power with the AC while parking or really long gliding while in N, so don't get in a habit of leaving it in N. As for you earlier thought, 'Prius isn't really for highway driving,' banish the thought. Its highway fuel economy is great, it just happens to shine even better off the highway.
Just for clarification the small 12 volt battery in the rear of the car is used to boot up the computers and to run 12 volt accessories. After the computers are booted up and running they allow the hybrid/traction/high voltage battery to supply the energy to spin up and start the ICE, power the inverter which powers the electric motors and recharges the 12 volt battery, and powers the air conditioning compressor. The two batteries in the Prius cause the terminology describing the starting sequence to be a bit different. Frequent confusion occurs in posts when the singular term "battery" is used without specifying which one. I agree with Fuzzy above, highway economy is excellent if you watch your speed.
:welcome: May I ask from which area in India are you from? I was on biz trip 2 years ago in Bangalore, Pune and driving to the airport in Mumbai and I am just wondering how would a Prius drive in that type of traffic and with the roads. I know that there are big differences between the different region/states of India, hence my questions. Please share your experiences with us on PC!
You need to replace the hybrid battery about every 6-8 months. j/j The answer hopefully is never. The warranty is 10yrs/150k miles or 8yrs/100k miles if my understanding is correct. Depends on if you live in a CARB state or not.
If you have expectations set by the EPA estimates, please read http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html for what goes into the tests. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/why_differ.shtml also might help. You can see what Consumer Reports got at Most fuel-efficient cars.
If your tires are properly inflated, you can only reduce further fuel consumption by: 1) reducing average speed 2) setting A/C to Auto, at a higher/lower temperature in summer/winter *and* using ECO mode 3) reduce the usage of accessories (i.e. reduce stereo volume) I cannot think of anything else. By driving 95% highway, at constant speed, speed is exactly what it will mainly determine your MPG.
I have'nt checked my tire pressure since i bought it so I will this weekend. Do you mean to use the AC for both summer and winter and just use the temp? I heard for cold weather to get the temp up to you want and just turn off?
I've got a slight disability and wonder if an older Prius would work for me. My left leg is frozen in a nearly straight position so I can't drive a stick shift and not many automatics because of leg room. Right now I have a '99 Civic. The newer Civics and the 2010 Prius (my sister-in- law has one) just don't have enough room to the left of the brake pedal. The car must also sit low since my leg just hangs out in the air otherwise and this is painful. Do earlier Prius' have a bit more legroom? Most cars now seem to have a slightly raised area on left side of drivers floor pan. This really messes me up. Thanks for any information
Just thought I would let you know you got me on this one..I was like WHAT????? 6-8months??? Thanks for that...all on my first post...:LOL
I never use auto on my car. In cold weather, if coolant temperature is <=146 F, on my 2nd gen, I turn off the fan on the HVAC system if the heat's on to avoid unnecessarily having the ICE run to provide cabin heat. See http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/91431-one-3.html#post1287385 for more details.
Bisco, Thanks for the info. Upon further research it does look like the older Priuses have less leg room than the current models. My wife has a Camry and it is uncomfortable on trips of any distance. Plenty legroom for the driver but it sits too high as my leg is hanging nearly straight out. As a passenger I have to take off my left shoe to get an extra inch. Haven't tried sitting in a Fusion, will do. Thanks again. -------------billy
I have been using that option for heat when its cold. I warm up the car then turn off the fan and its stays warm. What I have found out lately is that wind plays a major differance in my MPG. The otherday I had a tailwind and got 61MPG but today only 30 going against the wind. Still averaging 48-49 MPG for the first month and 3500 miles.
No, this is not possible. EV Mode is for short distances under approximately 1 mile and at speeds less than 25MPH.
I love to stretch my legs when i am driving and although there is adequate leg room in my gen 3, I found on this site brackets that allows me to extend my legs straight out. go to extendmyseat.com. They are pricey but well worth it. I am 6'3" and the last car that allowed me to stretch my legs was my 1978 MGB roadster.
