Using Prius C for Newspaper Delivery

Actually the larger electric motor MG2 is geared to the driving wheels and runs all the time; the ICE (internal combustion engine) is called upon from time to time to boost the traction battery charge that MG2 uses, and to supplement the power to the wheels.
A stronger electric motor would be heavier (as would be increased battery capacity), and use energy faster - the ICE would have a greater workload and fuel consumption would worsen. It's all compromises. You could consider a plug-in for deliveries, but you would have to cost the regular charging; there's no free lunch

 

In colder weather an engine block heater may help you get into stealth EV mode quicker.

 

It is well proven that "stop and go driving" in heavy traffic is where the Prius hybrid system really shines.

I have a neighbor, who has used her 2006 Prius for newspaper deliveries for the past 7 years.

For the first hour or two, the PIP might save gas, but I see very little advantage to having to carry the battery and having to charge it every night. Then, the battery takes up extra space and adds extra weight.

My neighbor really makes out when claiming the Income Tax mileage deduction.

 

I'm puzzled by this - are you babying the c?

What mileage do you get if you drive it exactly the way you used to drive the Yaris?

 

I was wondering how it could take 30 minutes longer to do the route.

The general consensus here is that it's best to just start out by driving a Prius like any other car, then refine your technique once you have a baseline on its performance. Look forward to seeing your results on the next run!

 

What is a newspaper?

SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 ? 2

 

Too bad that newspaper have degraded to the point of shortened stories with very little detail that began with USA Today.

The days of in depth investigative reporting appears to be gone, with the exception of a very few.

If you don't have internet access, and the written paper article refers to an internet connection, you lose detail.

Sadly, most newspapers today are advertising mills.

 

It's not just newspapers that have a lack of journalistic accountability. Just turn on the tv to any of the news channels. Fox, CBS, NBC... take your pick.

 

Well, I am also a fairly new owner, and I have never started out by driving a Prius like any other car. I get great gas mileage using pulse & glide and driving with load. Why would I want to drive it any other way? I have tried driving it like I used to drive a couple of times just to see the difference, but that's it.

I think it is an ideal car for stop and go driving.

 

I use mine for running deliveries, a bit longer each than running a route like you are though. It's the perfect car for the job.

It is better for the severe stop and go driving, energy is recovered from the regenerative braking at each stop and energy is conserved at each stop as the ICE turns itself off rather than idling all day long. Now, I'm not saying that this style of severe stop and go doesn't still have a negative impact on the C's overall MPG, just less of an impact than the same driving style does on a non-hybrid.

Note that your brand new C will get better mileage after a few tanks, mine was in the 54 range after the first few tanks as well and now it's more like 58, including tons of AC usage over the summer.

 

Thanks for the update - in your original post you said you were getting about 54 on the c, and I assume that was when it was taking you about 30 minutes longer because of the way you were driving. it. Getting 53 with normal driving sounds very good.

 

PWR zone isn't just gas guzzle mode, it is less efficient drop for drop of gas than staying in the more efficient lower range, but you do still get increased output with the increased gas consumption. Use the PWR are when you need it, but not excessively and you may not even notice a net drop in your MPG.

 

If the route is say about 50 miles so at 3.50 a gal it would cost at 54 mpg it would cost $3.24 in gas. At the faster pace with 53 mpg it would cost $3.30 a difference of 6 cents. If it took me an extra 30 min to get the job done and the difference was so little I would be all over the gas pedal.