New owner of a 2011 Prius II with 67K miles. I've read quite a bit on the Pulse and Glide method. Online videos, Hobbit, etc. MPG advice here and elsewhere. I'm not getting the glide right. I get up to 40 mph, let off, get "infinite" MPG, and try to *just* hit the accelerator to stop regen (akin to engine breaking) from occurring. I am watching the energy monitor screen (schematic) and trying to get "no arrows" ... no transfer of energy anywhere. But the line between regen and battery-supplied traction power is so incredible thin that I can't find it. I've been driving almost exclusively in Eco mode (I think... I'm a little confused, because I see an Eco light, a Power light, and no light, which I think is somewhere in between). As Hobbit mentions, "However, the ECO mode may not be suitable for most normal driving as its output response curve is almost annoyingly "slow-bottom", but toggling back to normal linear response only takes one more push." I'm wondering if I drove in POWER mode if I'd have a larger range of pedal sensitivity to find that sweet spot. I instead have been content to try to use the all-electric mode from ~40 mph down to 20-30, however this does drain the traction battery, which then must subsequently be supplied from the ICE since I anticipate stops and don't do a lot of regen breaking. I understand that energy is lost during the 2 conversions, so I'm wondering if this is not helpful, even with the ICE off at that time. I'm not a lead foot, but if the point of P&G is higher MPG, than I don't want to forego using ECO mode if it's going to help me on MPG. Anecdotally, I tried my inexperienced P&G the other day on my commute (18 miles, 45 mph speed limit, avg. speed ~36) and got a paltry 40 MPG, granted it was single digit temps (F). For the return trip (~15 deg F) I just set cruise control at 45 and got 50 MPG, and that was from with a battery starting at 3/8 full and ending 7/8. I know this has been discussed over and over, but I'm just not getting the glide, and wondering if it's better to just set the cruise or something. I just blocking the lower 100% of my grille, and so am hoping for improvements there as well. Thanks all!
Ok, just thought about this again... I think it should be the opposite. ECO should get me a wider ranger of pedal pressure to find the sweet spot... POWER should blow right by it. So are there any other reasons why I just can't find it? This may be coincidence, or the fact that I was trying harder... but I think I got in a true glide for a good 5 seconds at the end of the commute when the car was warmed up.
For gliding make sure your In that tiny beginning part of the range of the display. The triangle. Any more and your not in it. Eco makes it easy. Or you have restless leg syndrome and well.....
Thanks @Blizzard_Persona . I was literally just about to post a screenshot from that YouTube video! Some advise watching the energy monitor screen to try to get to "no arrows" (energy transfer)... but it seems watching the Hybrid System Indicator yields more information about what is going on. [edited 6:57 pm to correct my misunderstanding of the display] Correct me if I'm wrong: If I am using MORE than the little triangle, I am draining the traction battery. The time period in which my ICE is off is greater... but at the expense of having to re-charge the battery later and lose energy in the conversion. Next question: I have heard that it might be advantageous to leave a little headroom at the end of a trip (end at 3-5 of 8 bars). If that's the case, I can stay in EV mode ("glide-plus"?) the last 1/2 mile of my commute home, maintaining a constant 20 mph, even accelerating, by drawing a little battery.
no arrows is much easier in the gen II. use the his as bp suggests. and anything within a quarter inch or so to the right of the charge line is using a negligible amount of electricity. i like to use up the battery on the way home, because when i restart, the ice has to warm up and recharges the battery anyway. but if you need immediate power on a cold start, leave 60% of battery when you shut down.
No arrows is much harder in the Gen 3. Best to use to Hybrid System Indicator and have almost no bar showing (and if it has to be showing, maybe to the right so you're using a little bit of electricity rather than regen'ing)
I agree with Tideland. Use the HSI instead when you want to coast. To me it seems that coasting with "no arrows" in or out of the battery is practically impossible (I assume because the arrows show even insignificant current levels in either direction), while making the HSI indicator disappear is fairly easy, and accomplishes what you want.
Just to complement advice above don't forget about pumping tires and blocking grill. It is so much easier to glide when car wants to roll, and low temperatures grill block will help more than glide.
