Is it Prudent to Neutral at 60 mph Down a Hill ?

I have a different experience. B mode definitely makes a difference and as long as you keep the HSI indicator within the charge area, you are not using the mechanical brakes, so you can ride the brakes with no adverse effect.
Sure, other cars have multiple stages of decelleration without braking (selecting a lower gear) that the Prius does not have so you will have to use the brake pedal more. But that only means you're more in control of the car.

 

No.
B adds engine braking to help keep both the rotors and battery cooler, but both will still be used until the battery 'fills up', Then you will have friction and engine braking.

 

No.

The whole electrical / reg-gen / engine compression braking system (~60 kW) doesn't have anywhere near the power handling capacity needed for hard or panic braking (500+ kW). Such braking will always be mechanical.

Any mechanical lockout would also violate NHTSA safety requirements for how the brakes must perform in case of electrical or control failure.

 

Agree with all the other responders, ie: B just adds engine braking, reduces the need to brake, any kind of braking.

My sense too, is it's not that black and white: that there's always a bit of conventional braking mixed in with the regen braking, it's not either/or. I know when I've washed the car and it's sat a day or two, giving time for the rotors to get surface rust, I can hear the brakes scrubbing a bit, for the first block or two, even when the displays are showing regen as well.

 

Prudent?
No.
About the only thing I used neutral for in my Prius was going through a drive through car wash.

Just drive the car with the recommendations Toyota provides. By this I mean the only shifting going down a big hill Toyota recommends is into B not N.
Quit trying to outsmart the the software and the hardware that makes up Hybrid Synergy Drive.

 

No. You will engage your brakes whenever your demand to slow down exceeds the maximum of regen capability. Makes no difference whether you're in D or B.

 

This is why I love my 2011 Gen 3 Compared to other vehicles in the same class. On long down hill sections when braking is required to maintain speed at posted limit? I engage the cruise control and it effortlessly maintains the set speed without having to engage the brake. (Unless of course it's an 8% grade or worst, then I engage engine braking).

 

Mostly? I put it in D and go. Need to slow: I step on the brake.

 

I've been using N briefly sometimes when I want to coast, and not have to lightly push down on the accelerator to prevent the "artificial braking" that automatically happens.

Does anyone else find it annoying that when you take your foot off the gas, the car automatically slightly brakes (visible on the energy monitor)? So you have to slightly push down on the accelerator to prevent it from regenerating and slowing down the car. I would rather the car just coast 100% with no energy consumption / regeneration.

 

It's doing a bit of regen, very slight, only increases if you actually touch the brake. I find it a good balance, usually does not get in my way. If I really want to coast a bit further, I'll touch the gas slightly, as you mentioned.

 

This is the way all cars work. Take you foot of the accelerator and the engine compression slows you down. The Prius gives the option of not slowing down if you want to use it.

 

US regu!ators insisted the Prius work like other cars. So Toyota added some engine braking. Just imagine the whining we would hear if it did not emulate other cars.

 

They have been working for a decade to make sure it was as loud as other cars in parking lots, despite no evidence that if needs to be louder.

 

Interesting... I n-glide my PiP a lot sub 62mph.

 

Control regen by dumping it back into D and feathering the brake.