Acceleration tips? Battery care?

Accelerating on level ground, I'd try to keep the bar graph of the Hybrid Synergy Indicator (one of the selectable displays) between 1/2 and 4/5:


(It's explained in the Manual, around page 185~)

On uphill acceleration, just do what you've gotta do, to keep the speedo climbing.

Modes: I find Normal (neither ECO or PWR) is the most linear, natural.

I would reserve B gear for mountain descents only.

 

Well it's simple physics; to go faster takes more energy.
Take your choice. You can't have it both ways.

 

I'm always accelerating with 1/4 gas. And go fast enough. If i go 3/4 like you guys i'm flyen and left every one behind me at the traffic lights. Maybe its the lowlands, never ever need to climb a mountain.

 

You asked about battery maintenance. You likely have nothing to worry about now.
You car has 2 batteries. The large traction battery under the rear seat and a small 12 volt battery similar to other cars but located in the rear right side of the cargo area. The 12 volt battery needs replacement every 8 years or so but is about $200.
After the car has more than 100K miles you might want to consider a grid charging system from Hybrid Automotive to extend the life of the large traction battery.

 

If you floor a prius at a dead stop, the engine will only rev to about 3000 rpm, and won't hit 4000 until 40 mph.

If you only give 3/4, the engine will do the same thing but the car won't draw from the battery.

If you're at red light on an incline in MA, you have to bury the HSI past the power range to keep up with traffic. What I do is stomp it hard at first, then ease off as speed is gained to keep engine output approximately constant. That way I keep up with traffic but the engine never revs high enough to get inefficient.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

No! You are not doing it right. Look at the consumption of 23.5 MPG in 2000 miles..

 

More tips:

1. Follow speed limits. This can be easier said that done, granted. If you're about to be run off the road, do what you gotta do. Stay to the rightmost lane as much as possible.
2. Keep a generous following distance. This allows you to "eat" the space when there's slowdowns, rather than having to squander momentum by braking.
3. Drive relaxed, not rushed. Keep your cool.

 

are you retired?

 

How'd you know? ...

Must wait 104 seconds...

Must wait 86 seconds...

Must wait 70 seconds...

Must learn patience, 56 seconds...

Must take up zen meditation, 26 seconds...

10 seconds, can barely breathe...

 

I do.

My 'commute' varies between 42 miles and 92 miles to my first client. 220 miles a day is not unusual. Region One Mental Health Center :: Home

My road trips, to New Orleans, to Houston, to Bowling Green, to Glynco, GA, tend to be weekend sight seeing tours to get my wife to her architectural work on monday. Longer distances, she flys. United States Custom House (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) - Wikipedia

As you read this think of the buildings needed to house, train, and feed law enforcement officers About the Glynco Center | FLETC

I drive her around the southeast, but have not been farther afield.

 

My 13 mile commute is about 10 miles of highway, After I had the car for 2 weeks, by wife & son took it on a trip from Virginia to Michigan and back.
My son had taken his 2015 Prius v (the station wagon) to many dog shows, most recently from Virginia to Texas and back.

The Prius can definitely be used on the highway. The smaller Prius c is designed more for city but handles highways OK too, but perhaps a little slower and less economical.

 

Lots of good info in this thread. Thanks to Angela for starting it. My favorite part of this community is the detailed discussions on maximizing fuel economy.

General question: I'm still trying to catch up on the old threads, but is there a general consensus on which of the acceleration methods below is better for mpg- or is the community split?

1. Accelerate as Mendel L posted, keeping inside the ECO range?

2. Accelerate briskly, getting up to speed as quickly as possible. Then, take advantage of DFCO or engine shut off while gliding, or use very little fuel maintaining the desired speed.

(I started off using #1 with excellent results. But for my last tank, I used #2 as the instant mpg gauge seemed to respond better to it. I just changed the oil, and unfortunately, the mechanic erased my tripometer (with 500 miles). So, I have to restart method #2 with a new tank.)