Some observations of the Prime at high speed

My Energi will do the same thing so yes I switch over to EV mode before the regen session and allow it to increase the SOC threshold and then switch back to hybrid mode afterwards. I call it "EV banking".

 

I drive the Grapevine frequently. I just put the cruise control at 74 and have no issues on the first uphill climb (Castaic) except for the guys than inevitably slow down in front of me.

 

The probable reason you found the A/C inadequate is you were in "eco" mode. Put it in "normal" mode (not "POWER" or "ECO") and the A/C will run at full capacity.

 

Or just take the AC out of Eco and/or S-Flow. You can do that regardless of driving mode.

 

I totally agree with your assessment of the out of control high speed driving going on in Kalifornia. People tailgate your vehicle at 70 mph as if your poking...

 

At the risk of making some new-found "frienemies": I lived in California for many years - years ago - and I am WELL aware of tail-gaters... but it's not ONLY in CA that tail-gaters "thrive"! In any event, wherever I've lived / wherever I've driven, I have ALWAYS adhered to my life-long driving "principal" as far as other drivers tail-gating me is concerned: "The closer you get, the slower I will go!"

PS: And, no... I have NEVER been "run over" or "rear ended"....

 

Drove my Prime Advanced to Mission Hills on the 5 Fwy from Anaheim. I ran the car on EV until it ran out of charge on the freeway in some stop and go, 20-40 mph traffic for 8-10 miles and then 60-70 mph til car ran out of electricity at 30.5 miles. The trip was 47 miles long each way, and on the way up had the car floored to max speed, when there was light traffic and in empty carpool lane with most people around me driving 80-85 mph. BTW, one SUV with a bizarre license plate frame and defaced model/brand nameplates was running well over 100 mph, so I wasn't the only one out there. I was out of EV power and the car topped out at 103 mph on a medium upgrade. It didn't bump and stop like the rev limiter on my Type R, it just wouldn't pass the 103 speed. When I backed off to 100 mph and then hit the accelerator again it would easily go back to 103 but wouldn't budge a bit past that. Now when I went at least 110 mph on another trip, I did have EV charge remaining, so I must assume that with that EV energy available, it allows the car to reach a greater terminal speed. It's too bad that Riverside Raceway was shut down; it would have been a great place to try out these real-world tests!

 

how's yer radar protector? and what kind do you have

 

I have driven my Advanced on that 5% upgrade on Northbound 5 Fwy to Bakersfield, without cruise control, and in Power Mode and have been able to get car up to 70 mph plus, with A/C and with some EV charge showing (I was in HV mode). Just me in the car with guitar and amp. Further, on the 6% downgrade coming to Grapevine, I was able to let the car out where it hit 95 at end of grade. During downhill, I believe that I had switched to EV mode, and would frequently "blip" the brakes to charge up the battery. Not sure, but I believe I got about 5-6 miles of charge that way. It sure is entertaining, and keeps me from falling asleep on that 3 hour trip!



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I gave up my radar detector for Lent!!
I actually drive much slower 95% of the time, but occasionally ya gotta see what she'll do!! The puppy can fly, and I and my 2015 Prius-owning son both really noticed the excellent "quickness" of the Prime to about 50 mph. It's a lot of fun and stealthy!!. My last speeding ticket was in my Type R, about 12 years ago, and was just careless on an upgrade where I was easily spotted at night.
Before that car, I used the outstanding Escort Radar Detector; saved me thousands of dollars!!


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The interstate here [I-95] is posted at 75mph. I normally set cruise-control at 82mph. How much I pass others, is about equal to how much I get passed. The Prius handles 82mph just fine.

 

Get him a Gen 4 or Prime for Christmas!

 

I will get him the Prime Advanced for sure; I'm just waiting for my lotto ticket money; oh, that's right, you need to buy a ticket first!!! Details, details, details!!

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You have said exactly what I have wanted to say for a long time.

That’s probably the difference between the 2016 and the Prime.

 

Here on the East Coast the speed limit on the interstate [I-95] is 75mph, so traffic flows at 80 to 85mph.

 

I have driven I-95 from Fla to Mass and the speed limit is no greater than 70 and in most states, less. Only in Maine, is the limit 75, I assume because there is less traffic and congestion there. (Sorry, Maine is one of the few states I have yet to visit.) And actually I find there are far few "speeders" on the open interstate as compared to the cities.

The main cause of accidents is differences in speed and congestion. As a family member of a Calif law enforcement officer, I know their enforcement is based on being "SEEN" and using that as a deterrent. When I moved to the east coast 14 years ago, I learned that speed enforcement out here is based on being "hidden", with surprise being the deterrent. I can see the logic-- but they miss all the tailgating, aggressive driving and unsafe lane changes when they are "hidden".

Waze helps to some extent but is limited because if there is an officer on patrol, (moving) its position on Waze cannot accurately be reported. Also, CHP relies heavily on air enforcement, which you will not readily notice. Rarely (ok, never) have I seen "air enforcement" here in the east. Also, most states here in the east make anything over 15 MPH over the speed or such as VA, greater than 80 MPH, criminal speed. That can put you in jail.

I had my PiP on a x country road trip through Wyoming, Utah Nevada where the actual speed limit was 80. I had the privilege of driving 5 over which would be the highest speed I would want drive, with NO CARS behind or ahead of me on the Interstate.

I have found in 46 years of driving, speeding really doesn't save you much time. And, as I almost had my entire family wiped out by a speeding (85 MPH+) driver, it isn't worth it.

I am now doing driver training for my 16 year old son. I remind him, that DRIVING IS THE (or ONE OF THE) LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH for almost every age group.

 

I live in Maine. The interstate that flows through my town is posted at 75mph.

I find that our Priis' [both of them] handle fine at 80. If there is over 3 inches of snow on the pavement we need to slow down to 60 though.

Prius' will handle up to 8 inches of fresh snow, and they do great on the ice [crossing over frozen rivers and lakes].

 

Great advice, I think the whole country is going to hell on driving. Everyone’s in a hurry, why? It’s just nerve racking to drive like that and not worthwhile. About 2months ago I had a 39 year old kid Ram me from behind.
His fathers truck. My cars getting fixed via his Fathers ins co. but “ He had right of way “ his last words.