Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

Honorable Mention : The High Mileage Club

http://priuschat.com/The-35-40-Avg-Mpg-Club-t39273.html

If 80% of your commute-then-full-rest is only 5 minutes or 5 miles, you will NOT get EPA mileage. I get 5.8l/100km (40.5 Mpg) monthly average, doing about 700 miles (less then 1,000km). I am very happy with this!

However, like me, you get a hybrid anyways, pay it off, then do an Plug-In w/EV-15 or EV-30. Then in my scenario a tank of gas could possibly last months w/o heating or w/o A/C.

My low yearly mileage below 10,000 a year means that when paid for, I still have over 10 years of use before I possibly need to repair/fix anything

Buying and converting a Prius to Plug-In + EV-30 is currently cheaper than getting a full electric car capable of highway speeds and can seat five adults.
(At least until possibly 2012 when we start seeing some serious competition)

 

Mileage

My 2006 Prius never achieved the old EPA estimates, and I never expected it to, but it does meet the new standards. I average 46-48, with 50-55 mpg on long trips. Short trips average in the mid-30s.

 

My experience exactly. With my 2007 I was not reaching the old EPA figures, but now that the EPA has made their tests more realistic my mileage is right on the money.

 

Can't access efusco's article

clicking on pdf asks me to log in , I 'm allready logged in, then it rejects my login

clicking on text version brings up blank page.\\

I am on Windows XP, not having any other problems opening pages or files

would like to read article

 

I just tried today, and it's still not working.

 

I've never gotten better than 44 MPG so far in my 07 Prius; I've only got 3500 miles on it, and haven't taken but one highway trip, but this is less than what I expected.

I have a friend with an 05 Prius, who regularly gets 46 MPG; I don't drive fast, and try to coast whenever I can here in hilly Tennessee, but still I don't ever get up in the 46 MPG range...

You folks who get 46 and better: are you using premium gas, or does that even make any difference at all? I use regular...

 

Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

FYI, link still not working.

Thanks.

 

Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

It's highly dependent on your local temperature, traffic conditions, commute pattern/distance, and driving style. My 12 month average has now reached 55.4 mpg - essentially the combined EPA average. I have an 18 mile (each way) commute in relatively warm Dallas, in heavy highway traffic (limiting my speed and optimizing pulse/glide), and I am not an agressive driver.

See my data on my web site http://www.enerjazz.com/prius or on the direct chart below:

 

Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

Check Enerjazz's chart. For one thing, note the LOWEST avg temp is over 40 F. While that might seem cold in Texas, it is 'pretty good mileage' weather in Vermont. It was +4F this morning, colder tomorrow.

I live in hilly Vermont and have a lifetime average over 47 MPG. Winter MPG is high 30s to low 40s, summer low to mid 50s.

You would need to post your driving habits/commute, etc. A short 10 or 15 minute trip is going to be low. A 1 mile trip to the store painful. Still better than most vehicles on the road get AT BEST, better than the NEW 35 MPG CAFE standards for 2020 but still painful given what you CAN get in a Prius.

I managed a 'personal best' last week - 110 miles @ 55 MPH all interstate no stopping. Car was already warmed up as I was coming back from MA and got gas at the least expensive station on my round trip route. Temps in the low 30s - plenty of hills: 59.7 MPG. How I wanted to hit 60

 

Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

Great tips for a newbie like me. Thanks!

2008 Black Prius
Package #6

 

Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

Hello Tideland -- Thanks for posting this article (and for the whole thread, actually). I'm a newbie to Prius (December 07) and Chat (January 08). I'm looking for an article similar to the one you posted (Why don't I get EPA mileage) -- but that would describe good driving practices for the Prius. My car has just a few hundred miles on it at this point, and my commute is only about 10 minutes, currently in fairly cold Chicago weather. So I get that my mpg is not gonna be great. I have already intuited that the car does better when warmed up, when the trip is longer, and when there are fewer stop lights and stop signs). However, I'd love to read an article by one of the experts on Prius Chat about good driving habits under different conditions. I've tried the Search function, but haven't conme up with anything (except this post on EPA mileage). I know it's bad on chat boards to ask dumb newbie questions before searching, but I have diligently tried. Thanks, and apologies if it should have been obvious. -- Barb in Chicago

 

Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

Barb, and welcome to PriusChat and Prius-dom!

You'll find many threads discussing high-mileage techniques -- perhaps so many as to be a bit overwhelming. I don't know that there is any one that summarizes it all. You might spend a little more time searching and picking up a tidbit here and there.

Alternatively, here's an article on CleanMPG that gives a good overview of hypermiling with the Prius. Though it's all in one article, it's still a lot to digest and apply. I've had my Prius a little over two years, and I'm still fine-tuning my technique. Be patient and persistent.

Finally, there's nothing wrong with starting a new thread asking for advice specific to your driving situation. You should provide as many details as possible such as distance, type of road, terrain, speed, traffic, temperature, etc.

Good luck!