I just don't understand

Several factors: ambient temperature, terrain, traffic, winds, and driving style.

 

Stop & go (ie traffic lights) really puts a hit on mileage EVEN in a prius, there might be something for the EV mode to allow you to accelerate from a stop since unless you want to cheese off everyone behind you, it's almost impossible to get an all electric acceleration. But maybe someone with the EV button can chime in to how much more efficient the electric motor is on accelerating vs the gas engine. But this all goes under "driving style"

 

I have an all-stock base model 06. during my commute there is a portion of stop and go averaging between 0-15 mph. I find during this time I can drive almost all ev rarely does the ice come on. I find that if you leave about 2- 4 car links in front you can cost and then drive on ev when people accelerate. You do have to get used to people jumping in the space in front of you , however iv noticed that people behind me don’t tend to mind my large gap as we never really stop. If they do they usually roar around me and fill in the gap. I have also noticed that im not the only one using this method. I don’t think its due to me just people trying to keep a flow in traffic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeSF @ May 20 2006, 10:57 AM) [snapback]258488[/snapback]</div>

Using EV button to accelerate in stop and go traffic will eat up your SOC pretty fast. Moving in EV mode from a complete stop eats up a lot of power. Accelrating from 0-50km/h eats up about 8-10% SOC.

 

FWIW, my lifetime mpg so far is only 45.6 mpg according to my calculations (46.3058 mpg if I average the readings from the MFD). ~15-18 minutes of my 28 minute drive to work is on the highway where I'm going usually 68-75 mph.

My tires are only a couple psi over the Toyota recommended values (tires came overinflated). I'm not about to go into the 40s that some people do.

 

I'm getting about 48-50 so maybe that is more realistic!

 

The best use of EV is when maintaining constant speed on level or downhill roads. When accelerating it's always better to use the gas engine.

 

I've had my Prius for just over a month; my first tank was 43.1 MPG, and 380 miles into my second tank, the MFD says I'm doing 50.8. Most of my driving is 5 miles each way home/work. Last weekend and today I've taken trips that were 30-40 miles, and that increased my average from about 48 to a little over 50. So clearly the 'short hops' lower my MPG. But I'm thrilled to be getting such good mileage compared to any other car I've owned, and I love driving my car.

After picking up my plates and registration at my dealership, I parked at the mall today next to a Hummer H2 - I'd never actually seen one before! They're incredibly ugly, aren't they? On the way home I pulled into a strip mall to get coffee, and there was another Prius - Seaside Pearl - parked at the Italian Ice store, so I stopped, got a large chocolate, and waited for the owner of the beautiful blue machine to return so I could compliment her on her car.

Have fun driving your Prius and don't obsess about the MPG. Just enjoy the ride!

 

Right now, I have 2 bars left on the gas tank.

The tank is at 501 miles.

The mfd is showing 56.6mpg

That means when I fill up, I'll actually be about 53 or 54mpg, it's usually 2 or 3 mpg higher on mfd than what I really get at the pump. If it were just an error in filling, eventually I'd have to see the actual be higher than the mfd.. it never happens.. almost always lower by a couple...

Most of my miles are on the tollway. I drive usually 60 to 68mph on the tollway.

I do see how the car could average above 60 if you were to roll along at 43mph and never have to stop at a light. Stop at a light, speed up to 40+, stop at a light, repeat... kills my mileage.

My car has about 10,600 miles on it since feb... My lifetime is 51.3mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FJRCRAZED @ May 19 2006, 06:03 PM) [snapback]258381[/snapback]</div>

Dude, I'll be real happy when that shows up as my average. GreenHybrid shows Prius II average at 48mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FJRCRAZED @ May 19 2006, 06:03 PM) [snapback]258381[/snapback]</div>

There was a stock Prius driven for 110mpg last summer near Pittsburg. If they can do it you can!! It take practice a good route, low speeds 20-40 mph is good. Look into all the posts on the Pulse and Glide technique. The traffic can be a factor. It has taken me months to hone this technique but it is paying off. You should have good conditions to get 60 in the summer. You will not get 60 in February I would bet! Keep it up and practice! The Energy screen will show you the now flow glide mode well enough. You can add the CAN View if you have an 04-5 and that will help a bit but is not mandatory. Good luck and Good driving.

 

Let' say that pulse and glide, driving 30 mph under your actual driving conditions, can boost your mpg from 50 to 60. If you drive 15,000 miles per year and gas is $3, you save $150 per year.

If you'd otherwise be averaging 40 mph, the pulse and glide technique costs you an extra 125 hours in the car. Is your time only worth $1.20 per hour?

If someone offered you $1.20 per hour to sit on a curb for half an hour a day, would you take it? 60 cents to spend half an hour away from your family or hobby every day, breathing traffic fumes.

Of course, you get to enter the mpg bragging-rights game. Maybe that's worth 125 hours per year of your time.

 

Daniel, what is your hourly monetary compensation for posting on PriusChat ? If not for money, then I'll have to presume it is for bragging rights.

From multiple experiences, I know that I arrive at a destination quicker than my wife. If AC is off, she gets low 50's in the Prius, I get around 70. High FE driving in the city is not equal to slow driving; it is smart driving.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 20 2006, 05:45 PM) [snapback]258654[/snapback]</div>

Hmm. Dang. I guess I'll have to get one of those "gas engines" for the Rav then. That's probably why I'm STILL getting zero miles to the gallon in the EV.

 

It helps to either not give a rats a$$ about keeping up with traffic, or having the road to yourself. I definitely possess the former in town, and frequently have the second out of town (Maine).

Our best mileage was a 120 mile trip to the coast for some fried clams. On the way there we just drove with everyone else and got in the mid 50s. On the way home I took a route that was out of the way. Nice road, rolling hills and no other cars. The combined mileage for the whole trip was 68.3 mpg on the MFD. Lots of pulse and glide got it there. It took no longer for the return trip, or if it did we were having so much fun driving the car that neither the wife or I noticed any additional time.

Heck, our bad mileage is in the winter and that's still in the upper mid 40 mpg according to the MFD. I nearly forgot, mileage on the interstate is low too, high 40s @ 70 mph with the too aggressive cruise on, better with it off.

 

I live in the area and am familiar with the Expressway and its bypasses. Because of the traffic and hills, P&G will be nearly impossible for any significant stretch of road so you aren't going to do much better than 50-55. Actually, if there's no backup (a rare event to be sure), the Expressway is actually a pretty good MPG road because the hills aren't as bad and traffic doesn't get much above 65. If you're driving the route during rush hour, you're better off just taking the quickest route given the conditions and be happy with getting triple the mileage you used to get. I know I am.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 21 2006, 12:47 PM) [snapback]258893[/snapback]</div>

You do know, of course, that I was speaking specifically about use of the EV switch in a Prius. Of course, you have to rub it in that you drive a vehicle that is no longer being manufactured.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FJRCRAZED @ May 19 2006, 09:03 PM) [snapback]258381[/snapback]</div>

I drive the P--s out of mine and the hell with all this other stuff. I have recently been pulling a trailer larger than the car. So at this point my average MPG is at 46.1 and going up because I am no longer paying the penalty of the trailer. Will I get to 50 MPG? Probably not. Do I care? Not really, because I have a car with power that I use as a truck most of the time. It does everything I want it to do, and I get in the high 40’s in MPG. I think that fantastic for what is on the market at present.
Drive it, enjoy it, love it and have fun.

BTW, It’s ok to laugh at the other drivers out there stopping at all the gas stations. Just don’t make it to obvious. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I've got over 9000 miles since Jan 12, and the most I ever get is 49. My drive is 90% freeway, about 15% of that in the "smug" HOV lane at near 80 mph. My overall is 49.4. That works for me. I don't know how folks break 50 unless they drive like golf carts.