I Love Power Mode!!!

This endless debate is exactly why I'm trying to codify best-practice
in my HSI article. I'm trying to read between the lines in this
and other threads and really get a feel for others' experiences,
but it's pretty noisy. I would like more people to do tests
paying more attention to where they keep the HSI rather than which
button they pushed, and I think that will be much more productive
as far as further input to refine the article.
.
Too much confusion going on.
.
_H*

 

Power mode in pre 2009 model can be selected by pushing the gas pedal to the floor.
I use it all the time!

 

Excellent, thank you! I tried today comparing Power with Normal with ECO and I encountered to many varibles. At this point I could have told you any answer you wanted to hear.

 

Gonna check it out tonight on the way home.

Also, I've noticed that when I switch to "Power" mode ( from "Eco" mode ), in addition to tighter throttle response, the air conditioner fan will kick up to higher speed, too. NO kidding!

 

Eco mode turns the A/C down a bit. Switching to normal or Eco will put it back to normal...

 

I have tried PWR mode a few times now. The first time was after reaching the 2000km mark on the highway, that is, after reaching the km limit beyond which the manual says you can push the car to the limits, if desired. This was during a highway trip done mainly in ECO mode - I was SO surprised - it's like as if the car completely changed!

I know everybody says that the accelerator response changes for the first half compared to ECO and normal mode. But for me there is a bit more going on - I had the distinct feeling that the valve timing (VVT) of the engine changes drastically compared to ECO and simply the engine HPs are more "available". Maybe this is because the engine tends to go faster (higher RPMs) and at those speeds the engine is timed in any case (independent of the selected mode) to have a more powerful valve timing. I still have to "floor" the Prius in ECO Mode to see what happens.

I have found myself in PWR Mode moving from 130km/h to 150km/h in 3-5 secs and reaching without any perceived effort, 190km/h (yes, you can legally do that on the German Autobahns). Did the same today and reached 196km/h. If you take out about 10% error at the speed gauge, you get around the stated 180km/h - and I wasn't flooring it.
In PWR mode, when accelerating, the engine is using the electric motor (if battery available), when cruising at 150/160km/h the engine is pushing the car and charging the battery. The electric motor kicks every now and then depending on the incline of the road, using the electricity not coming from the battery (still charging) but directly from the electric generator.

Another thing I have noticed, is that in ECO mode, if you go faster than 142km/h, the "ECO" light of the power bar, will switch off, independently on whether you are cruising with the electric engine only or not and whether the bar is to the left of the middle or not.

So, in my opinion, PWR Mode is not just changing the gas pedal response but the valve timing is affected because of the higher RPMs. The car was too responsive at very high speed for an engine that seems to crawl when in ECO.
In ECO at 140km/h, the reaction of the engine, even when pressing more than half the accelerator pedal, would still not push the car significantly faster - in PWR mode I was really CLEARLY accelerating. ECO Mode is not the best if you want to overtake a car while driving at 140km/h and need to go "quickly" to 150km/h. ECO is really slow.

As for city driving, I have to try PWR mode yet. I always drive the same stretch of city roads (with sections where you can drive up to 80km/h and section with stop&go, traffic lights, uphills, etc. - really a bit of everything) and I have not seen a clear difference between ECO mode and normal mode. Moreover, in one way I never managed (yet) to go below 5L/100km. But on the other way I managed once, without any special effort (and I was really surprised) and no ECO mode inserted, to get 3.6L/100km...Currently the average since late sept. when I got the car is currently at 4.7L/100km - this still a full 1L better than the Polo Diesel 1.4L engine with half the PS of the Prius....(the city average was, despite my efforts and the diesel engine, about 5.6L/100km).

I am honestly baffled (in a positive way) at the non direct relation between how one drives and the L/km that one needs to use.

 

Geez...you're a careful one...I've been using Power mode once in awhile already, but only for a short while when some acceleration is needed (e.g. stopped in front of a stoplight in a highway with tons of cars behind). I switch to ECO after highway speed is reached.

 

Does doing that help you get a better MPG vs. leaving it on PWR mode always but without going to red part of the display?

 

sorry, i've never actually done a comparison. i've only had my prius since last week, not enough comparison points. i would have to guess that going to mostly ECO (with occasional PW mode) would be beneficial in the long run since it prevents abrupt accelerations and changes in speed - but I'm certainly no expert

 

I wish the Power Mode button had a distinguishable feel or shape so that I could find it without having to look down. Either that, or put it on the steering wheel or shift lever.

 

I tried running in power mode for a day and got .1mpg better than I do in ECO. Granted, this test was not at all scientific or controlled, but I was surprised by the results.

 

You can easily find something to stick on top of the button to give it a different feel. Go to a hardware or craft store and look for stick-on rubber feet or such.

 

I ran with PWR mode yesterday on the same stretch of road I do each day for my commute and got a solid 1L/100km MORE than normal. Clearly not OK for my route.
I noticed also that in "city" driving, PWR mode forces the ICE to be more time ON to charge the battery when standing still, likely to make sure that when you press the gas pedal to start again, you will get a more prompt and powerful acceleration.
My commute is a mix of traffic lights, stop&go, 3-4km stretches of 60-80km/h "freeways", ramps, steep inclines and declines - well yes, a bit of everything, and clearly not "city" at 50km/h max, rather something way more complex.
Today I got 5.8L/100km with 0C and normal mode, but 4.4L/100km on the way back.
I noticed that the less I look at the gauges and the more I simply "drive" without looking at anything except the speed when necessary, gives me better fuel consumption...go figure....

 

I like and use Power Mode most of the time now. I noticed that on the last two day trips our MPG was over 57 MPG and over 53 MPG all in Power Mode and this is real calculated MPG not the dash guage which is off 2-4 MPG over nearly all the time after over 13,000 miles.

Also this is using winterized gasoline with 10% Ethanol, I call it light gas, as it does not have the energy has regular unadulterated gasoline. With regular gas, non ethanolized, I would be pushing 60 MPG on those trips.

The Eco mode is not pleaseant to use, and I don't see any difference in MPG, infact, the Power Mode seems to get better MPG, as you don't have to put your foot on the pedal as hard to get the same energy.

alfon

 

That is exactly what my wife and I experience. The less we look and try to control, the better the mpg.

 

I have to agree with that driving on Power Mode results better in better MPG than driving on Normal/ Eco mode which is almost hard to believe but that's what I see happening!

 

What's probably happening is that you wind up pulsing more in the
real sweet spot as a result. Watch the HSI for the real story.
.
_H*

 

Hobbit, were is the sweet spot in the III? is it still 1,800-2,000 of is it lower.

Gary

 

I can't seem to convince Mr. Pearl that the power mode seems to be getting me better mileage. He (being somewhat older that I am) is of the generation that believes that if the manufacturer says ECO is more economical, then of course it is more economical! I find the car simply more satisfying to drive in power mode. And that is something in and of itself.