Just bought my Prime two weeks ago and have been just driving short trips around town getting on average 85 mpg in mostly EV mode only. I will be taking it out on the road soon driving from Oregon to the Phoenix area over two days. The car will be full of cargo but nothing too heavy. What driving modes, tips, do you suggest for me as I will be mostly driving freeway (I-5) and state highways? The route takes me across mountains by Shasta, flat lands of the central Cal valley, and slower state highways. Charging stations, while plentiful on I-5 in Cal., are scarce or non existent crossing the Mohave desert., which is my route to avoid LA traffic. I also don't think I'll be stopping to charge up for two hours if I want to make it in two days but may use lunch and dinner breaks to replenish EV battery. I am looking for driving tips to save mpg, what driving modes would be the most efficient in this situation, and experienced Prime drivers wisdom in general. I appreciate your help in this endevour. Thanks very much. David Berkham White Prius Prime Advanced.
Find a truck, RV, or pickup towing a trailer and use dynamic cruise control. Make sure you have plenty of tunes. Bob Wilson
Normal mode is a nice balance for freeway pedal responsiveness (but remember to put the climate control back to ECO Heat/Cool if you use normal as it'll kick you out of Eco mode for the climate control when you switch to normal mode). As for Prime-specific mode, I'm guessing HV mode? Save the EV Mode for when you're within city limits or tooling around town. Just remember that you now have a CHG mode if you want to charge prior to reaching the next town/city while still on the highway (probably best to use CHG mode in low power situations - like a flat portion of the freeway rather than when you're going up a mountain pass). Also, if you can just scout your route ahead of time, see where you can recharge your battery on the downhill portions of the Sierra Nevada. That way, you can preemptively use EV mode before you descent. Even lunch breaks will charge up half the battery if you're using a Level 2 charger. You can look for spots on plugshare.com and plan ahead of time where you can stop to eat and do opportunistic recharges.
David: Wonder if you might have been the white Prime at Washington Square a week or so ago around 11:00? I’m also a white Advanced and frequently at Washington Square around 10:00 - 10:45 while at Starbucks (generally Mon, Wed, Fri).
New to Prime... Very new! Any road trip tips for Montana to Canada to Alaska. I'll be driving about 10 hours a day. I learned from your posts not to block the air cooler in the rest seat, look for plug in stations before I head out. I don't want to over pack for two because I don't want to block my rear view... Although now that I have a back up camera maybe that's not a problem. I'll have cooler, wiper fluid, jumper cables. Anything you all can suggest would be appreciated for this 4,000 mile cruise.
Even if you can't find any L2 charging locations, you can take advantage of standard 120-volt outlets when you stop overnight. You get full charge in a little over five hours while you sleep and that will carry you for 25 to 30 miles without using gasoline. Bring a 10- or 25-foot heavy duty extension cord for places where you can't park close enough to the outlet.
Get the 2018 version of The Milepost and read it cover to cover before going. It covers everything you'd ever want or need to know about driving to Alaska. Also, be careful about your windshield. Many sections are gravel or being repaired. Don't follow trucks closely, but even more important is to slow way down when trucks are coming "at" you. They throw rocks forward and to the side. The slower you're going, the less risk of breakage. The back end of your Prius is going to get caked in dirt. Be prepared to wipe off your rear camera. It's a gorgeous drive. Enjoy it. PS, not to scare you at all, but some go to great lengths to protect from rocks. I think this vehicle was most being protected from being towed behind an RV. I saw this in TOK.
There is a glass treatment that puts a polymer coating on the windshield. This won't prevent a crack but it will reduce the air/water uptake that causes the crack to spread. There are also spot treatments that do the same thing. Bob Wilson
