PriusChat Mileage Database - ideas and input for features needed!

I think you should also cater for inputs in measures other than US ones, for example :

Litres
Kilometres
Imperial Gallons

Also the cost of gas is useful so include costs in mainstream currencies used by Prius chatters e.g.:
US Dollars (DERR)
GB Pounds
Euro
Australian $
N Z $
Canadian $

For example of the utility of these measures in an input sheet, see the link in my signature below. It works very well for me and others I believe, so the stats it generates could be useful in your online version

Good idea too - and I'd like a signature background of Gordon Brown with his head in stocks please :rockon:

 

second on Tony's

i HATE how, at greenhybrid, i HAVE to put in avg temp and length of ride. sometimes i'd want to, but there are times (especially here in texas) when one day is 100, the next is 80, the next is 90, and then 100, and so on... putting an average temp of 90 would be misleading... also, can you do 5's in the avg temps? like 85, 90, 95, etc?

 

Just copy everything cleanmpg.com has.

I would like to see an option for MFD mpg reading along with actual calculated mpg. This way I wont have to keep track of two databases or two different cars.

I know I have more ideas but I don't remember what they were. I'll probably think of it when I update my MPG in the next day or two.

 

Great idea!

Agreed with all said so far. A couple of observations/requests, though:

Could you please add fuel consumption in litres/100 km for us Canadians, eh? :canada:

Also, someone mentioned copying cleanmpg.com. Okay, but working in metric, I can see that cleanmpg.com allows entry in metric but then converts to US measurements for its database. When I view my past entries, cleanmpg then converts from US to metric ... leaving me with inaccurate results. Could you please NOT go that route?

 

I would like to see free-form "notes" available in "CSV" format, possibly as an optional display field, user selectable.

I would also like to see "cost of ownership" for each vehicle, possibly a sub-table, being two parts:

• monetary value ($ or other)
• selected description - purchase and sale price, repair, tires, lubricants, filters, insurance, taxes, license, special stickers, e.t.c.
• duration if a license or other fee

What this will do is let us calculate the "total cost of ownership," especially if the calculated index is derived based upon distance (miles or km) divided into the sum of the cost fields. Given some folks are sensitive about specific items, they may choose to keep the individual items 'private' but the total cost of ownership per unit distance should be available to all.

I would also like a minimum of 5 entries required before any vehicle summary is used in a 'fleet' summary number. At GreenHybrid we've had a number of 'out-liars' that seem to be less than 5 entries, usually 2-3, and never show up again. By entries, I mean entry sessions. I don't mind if someone wants to load up a great spreadsheet one day but I want to see at least 4 other unique data entry sessions before the potential 'out-liar' data is accepted. This shows a commitment to the database.

I like the idea that 'retired' entries, those that have not had an update in say 4-6 months, stick but show up at the bottom of any listing. I'm more interested in current listings than those that seem to have aged out.

Did I mention gallons come in two sizes? Also there are various 'distance/fuel' and 'fuel/distance' ways of looking at the data. Please let the user preference dictate what is displayed. The same is true with currency: $(USA), $(Canadian), $(AU), Yen, and Euro. So if someone wants to use some other scale, fine by me, but let me see their data in something that makes sense to me. You might put their favorite units in "()" so I'll know.

Please include provisions for all three Prius generations: NHW10, NHW11 and NHW20. I'm not sure about whether the "touring" is really a variation of the NHW20.

One last thing, let the owner rate their Prius: (1) most incredible vehicle ever owned to (10) what a horrible piece of salvage, take it off my hands. This scale matches the Japanese: Ichi-ban (the very best) and Ju-ban (a 'lump of coal' to someone you really don't like.)

1. Absolutely the best vehicle ever invented by human mind
2. She can have everything but I keep the Prius (I can live in it)
3. What a great and sensible vehicle
4. Nice car, better than my others
5. The right tool for the right job, another choice
6. It is OK but I like to drive something else
7. Gosh this sure is expensive and lack luster
8. She can have the Prius
9. What a mistake, I look forward to getting rid of this lemon
10. Hi Brother-in-Law, I hope you'll like this great gas saving car

Bob Wilson

 

The ability to upload/download MPG data from a variety of formats as long as the data fields are named the same. That way I don't have to reformat my database just to upload it.

The ability to "pull" data as for research, i.e. what's the average for LA or Oregon, average miles driven/fill up for a range of MPG's, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60+. I know it's sounds silly but some of the conversations we get into over here..

I like the map idea.

Is this going to be linked to our user name and availible as part of our profile information?

Any colors and graphics or just straight data?

 

I would agree and especially about the length of ride part. The ride length varies so much depending on the number and nature of errands I have to do. That info should be definitely optional.

 

Sounds like an awesome idea.

One cool thing I do is calculate mpg based on what station I filled up at. I know this is highly variable based on time of year but with more fillups of everyone it would even out no?

 

Heh... I love this thread. I've been doing software product management for over a decade now - always nice to see s simple feature spin out of control... (in a positive way of course)

My 2 cents:

- Keep required input to a minimum. Make as much of it optional. I want to enter date, mpg, distance. The more options/features added, the less appealing it will be for the masses. If you incorporate all the requests made so far, you'll end up with a service useful only for Prius-enthusiasts (who already have their Excel files, graphs, etc.).

- graceful handling of various measurements, including conversions. How do I compare my 56MPG to your 4.1L/100km? 70F to 23C, etc.

- ability to enter data in the past, for those of us who may take notes while at the gas station, but update ever-so-often.

- ability to edit any item once submitted.

- when showing a summary (table) of tanks, please show the date. GreenHybrid does not, you have to hover over each tank to figure out whether this was a winter tank, etc.

- the summary info provided on GreenHybrid is very nice (the stuff showing on the left-hand side of the table).

- summary stats across users/models are great. as is information showing where one is relative to the crowd.

Is there a REAL need for yet another mileage database? GreenHybris has almost 1,700 Prii - and gets nice exposure, etc. Why re-invent the wheel? Let's face it, most of us will end up updating two sites instead of one.

One last request - kindly consider the 80% of features that would benefit 90% of Prius owners out there... most of us won't use Excel, won't map this-that-or-the-other, etc. Then again the crowd on PC is not your typical Prius owner

 

How about grade of gas regular, E10, Etc.

 

Import / export to/from Excel this would save us who have our data in Excel to upload historical data. In addition it would allow manipulation of data in Excel at any time. I second the idea of allowing the entry of MFD MPG which is more real on an individual tank basis.
Thanks for the initiative

 

For some of us testing experimental tires, how about a parameter for tire circumference adjustment, a percentage up or down. This would let us enter the raw miles and have a corrected value saved. The default would be "0%" but once set, it would stick until changed.

Bob Wilson

 

Type fuel, regular, E10, ect., would be helpful for comparing mpg.

 

Not just for the Canadians, for the whole civilised world.

Also, Temp in C please

Also, the zipcode isn't particularly useful as some of us don't have one.

Also, and even more important, an entry for which MFD screen you were using during the majority of the tank.
Maybe we can finally answer whether the histogram or SOC display produces more efficient driving.

 

Great idea & a good list; two quick points though:

1. no such thing as an imperial litre (yet)

2. it is important to use the correct model information. Outside of North America, the current model is known as Gen III. This is important because in NZ and the UK there are a number of "true" Gen I's sold. Because these JDM vehicles don't have any english language manuals or diagnostic equipment available, it is important to distinguish them from the Gen IIs (the classic). And of course, some of us like the fact that we've been driving Gen IIIs for several years.
Toyota Prius Hybrid Car Model History