Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Toyota Prius MPG-Real World Numbers
767 messages, Last post on Sep 28, 2009 at 9:21 AM
You are in the Toyota Prius Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
Replying to: Gutsy (Aug 14, 2008 8:53 am) Jim |
|
|
Replying to: mfarmer1 (Aug 13, 2008 11:14 am) If we lived close I'm sure if we switched vehicles for a week we'd find that yours got 48 mpg on average. I've driven well over 1000 different Prius' and there has been next to no variation in performance and fuel economy given the same driving characteristics. And I DON'T drive like a grandma. I punch it at every light and get right up to speed....then I let off the pedal and coast as long as I can without disturbing traffic. Then I punch it again. |
|
|
Replying to: mfarmer1 (Aug 13, 2008 11:56 pm) It really begins to click in at 75+mph. Check the EPA website and other sources for this effect. 55 MPH on the Highway will get you into the mid-50s easily. 63 MPH will bet you around 50 mpg. 70 MPH will get you about 45 mpg. Then you have to factor in wind, rain, cargo, passengers, tires and terrain. Driving 80 MPH into a strong wind may lose you as much as 30% from a nominal 50 mpg rating. That's just life. Being under 40 mpg in such a case is very very likely. But then every other vehicle on the road is similarly affected. 20-24 mpg in a standard 4c Camry for instance instead of 30-32 mpg. |
|
|
Because of our backward system of measuring fuel usage/'economy' we can't see the real effect of what happens when we drive less efficiently. The term 'fuel economy' is a gross misnomer created by the auto industry and perpetuated by the US Govt. You are not doing anything 'economical' by burning petro-fuel to get from one place to another, you're consuming. But that aside.... Using the more accurate metric of Gallons per Distance Driven ( Gal / 100 mi or Gal / 1000 mi ) the difference between various vehicles and driving conditions can be seen precisely. The case above where conditions cause two drivers to lose about 20% efficiency due to high highway speeds and a strong wind in front or from the side. A Prius might drop from a nominal 50 mpg to 40 mpg A Camry might drop from a nominal 33 mpg to 25 mpg The Prius takes it on the chin apparently. But viewed from a usage pov using a GPC metric ( Gal Per 100 mi driven) the story is entirely different... At 50 mpg nominal the Prius uses 2 GPC At 40 mpg actual the Prius uses 2.5 GPC At 33 mpg nominal the Camry uses 3 GPC At 25 mpg actual the Camry uses 4 GPC. To go the same 100 miles in bad conditions it cost the Prius an extra 1/2 gal. It cost the I4 Camry 1 full gallon. Another way of stating it is that in optimal conditions the Prius saves 1 gallon for every 100 mi driven over the Camry in the same conditions. In worse conditions the Prius saves 1.5 gallons for every 100 miles driven as compared to the Camry. 2.09 GPC after 33 months and 85000 miles. 
|
|
|
Replying to: scottc3 (Aug 13, 2008 12:01 pm) To all the doubters and those who are interested in some simple non-technical advice and inspiration read this: I just read this post from Courtney that you may find inspiring and useful: link title Good luck and have patience, Gabe BTW: Cabot, "no babying or "pi??ing" of people involved. |
|
|
Courtney makes good sense.. drive slower, don't accelerate fast - in fact, work on accelerating slowly, and coast whenever you can. Oh, don't pass anyone, and go slower than the posted speed limit. These are all fine points for maximizing gas mileage.. these will be practical for some, not for others. While I am not getting over 50mpg, I'm right at it, like 49.2mpg.. and I drive faster than the speed limit, I do pass slower drivers, I do try to coast when I come to a stop, provided there are not people behind me.. which there usually are - I drive in CA!.. but I do believe given the 'tips' (common sense) stated, I could get batter gas mileage….suppose I don't care to do so at this time. sc |
|
|
I have had my 2006 Prius for 27 months. I have become a safe "hypermiler," definitely driving too slowly, at times. I coast, as often as possible, and also limit my trips, locally. During this summer, I have been able to successfully improve my mileage on successive tanks. Two tanks ago, I was excited to do 450 miles at 54.9 MPG. Last tank was 490 miles at 57.4 MPG. I have just completed a round trip to Brooklyn, NY (from CT), with only one complete stop (3 hour break). Both directions were almost identical in mileage (61 MPG). I generally drove the speed limit or 2 - 3 MPH BELOW (posted speed limit varies between 50 and 55 MPH, but I never would drive below 50). I confirm my mileage on every tank and the monitor mileage is approximately 2% accurate, at all times. (and the error (if you can call it that) is as likely to be inflating my results as deflating). Since I only got into driving this way in the past year, I wondered how northeasterners (or similar cold locales) do in the winter. I previously would have quoted my summer mileage at 50 MPG and my winter mileage around 42 MPG. Now, I am wondering how I will do, this winter, with more aggressive efficient driving.
|
|
|
Here's a FACT I hope you all consider., There has been a lot written about fuel tank issues, and only being able to put in 8-9-10 gallons in the 12 gallon tank. The gas pump shuts off early, before the tank is full. If you have paid attention when filling, you know it happens. You drive until the last bar is lit, and can only get 8 gallons in the tank whe you fill up.. meaning 4 gallons were left in the tank on the last bar.. does not make sense, right? While the above posts are showing how to make a gallon of gas go farther, at least consider this... You start with a full tank of gas, and you want to figure you gas mileage. You drive 450 miles and fill up again.. you put in 8 gallons. Simple math, 450/8 = 56.25 mpg. The assumption here is that you FILLED the tank. But what if the pump shut off early? What if the tank could have taken 10 gallons, you mileage would have been 45 mpg. Quite a difference. If you have been reading these posts, when my car was new (2008), I did the above calculations every tank. I'd drive my car until the last bar was showing on the gas gauge, fill up, put in 8-9 gallons, and I drive on an average 450 miles, getting a calculated 50mpg in average. This also TOLD ME, I had 2-3 gallons in the tank when I hit the last bar. Wow, I can drive 150 miles when I hit the last bar before I really 'run out of gas'. This, of course, was an error - but I thought this for months. Recently I filled my car, and the pump did not shut off.. the gas actually overflowed out the gas fill hole (whatever you call it!). I drove, and drove, and drove on that tank of gas.. getting 615 miles before I got worried and filled up with gas again. Now imagine the mileage I would have gotten had I filled up the next time and only put in 9 gallons of gas because the pump shut off early.. WOW, 68mpg!! but the pump shut off early, not filling the tank with the full 12 gallons. So, just be aware of this. The Tips in the posts above will help you get better mileage for sure, just makes sense. But when you will your tank, be aware of this post and ask yourself, are you really filling the tank to 'full' when you calculate the gas mileage? sc |
|
|
Replying to: thehowie (Aug 18, 2008 6:41 am) 50-ish mpg up to the GWB. 55-ish mpg in 'normal' traffic across GWB 60-ish crawling down the FDR 35-40 mpg zig-zagging across Manhattan!!! 70 mpg running down Bway/7th Ave and out through the Holland Tunnel at 20-25 mpg |
|
|
Replying to: scottc3 (Aug 18, 2008 8:04 am) Watch out for overfilling though. There are two risks...serious risks, Check PriusChat.com for a more detailed explanation.
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Toyota Prius MPG-Real World Numbers
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Toyota Prius
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
