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Toyota Prius MPG-Real World Numbers

767 messages,  Last post on Sep 28, 2009 at 9:21 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan


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#620 of 767
Re: See, it can be done! [scottc3] by kdhspyder
Aug 26, 2008 (5:10 pm)
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Replying to: scottc3 (Aug 26, 2008 11:22 am)

The GreenHybrid database is by far the most representative presentation of what the real world results are for a statistically significant population.
 
Yes there are extremes of drivers getting over 60 mpg and under 40 mpg... however the histogram is very very accurate in that the middle 50% is between 45-50 .. on average ... over an entire continent's driving. The results therein reflect Canadian and Dakota type winters and Arizona summers; Rocky Mtn driving and dead flat Florida driving; NYC driving and Texas plains driving.
 
The Median value for the entire population for all kinds of drivers over millions of miles of driving in all kinds of conditions is 47.7 mpg. That's the best guideline on average for anyone new.
 
Special conditions may results in this unusual statement.
 
Your Mileage May Vary
#622 of 767
Re: Be aware of this... [kdhspyder] by cdhc
Oct 13, 2008 (7:56 am)
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Aug 18, 2008 10:58 am)

I always get over 50MPG on my 2008 Prius. I bought my car this past December, and each month my average MPG keeps getting higher. My current average is 54.5. I have a commute that involves 30 miles of highway driving, and the best part is in the mornings. Once I exit off the freeway I take a 2 lane street, and average 37 MPH. I can go about 3 miles without the gas engine coming on at all. If you let it, this car will teach you how to drive it by giving you the immediate status of what's happening in the drive train.
#623 of 767
Mileage Posting by sthoge
Oct 13, 2008 (11:16 am)
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This summer I saw an average of around 54mpg, Highest with when it was real warm weather, and since I don't use the air conditioner, it got 56.5, ran 530 miles on a little over 9 gallons of gas. Now that the cold weather is here in eastern washington, it's dropped to around 51.
#624 of 767
Surprise!! How To Get An Extra 1-2 Miles by railroadjames
Oct 13, 2008 (4:47 pm)
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I own an '04 Prius with over 90 K miles and there is a small trick to gain 1 to 2 extra miles by doing this.....Next time you're filling up when you're done filling reach over to the pump stand and shove the "stop switch" with your hand. Then squeeze the nozzle and shake the hose while still in your fill hole. You'll get 3-5 oz's. Some pumps more than others. But you definitly get some more gas. Over the yrs I've done this and it all adds up. By the way....The most I ever got with one tank was 546 miles. I've never ran out in all these yrs. Lord knows I tried. Amazing Hybrid Car!
#625 of 767
Calculated vs Car figures by jana6
Oct 23, 2008 (8:14 pm)
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I have a 2007 Touring Package Prius. I have been keeping track of my gas mileage the old fashioned way as well as what the car computer says I get. Other than a VERY FEW times, my calculations are always lower than the car, sometimes by 4 mpg. As far as I can figure, it should average out but that is not the case. Does any one know why there is such a major difference?
#626 of 767
Re: Calculated vs Car figures [jana6] by cdhc
Oct 24, 2008 (10:29 am)
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Replying to: jana6 (Oct 23, 2008 8:14 pm)

I've got an '08 base model, and I haven't had that problem. The computer is within 1 mpg mostly, sometimes 2 mpgs of what I actually get. And its on both sides, higher & lower. I don't know what you're averaging, but I had been getting 54.5 on average, and after getting a couple of other tips from this forum I'm now up to 57.5 average. In fact I gassed up today getting 57.7 actual, and the computer showed 58.1.
#627 of 767
Re: Calculated vs Car figures [cdhc] by jana6
Oct 24, 2008 (3:40 pm)
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Replying to: cdhc (Oct 24, 2008 10:29 am)

Unfortunately I am only averaging about 47 mpg per the car but more like 44 actual. I coast as much as possible and have tried just about everything to get better gas mileage. I had read that the Touring package results in lower gas mileage but it shouldn't be that much. I know that Consumer Reports has reported averages more like 42 mpg than higher. I guess there was a big stink about them claiming 60 mpg when it was really much lower so the average claimed now by Toyota is I think much less than 60. I'm excited for you being able to get that great mileage. Sure wish I knew why I'm not and why my car is trying to trick me into thinking I'm getting better than I am! Thanks for replying.
#628 of 767
Re: Calculated vs Car figures [jana6] by cdhc
Oct 24, 2008 (5:11 pm)
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Replying to: jana6 (Oct 24, 2008 3:40 pm)

I would really like to see you get better mileage. Here's some tips that I can offer, in case you haven't tried some of these. I had written a lot of these tips for a salesman at the Toyota dealership. I'm sure you're already doing a lot of these things.
 
Keeping the battery as fully charged as possible is where you need to focus. Since we don’t plug our cars in at night, there’s a few tricks. The #1 best way to charge the battery is when you are coasting at a speed with your foot off the accelerator. This charges the battery more quickly than braking or the gas engine charging it.
  
Speaking of braking. That’s another subject. The car has regenerative braking as well as conventional brake pads. Regenerative means that energy is going back to charge the battery. You can learn to control this. When you use the brake pedal lightly, it is in regenerative mode. When you use a medium or firm brake pedal, braking is done by way of the brake pads, and the car is not capturing as much energy to charge the battery.
  
The next thing I’ve learned has to do with basic physics. It takes more energy to push a car that has its front wheels turned to one side than a car that has its front wheels straight. What this means is that whenever possible, I do not press the accelerator pedal during a turn until I’ve straightened the front wheels. I accomplish this by having enough speed before starting the turn that I have time to straighten the wheels again before applying the accelerator. Can you always do this? – No. You may have people behind you or you might otherwise need to stay with the accerator during a turn. But doing it whenever you can is where the benefit is.
  
I used to drive more with the regular flow of traffic, 10 mph or so above the speed limit. Now that I’ve got a car that can literally give a very wide range of gas mileage, I try not to drive over 57mph on the highway (unless I’m in a real hurry), and I find that not very many people stay behind me on the road which gives me much more opportunities to work the accelerator pedal in such a way that the car is charging the battery as much as possible. The highlight of my day is on my morning commute. There is a 2 lane city street in Houston (Windfern) that’s more like a drive in the country that I take every morning after getting off the beltway. I can drive for about 5 miles on this street without the gas engine coming on at all. The speed limit is 35, and I go about 37-38. I’ve noticed that speeds above 40 tend to keep the gasoline engine on rather constantly.
  
It takes learning some new tricks, and allowing yourself to be taught how to drive again, and not by a driving instructor, but by a car that gives you a visual indicator of what’s happening in the drive train.
  
I did a Google search early on after getting the car, and I stumbled on this film clip of a group of a dozen or so people in Japan that are known as ‘hybrid hackers.’ They have hacked into their Prius’ computers, and get over 100 mpg, and in the case of the one lady in their group she gets 150mpg out of a Toyota Prius. I know that hacking into the computer would void my warranty, so I’m not going to that extreme, but I am working with the car by way of ‘massaging the accelerator pedal’ rather than just depressing it to go.
  
I hope this helps. The main thing is to take a deep breath, and don’t allow yourself to be in such a hurry. When you drive more relaxed, you will see an improvement. The more it improves, the more you challenge yourself to keep getting higher & higher gas mileage.
 
Also I keep all tires at 40PSI
#629 of 767
Re: Calculated vs Car figures [cdhc] by jana6
Oct 27, 2008 (5:42 pm)
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Replying to: cdhc (Oct 24, 2008 5:11 pm)

Thanks for the hints. I do many of them but not all. I do watch the energy monitor probably way more than I should (!??!!) so I know some of what you are talking about. I'll definitely try more of the suggestions. I do travel on the freeways and go faster than 57 mph just to keep up with traffic so I'll work on that! I knew I needed to keep the tire pressure higher than the suggested but wasn't sure what that was so thanks for that as well. I live in Las Vegas so I wonder if the extreme heat causes problems? I really don't see any difference between winter and summer mpg. I wonder if my computer can be "fixed" at the dealership to at least reflect the actual mileage I am getting rather than always showing 4-5 mpg better than actual, hmmmmmmmmmm. Once my warranty is gone, maybe I can find a hybrid hacker! Okay, maybe I shouldn't say that. But that does tell me that it's my computer that is affecting my gas mileage some. Again, thanks for all the hints.

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