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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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#671 of 767
Re: Just my experience [backy] by kdhspyder
Nov 24, 2008 (2:55 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Nov 24, 2008 1:00 pm)

Good exageration but actually if every one of those conditions occured at the same time then yes you'd be shockingly surprised how low your FE was. As I noted above not every condition will affect you to the Max, but it could if conditions were severe enough.
 
Here's two really simple examples. You're stuck in traffic in a snow storm not moving at all. Stay there too long and you'll run out of gas. Yes your fuel economy is ZERO! Anyone who's towed with a truck knows that towing someing will cut fuel economy roughly in half.
 
In the Prius it is absolutely clear from the graphical MFD that if you drove an entire tank, or an entire month or all year making just 5 min trips from home to work and back that your fuel economy would be in the 25-35 mpg range at best instead of 48 as most drivers get.
 
And the more bad factors that you add to the equation the works the worse is the total.
#672 of 767
Re: Just my experience [kdhspyder] by backy
Nov 24, 2008 (3:41 pm)
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 24, 2008 2:55 pm)

It was not an exaggeration, but I think the formula you presented is. I live in MN. I have actually been in the scenario I described (except the towing the trailer up a mountain part) many times over the years. The FE numbers I gave weren't estimates, but from real-world experience. I just haven't seen much more than a 50% drop in FE from the ideal, even under the worst conditions.
 
I agree that if I sit with the engine running, FE is zero. But that isn't what we are talking about.
 
Anyway, if all I used a car for was 5-minute trips to/from work, I'd look for something other than a Prius. A bike or moped, maybe. Or a used compact that gets 25 mpg under even those conditions but cost a whole lot less than a Prius.
#673 of 767
by boots3
Dec 08, 2008 (1:50 pm)
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Just filled my Prius up for the first time over the weekend, and calculated 46.998 MPG. Computer est. was 49.5. Not to bad for my first tank. hoprfully things will only get better when the weather warms up.
#674 of 767
cold weather effect on mileage? by explorerx4
Jan 31, 2009 (2:18 pm)
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a lady at work has one and she said her mileage has dropped to around half the usual(high 40's). i didn''t think much of it, but i saw someone posted about their prius which had dropped to around 28 mpg from high 40's this year also.
neither experienced this last year, although it was quite a bit warmer in new england last winter.
#675 of 767
Re: cold weather effect on mileage? [explorerx4] by kdhspyder
Feb 04, 2009 (5:15 pm)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Jan 31, 2009 2:18 pm)

Typically the drop is about 10% during winter. That would be from a 45-50 mpg range on average to 40-45 mpg during the deep cold.
 
There is plenty of data and evidence available from really cold parts like Colo, Minn and Alberta. Sites such as PriusChat have responders from all over the world.
 
Less than 40 mpg is next to impossible - except if the vehicle is driven only 10 miles or less each way and not driven at any other time in the depths of deepest winter. Short trips are the single worst negative effect on fuel economy....for all vehicles. It's just that before the Prius with it's MFD nobody had a graphical and numerical presentation of fuel economy in a vehicle. Almost everybody's prior 'data' was anecdotal at best. 'I got 36 mpg on this trip I took.....'
 
It is possible to cut fuel economy in half but external conditions have to be so bad that just getting around is difficult. Combine ice, packed snow, strong winds, bitter temps, winter gas and short trips. Then 30 mpg might be a valid number iso 48 mpg. But under the same external conditions vehicles that 'normally' got 30 mpg are likely to be in the 18 mpg range. All due to external conditions.
#676 of 767
Just got prius and can't break 40mpg by Tagit
Feb 17, 2009 (5:16 pm)
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I just got a 2009 Prius. Great car, but I can't break 39.9 mpg. I've had it about 4 weeks, 1000 miles. I drive about 40 mins to work with 15 mins highway and the rest local roads. Do I have any hope of increasing mileage? I'm so depressed.
#677 of 767
Re: Just got prius and can't break 40mpg [Tagit] by prius2007
Feb 17, 2009 (5:38 pm)
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Replying to: Tagit (Feb 17, 2009 5:16 pm)

Hi Tagit,
 
1. What was your MPG on your previous car?
2. How many cars will give you 40MPG?
 
I bet 40 looks much better now. Your MPG will improve with:
1. once the car (and driver) is broken in > 5K miles
2. warmer weather
 
You may want to read this:
link title
 
Be patient,
Gabe
#678 of 767
Re: Just got prius and can't break 40mpg [Tagit] by jana6
Feb 17, 2009 (10:22 pm)
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Replying to: Tagit (Feb 17, 2009 5:16 pm)

I had a lot of trouble getting the mileage I wanted when I first got my Prius in 2007. Now I pay even closer attention to the Energy monitor and try to see 99.9 as much as possible. I take advantage of any little hill and coast and glide as much as possible. It is amazing how, if you lift your foot just a smidgen off the gas peddle, you will still go the same speed but the gas mileage goes up a LOT! What I have noticed is if I don't pay attention to how I am driving and concentrate on all the above as much as possible, my gas mileage drops significantly. Gabe has also given me a lot of hints in the past as well as some others and putting all the ideas into practice have definitely improved my gas mileage.
 
Good luck.
#679 of 767
Re: Just got prius and can't break 40mpg [Tagit] by cdhc
Feb 18, 2009 (5:53 pm)
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Replying to: Tagit (Feb 17, 2009 5:16 pm)

Hi, I have a 2008, and have gotten my average up to 57MPG. You may have heard some of these already, but here are my tips.
Raise your tire air pressure to 40 on all the tires
Do not drive over 57 MPH as a general rule. Use the cruise control to help.
As much as possible, coast, and apply light pressure on the brake pedal.
Put yourself in a mindset that allows you to be taught a new way of driving. With the interactive display on the screen, the car will teach you how to drive it, if you will allow it to do so.
#680 of 767
Re: Just got prius and can't break 40mpg [cdhc] by prius2007
Feb 21, 2009 (6:38 am)
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Replying to: cdhc (Feb 18, 2009 5:53 pm)

The front tires should be 2 PSI higher than the rear tires to compansate for the extra weight of the car in the front (check owner's manual).
Gabe

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