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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Getting the Most Out of the Toyota Prius: Driving Tips
113 messages, Last post on Sep 23, 2009 at 7:16 AM
You are in the Toyota Prius Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
Do you have a technique for getting the most out of your Prius? Share it here!
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Replying to: jana6 (Jun 21, 2007 8:59 pm) On the return trip, I get 40-45 mpg. The round trip usually gets about 50 but when I fill up down there, the mileage computer resets before I start home. I always take the Prius, not the Hybrid Highlander which gets around half the mpg. |
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jun 21, 2007 8:02 am) "Except that conventional ICE-only vehicles are running the engine all the time anyway, so the gas is not "wasted" in the sense that the ICE is running more frequently than necessary." Actually, they still waste fuel. They run richer than they need to so extra fuel warms the cat. Been there, have done the measurements. 
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Jun 26, 2007 6:31 am) The question is, do they waste more fuel than a hybrid while warming up the engine? Seems to me they would both use the same fuel mixtures.
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Replying to: colourmix (Jun 20, 2007 2:19 pm) I just purchased a new 2007 prius (pkg 2). Currently I have 459 miles and I have noticed that I am getting better MPG on the highway than on city streets. My mpg is not what I expected it to be. I am averaging about 35 to 40 mpg. No where near the 48 average.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jun 26, 2007 9:33 am) My 2001 Pathfinder used over 3 times as much fuel idling while warming up than when warm - even in the summer. Fuel use while driving is much harder to measure, as it changes constantly. Sorry, I don't have measurements on Fit or other small cars. Just the Prius. The Prius uses about 2 times as much fuel idling while warming up than you would see if it was warm, except it doesn't idle when warm very much. So it appears to use an excessive amount of fuel when cold compared to warm. It may use just as much warming up as a non-hybrid, but as this only takes a few minutes, it's a non-issue. Except people get all concerned when they see the warm-up fuel effects. Just because of the extreme contrast once it's warm. A good way to measure this would be to take very short trips in a Prius on a tank of fuel, letting the car cool off between trips. From other owners reports, I suspect you would see fuel economy in the 40 MPG range, vs 50 MPG range if the trips were long. My Pathfinder got 13 MPG winter vs 18 MPG summer, in city driving, same trip lengths. So on a percentage basis, the Pathfinder did worse than a Prius, but there is no winter data here for the Prius. I just got my car and haven't experienced winter yet in it - no measurements. I'll comment on this next spring if you like, when I "have the facts".
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Replying to: tekmar1 (Jul 05, 2007 6:46 am) You will also have to drive a little differently. Always with safety in mind, from stops, accelerate normally, but when stopping, try to anticipate lights etc. and slow gradually, traffic permitting. This may allow you to not have to stop, and at the least will recover more energy through regenerative braking. Try to not slow down too much for turns, again, with safety in mind. Remember, while regenerative braking recovers energy normally lost, it is still only about 50% of the energy that can be re-used. Check your tire pressure. Try using a few PSI more than the door placard states. Many of us run in the 40 PSI range (I run 40 PSI front and 38 PSI rear). This helps with mileage as well. If you use "pulse and glide" you can get into the high 50s without much difficulty, but even in "normal" driving, you should see around 50 MPG once you learn to drive more efficiently. Do remember, the car is not yet "broken in". Mileage will improve once that happens. It takes five to ten thousand miles. I'm at 3000 mi or so and have an accumulated average of 48 MPG so far - all fuel put in vs distance traveled. I don't pulse and glide (except to see if I could). I drive conservatively. Like many cars, the Prius gets its' best mileage around 45-50 MPH. I often see 62 MPG while driving at 45 MPH. Of course the mileage on the tank will be less. So if you can find alternate routes with speeds in that area you will get better mileage.
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I am only averaging about 45 MPG on my Prius -- highway driving getting a bit more miles per gallon than city driving. The sticker on the car said I'd average 61 in the city and 51 on the highway. Is the sticker wrong or am I driving wrong?
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Replying to: matt1021 (Jul 12, 2007 8:25 am) That overstated EPA sticker number is based on a flawed and now replaced mileage test. There are many tips you can use to help improve what you are getting. Read those, and with a little effort you can increase your average. So please: be happy you are getting more than about 98% of the other drivers on the road. 
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Replying to: matt1021 (Jul 12, 2007 8:25 am) Bottom line, the sticker is wrong. Your tax dollars at work.
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Jul 12, 2007 8:57 pm) Wind for instance is discussed in this message and shows that an 8 MPH wind alone can cause the mileage of the Pirus to vary anywhere from 55.24 MPG to 71.32 MPG (a whopping 16+ MPG difference) when travelling at 50 MPH. Several different speeds and all the variables are discussed in this message. For the sake of not posting redundant material on Edmunds, I’ll stop here & let those interested read this Prius thread. |
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