HOV stickers reduce as mileage?

[curtissac]

In the post your lifetime mileage thread I mentioned that since I got my HOV stickers late last month, I have noticed a small, but noticeable (hence.. I noticed), drop in my mileage.

Based on where I often buy gas and reset the consumption screen on the MFD. I have come to the conclusion that having HOV lane access has cost me 2 or 3 MPG. Even prior to buying my Prius, I mused that it was ironic that cars that get their best mileage in stop and go (maybe more accurately, "slow n go") traffic get special privileges that actually hurt their mileage.

I am still keeping it at or above 50 MPG, but it is taking some extra care now to accomplish that.

I am not going to complain. At $3 per gallon, I have saved $180 over my prior car in just two months.

[subarutoo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Curtis SAC @ Sep 17 2006, 11:06 PM) [snapback]321056[/snapback]</div>

In the post your lifetime mileage thread I mentioned that since I got my HOV stickers late last month, I have noticed a small, but noticeable (hence.. I noticed), drop in my mileage.

Based on where I often buy gas and reset the consumption screen on the MFD. I have come to the conclusion that having HOV lane access has cost me 2 or 3 MPG. Even prior to buying my Prius, I mused that it was ironic that cars that get their best mileage in stop and go (maybe more accurately, "slow n go") traffic get special privileges that actually hurt their mileage.

I am still keeping it at or above 50 MPG, but it is taking some extra care now to accomplish that.

I am not going to complain. At $3 per gallon, I have saved $180 over my prior car in just two months.
[/b]

Me too. I lost 3 or 4 mpg. I'm currently about 49.2. Higher speed, less commute time, more gas, its a fair trade off. My other car gas cost $30 twice a week, now its $20 once a week. I'm happy with that.

[Rancid13]

It's not having HOV lane access that will cost you mpgs, but actually using the HOV lanes. I only use HOV lanes if I absolutely have to, like if I need to get somewhere rather quickly and traffic in the regular lanes is travelling too slowly for me. During my normal work-to-home commute (I don't take the freeway to get to work-it's like a parking lot in the am) I cruise solo in the righthand lane all the way home. I use the HOV lanes so infrequently that I doubt it's had much of an impact on my mileage.

[200Volts]

I noticed a drop of 0.0003mpg when I put on my HOV stickers. I'm not sure if this is due to the weight of the stickers or the aerodymanic drag created by their square edges.

[SoopahMan]

200Volts, I don't know if that was a joke, but it sure was funny. Thanks for the laugh.

[curtissac]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rancid13 @ Sep 20 2006, 06:17 PM) [snapback]322523[/snapback]</div>

It's not having HOV lane access that will cost you mpgs, but actually using the HOV lanes. I only use HOV lanes if I absolutely have to, like if I need to get somewhere rather quickly and traffic in the regular lanes is travelling too slowly for me. During my normal work-to-home commute (I don't take the freeway to get to work-it's like a parking lot in the am) I cruise solo in the righthand lane all the way home. I use the HOV lanes so infrequently that I doubt it's had much of an impact on my mileage.
[/b]

I too will stay out of the HOV lane when traffic is moving at limit as I don't tend to exceed that limit by much. But I sure as hell will use the HOV lane on my "commute" My median round trip to project sites is about 150 miles. On my longest work related drives, the HOV lanes can save me as much as 45 minutes each way. So while I don't need to use the HOV lane, it is really grossly unproductive for me not to.

As I have told folks.

Gas money savings by getting twice the mileage of my old car: $100 per month.

Tax credit for buying Prius: $3150.

HOV lane giving me 3 to 4 extra hours each week that I can use as I see fit (like with my wife and kid): Priceless.

[200Volts]

LOL...... just trying to make you smile.
But really, there was a small drop in mpg..........lol.

[F8L]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Curtis SAC @ Sep 23 2006, 12:18 AM) [snapback]323811[/snapback]</div>

HOV lane giving me 3 to 4 extra hours each week that I can use as I see fit (like with my wife and kid): Priceless.
[/b]

Very good Curtis!

We are having this discussion on my local LS1 forum. Not just about hybrids but the effects of having a mostly empty HOV lane while the other 3 are completely packed and or stopped and how this effects overall efficiency of our freeways.

[NuShrike]

I think we should have a graph of MPG/MPH $$ saved vs Time $$ saved. There should be a convergent point where it costs more to drive slower for piddly MPG saved versus the time it costed.

Matters for me because of my hour plus commutes vs I'm salaried w/ overtime.

[kpauley]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Oct 7 2006, 11:09 PM) [snapback]329653[/snapback]</div>

I think we should have a graph of MPG/MPH $$ saved vs Time $$ saved. There should be a convergent point where it costs more to drive slower for piddly MPG saved versus the time it costed.

Matters for me because of my hour plus commutes vs I'm salaried w/ overtime.
[/b]

Time for me was a big thing for the car. Driving the carpool lane turned my 70 minute (each way) commute into 50 minutes. Getting back nearly an hour p/day has been very nice.

Trade-off is lower mileage. Been tracking my mileage since day one, was averaging 47-50 MPG (mostly freeway commute) in the beginning. Very obvious when I got my carpool stickers, now I have a very steady average of 46 MPG over the last year.

Recently started playing more with the cruise control, seems to be better at keeping the MPG up in the MFD then me not paying attention at all. Jury is out if it will translate into an overall improvement, has only been one tank so far.

All in all I am thrilled though. Compared to the 22 MPG I was getting in my GS400 and the more expensive gas, I've saved almost $1500 in gas so far, plus all of the time I've saved...

Ken