Finally figured out P&G, what a boost!

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by LOVL1TE

(It's very flat here).

I just noticed you're in VA. Where in particular? I gather from this comment it's in the eastern part of the state.

Originally Posted by darelldd

Quite true... however, I know from reading some of these threads that there are people who go out and drive the car extra for NO OTHER REASON than to increase that mileage number. The amount of gasoline burned is of no consequence in these cases - only that wonderful MPG number. It is enough to make me say bad words, so I'm gonna go ride my bike and think happy thoughts.

Aww, go ahead and say bad words.

Of course it's ludicrous to burn more total fuel just to pad the numbers. As I try alternative routes I plug that distance, the baseline distance, and the typical (for the temperature) baseline fuel economy into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet calculates what fuel economy I need to get on the alternative route to break even.

[Ichiro]

I found this thing on youtube really instructive!

YouTube - Prius Hypermiling w/ JimboK from...

[F8L]

Danny, your math does not lie although one could throw in other variables like tire wear, oil changes etc. but I cannot disagree with you. Thank you for taking the time to throw in the numbers. My fastest route is about 3-4 miles shorter than my max mpg route but part of my reason for taking the longr route is to avoid the freeways and the nuts that drive on it.

My main purpose in creating this thread was to explore ways in which members could pump up their MPG numbers without drastically changing driving styles or inducing road rage in others. IE a person could make their normal commutes at their normal speeds yet still increase their bottom line mpg by tossing in a few P&Gs when time permits or increasing the number of glides.

Thank you all for the extra input in this thread and in all the others I've learned from over the years.

As for Darell...... Anytime I do something that wastes fuel I see him appear over my shoulder, waving a finger in admonishment like this and I try to do this but it never works.

[Sheepdog]

awesome JIm! You came across on video as no crazy but instead a regular guy who has an answer! Good for you!!

[pattom]

Is it better to accelerate up to speed quick ( not drag racing ) or to take you time within reason?

[JimboK]

Ichiro and Sheepdog, thanks for the kind words!

Originally Posted by pattom

Is it better to accelerate up to speed quick ( not drag racing ) or to take you time within reason?

I generally suggest modest acceleration. Others use the terms "moderate" or "brisk."

Actually, those terms are vague, so here is something objective to use: Keep your instantaneous MPG at least half the vehicle speed, up to what traffic conditions and driver temperament will allow. Some of us that have tracked the relationship between ICE (internal combustion engine) speed and the iMPG:MPH ratio have demonstrated that this generally keeps ICE RPM out of inefficiently high ranges across a fairly wide range of vehicle speeds.

Don't accelerate so slowly that you're running on the battery only. The only exception will be pulling off from a dead stop, where a brief burst of battery-only is almost inevitable. Generally by the time you hit 10 MPH or so the ICE is running and the iMPG:MPH ratio can be followed.

[9G-man]

This car is unlike anything else on the road, why wouldn't the driving technique differ also?
We own a car that is capable of running on no gas. Why not learn how to exploit that?
That's what knowing how to glide, stealth and warp stealth is all about to me. Once you learn how to do it, properly, then learn when to do it. And the person behind you will be none the wiser.

P&G is applicable most anywhere, anytime. But don't be mistaken, I'm not talking about the original, all-out, huge speed variation version. That is unrealistic, unless no one else is around.
A pulse is any form of ICE acceleration, a glide is no arrows rolling and should be the goal anytime a steady or diminishing speed below 41 MPH is wanted, especially traveling downhill. Stealth (yellow arrows below 41 MPH) is electric only operation, and can be used for slower speed travel, and the link pulses and glides !!!!
Warp stealth (yellow arrows above 41 mph), to me, is a kind of glide above 41 MPH, because that's just about all that's attainable and sustainable, above that speed. And the technique is the same....Lift off the gas pedal and re-apply lightly.

It takes a little concentration at first, and use of the MFD energy screen is must to attain and maintain. Every single downhill slope, is an opportunity to glide. After a while, it's second nature and effortless. Remeber learning to ride a bike? big deal at the time, nothing now.
It's the way to drive a Prius, since it's capable of running on no gas.
Your're missing out on half of what you bought, if you don't learn the technique and idea.

But to be really good you gotta understand what's possible below 41 MPH, and what's possible above. And that A/C makes it tougher to attain these states.