My 72 MPG wild ride

Wayne · 07-02-2006, 04:00 PM

I drove 55 miles and got 72.0 MPG today!

We have a route through our downtown that I've always thought was well suited for this car. The lights are all synchronized, and the speed limit is 30-35 MPH. When I first came to town, I drove this route every day. I thought it would be interesting to drive 50 miles or so over this route to see what kind of MPG I would average. That's about 2 hours of driving.

Now, mind you, I didn't try to set a record. I didn't try to optimize my mileage by "dead banding" or pulsing and gliding. I simply drove, about half the time on cruise. Although the lights are synchronized, there were still lots of stops. The route is only about 3-1/2 miles long, after which I had to stop and turn around. I often had to stop to get back in sync with the lights as well. Obviously I wasn't going for a Prius record, or I would have used a test track. :-) I was just curious what kind of MPG I might get driving an everyday route like this.

Temperatures ranged from 70-79 degrees, and it rained most of the time. My lifetime average on my car (9,400 miles in Fall, Winter, and Spring in cold Northern Indiana, over mostly short trips) has been 45.47 MPG.

After doing this test, I think I might move back to where I have to drive through downtown to get to work! (heh-heh)

ghostofjk · 07-02-2006, 05:16 PM

Interesting demonstration. Maybe we should have a contest for those of us with too much time on our hands.

Wayne · 07-02-2006, 05:20 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ghostofjk @ Jul 2 2006, 05:16 PM) [snapback]280218[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Interesting demonstration. Maybe we should have a contest for those of us with too much time on our hands.

[/b]

Sorry, I was just curious about how routes can affect economy, and thought I would share where someone might appreciate the info...

**Tideland Prius** · 07-02-2006, 07:19 PM

niice.

I'm currently trying for my record tank. I was at 4.1 earlier and now 4.3 (55mpg) at 500+ kms into the tank. 4 bars left.. hoping for 900kms.

ghostofjk · 07-02-2006, 07:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wayne @ Jul 2 2006, 02:20 PM) [snapback]280222[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Sorry, I was just curious about how routes can affect economy, and thought I would share where someone might appreciate the info...
[/b]

Wayne, Wayne, Wayne...I was NOT being sarcastic; you have NOTHING to be sorry about; I was serious about a contest!

Drift Motion · 07-03-2006, 02:39 AM

i can get around 80 somethin for like the first 20miles after the fill up, lol

Wayne · 07-03-2006, 06:55 AM

[quote=Drift Motion @ Jul 3 2006, 02:39 AM) [snapback]280424[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

i can get around 80 somethin for like the first 20miles after the fill up, lol[/b]

Okay, I'll bite. Photograph either 80 MPG] 20 miles, or any 70+ @ 55.

Both would be interesting!

hycamguy07 · 07-03-2006, 09:21 AM

I have tried pulse & glide , slow take off's cruising at or just under the speed limit. I just cant get better than a average of 45.

On the other screen I can keep it at 57 once Im at speed, but the avrage doesnt change.

My wife's avrage is 47.

I really want to learn this....

Here the streets are flat, temp is between 85* - 102* with 70% - 100% humitity

Geeze this sounds like a sleep # commercial.

Wayne · 07-03-2006, 09:56 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusguy04 @ Jul 3 2006, 09:21 AM) [snapback]280471[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have tried pulse & glide , slow take off's cruising at or just under the speed limit. I just cant get better than a average of 45.

On the other screen I can keep it at 57 once Im at speed, but the avrage doesnt change.

I really want to learn this....

[/b]

My intent when I started this thread was to show for some people the car is capable of much more than the EPA says it is, and without doing anything special. My car also averages 45 MPG, but that's because there are a lot of factors that come into play, and living in cold weather and going on short trips are two of the things that work against me.

I really didn't do anything that had to be learned here, I simply drove a favorable route as a demonstration of the car's capabilities. For those that think 55 miles wasn't far enough to get out of the initial averaging error, I say you're crazy. That's more than far enough!

Drift Motion · 07-03-2006, 02:42 PM

i live on a hill, so if we fill up at the gas station across from where i live, then go down that big hill, first bar i get in the 50-75 range, then 2 full bar, speed is roughly around 40-50mph

ill take some photo if i get the chance

07-02-2006, 04:00 PM	#1
Wayne Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 677 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I drove 55 miles and got 72.0 MPG today! We have a route through our downtown that I've always thought was well suited for this car. The lights are all synchronized, and the speed limit is 30-35 MPH. When I first came to town, I drove this route every day. I thought it would be interesting to drive 50 miles or so over this route to see what kind of MPG I would average. That's about 2 hours of driving. Now, mind you, I didn't try to set a record. I didn't try to optimize my mileage by "dead banding" or pulsing and gliding. I simply drove, about half the time on cruise. Although the lights are synchronized, there were still lots of stops. The route is only about 3-1/2 miles long, after which I had to stop and turn around. I often had to stop to get back in sync with the lights as well. Obviously I wasn't going for a Prius record, or I would have used a test track. :-) I was just curious what kind of MPG I might get driving an everyday route like this. Temperatures ranged from 70-79 degrees, and it rained most of the time. My lifetime average on my car (9,400 miles in Fall, Winter, and Spring in cold Northern Indiana, over mostly short trips) has been 45.47 MPG. After doing this test, I think I might move back to where I have to drive through downtown to get to work! (heh-heh) __________________ 2005 Driftwood Pearl, BC Package #6 ('All options' package) Using a Verizon/Motorola e815 over Bluetooth Uploaded my Verizon phone book via a PDA in post 11460 (link fixed) Tested MPG vs MPH in post 11153 (link fixed)

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07-02-2006, 05:16 PM	#2
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Interesting demonstration. Maybe we should have a contest for those of us with too much time on our hands.

07-02-2006, 07:19 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,604 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	niice. I'm currently trying for my record tank. I was at 4.1 earlier and now 4.3 (55mpg) at 500+ kms into the tank. 4 bars left.. hoping for 900kms.

07-03-2006, 02:39 AM	#6
Drift Motion RMS13 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pasadena/Riverside, CA Posts: 178 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i can get around 80 somethin for like the first 20miles after the fill up, lol

07-03-2006, 09:21 AM	#8
hycamguy07 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,707 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have tried pulse & glide , slow take off's cruising at or just under the speed limit. I just cant get better than a average of 45. On the other screen I can keep it at 57 once Im at speed, but the avrage doesnt change. My wife's avrage is 47. I really want to learn this.... Here the streets are flat, temp is between 85* - 102* with 70% - 100% humitity Geeze this sounds like a sleep # commercial.

07-03-2006, 02:42 PM	#10
Drift Motion RMS13 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pasadena/Riverside, CA Posts: 178 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i live on a hill, so if we fill up at the gas station across from where i live, then go down that big hill, first bar i get in the 50-75 range, then 2 full bar, speed is roughly around 40-50mph ill take some photo if i get the chance