PriusChat Mileage Database - ideas and input for features needed!

[Danny]

This fall will be PriusChat's 5th birthday, and there has always been one feature that has been glaringly absent on this site - a mileage database like the ones you see on GreenHybrid or CleanMPG.

Both of those systems are great for tracking your mileage, but I think it's time for PriusChat to work on perfecting a mileage database that PriusChatters can call their own. I already have a developer lined up to do all the fancy coding for us, now all I need is your input on what you think the features of this upcoming mileage database need to be.

We can start with my ideas and work from there. Soon this thread will hopefully turn into a full spec/list of requirements for the project and then we'll be on our way to having this project realized.

I have a few ideas to get us started:

Mileage Database Project

Features should include:

Ability to submit data via online form.

Data fields should include:

• Make/Model/Year (required)
• # miles/Kilometres on tank (required)
• # gallons/Litres/Imperial Gallons of gas (required)
• kWh Used
• Cost of gas (USD, GBP, Euro, AUD,NZD, CAD)
• Type of gas (Regular, E10, E85)
• Date of fill-up (automatically populate with today's date, but allow for other choices)
• Average temperature (F or C)
• Time Per Drive
• Zip/Post Code of main driving area
• MFD MPG / L/100 km
• Free Notes section

System auto-calculated MPG (computed once you enter in required info above) in MPG or L/100 km based on distance input above
Ability to handle measurement conversions (MPG to L/100 km, USD to GBP, etc)
Import/Export data via excel/csv with import wizard
View MPGs of people near you using Zip Code data (table & Google Map)
Create graphs per user, per car model, perhaps even by state or municipality
Signature-sized image with mpg data

[TonyPSchaefer]

Date of fill-up (automatically populate with today's date)
I don't always get the chance to enter my data the very day of the refill especially when I refill in the evening.

Of course, I like the "average temperature" idea. But it'll need to either be easy or optional. Not everyone will want to do the hand calculations like I do.

As for the signature-sized image with MPG data: I want mine to have a background of Obama wearing a turban and McCain biting the head off a kitten.

[priusuk2008]

I think you should also cater for inputs in measures other than US ones, for example :

Litres
Kilometres
Imperial Gallons

Also the cost of gas is useful so include costs in mainstream currencies used by Prius chatters e.g.:
US Dollars (DERR)
GB Pounds
Euro
Australian $
N Z $
Canadian $

For example of the utility of these measures in an input sheet, see the link in my signature below. It works very well for me and others I believe, so the stats it generates could be useful in your online version

Good idea too - and I'd like a signature background of Gordon Brown with his head in stocks please

[doubleg2005]

second on Tony's

i HATE how, at greenhybrid, i HAVE to put in avg temp and length of ride. sometimes i'd want to, but there are times (especially here in texas) when one day is 100, the next is 80, the next is 90, and then 100, and so on... putting an average temp of 90 would be misleading... also, can you do 5's in the avg temps? like 85, 90, 95, etc?

[TheForce]

Just copy everything cleanmpg.com has.

I would like to see an option for MFD mpg reading along with actual calculated mpg. This way I wont have to keep track of two databases or two different cars.

I know I have more ideas but I don't remember what they were. I'll probably think of it when I update my MPG in the next day or two.

[efusco]

I'm with Jay on wanting a way to graph/display both calculated mpg AND MFD mpg and a running delta b/w the two if possible.

As Tony said, it's fine if the date is automatically populated, but you need to be able to change it...on a trip you may save up multiple tanks and enter them all at once.

Also, it will be important to anticipate a need for PHEV data...kWH used?

[JRMurray]

Great idea!

Agreed with all said so far. A couple of observations/requests, though:

Could you please add fuel consumption in litres/100 km for us Canadians, eh?

Also, someone mentioned copying cleanmpg.com. Okay, but working in metric, I can see that cleanmpg.com allows entry in metric but then converts to US measurements for its database. When I view my past entries, cleanmpg then converts from US to metric ... leaving me with inaccurate results. Could you please NOT go that route? :-)

[bwilson4web]

I would like to see free-form "notes" available in "CSV" format, possibly as an optional display field, user selectable.

I would also like to see "cost of ownership" for each vehicle, possibly a sub-table, being two parts:

• monetary value ($ or other)
• selected description - purchase and sale price, repair, tires, lubricants, filters, insurance, taxes, license, special stickers, e.t.c.
• duration if a license or other fee

What this will do is let us calculate the "total cost of ownership," especially if the calculated index is derived based upon distance (miles or km) divided into the sum of the cost fields. Given some folks are sensitive about specific items, they may choose to keep the individual items 'private' but the total cost of ownership per unit distance should be available to all.

I would also like a minimum of 5 entries required before any vehicle summary is used in a 'fleet' summary number. At GreenHybrid we've had a number of 'out-liars' that seem to be less than 5 entries, usually 2-3, and never show up again. By entries, I mean entry sessions. I don't mind if someone wants to load up a great spreadsheet one day but I want to see at least 4 other unique data entry sessions before the potential 'out-liar' data is accepted. This shows a commitment to the database.

I like the idea that 'retired' entries, those that have not had an update in say 4-6 months, stick but show up at the bottom of any listing. I'm more interested in current listings than those that seem to have aged out.

Did I mention gallons come in two sizes? Also there are various 'distance/fuel' and 'fuel/distance' ways of looking at the data. Please let the user preference dictate what is displayed. The same is true with currency: $(USA), $(Canadian), $(AU), Yen, and Euro. So if someone wants to use some other scale, fine by me, but let me see their data in something that makes sense to me. You might put their favorite units in "()" so I'll know.

Please include provisions for all three Prius generations: NHW10, NHW11 and NHW20. I'm not sure about whether the "touring" is really a variation of the NHW20.

One last thing, let the owner rate their Prius: (1) most incredible vehicle ever owned to (10) what a horrible piece of salvage, take it off my hands. This scale matches the Japanese: Ichi-ban (the very best) and Ju-ban (a 'lump of coal' to someone you really don't like.)

1. Absolutely the best vehicle ever invented by human mind
2. She can have everything but I keep the Prius (I can live in it)
3. What a great and sensible vehicle
4. Nice car, better than my others
5. The right tool for the right job, another choice
6. It is OK but I like to drive something else
7. Gosh this sure is expensive and lack luster
8. She can have the Prius
9. What a mistake, I look forward to getting rid of this lemon
10. Hi Brother-in-Law, I hope you'll like this great gas saving car

Bob Wilson

[jammin012]

The ability to upload/download MPG data from a variety of formats as long as the data fields are named the same. That way I don't have to reformat my database just to upload it.

The ability to "pull" data as for research, i.e. what's the average for LA or Oregon, average miles driven/fill up for a range of MPG's, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60+. I know it's sounds silly but some of the conversations we get into over here..

I like the map idea.

Is this going to be linked to our user name and availible as part of our profile information?

Any colors and graphics or just straight data?

[efusco]

Indeed, it would be nice to be able to export in an Excel or google spreadsheet.