Prius Marathon Run

[efusco]

A quote from Dan late last night:

Rick ended up with 48.80 km/L (114.7 MPG)

I just finished my 3rd shift and took back the record... barely. 48.96
km/L (115.1 MPG)

Rick is sleeping soundly right now, unaware of my last results. He
will undoubtedly retake the record tomorrow on his 9AM to 1PM shift.
That leaves me with the 11AM until we run out of gas shift.

Im bushed. This takes more concentration that anything I have ever
done. Physically and mentally draining. But its better than dealing
with the media all day. Dave has us covered,

[efusco]

And a quote from Dave just up this morning!

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday Dan kicked us off with a phenomenal-at-the-time first shift at 104.7 mpg. I followed with what still stands as our worst shift at 100.6.mpg and offered to bow out of future shifts, but Dan and Wayne pushed me back out there and I just recorded a 107.2 shift for three laps. My laps were very consistent, unlike last night when I started horribly and had to claw my way back over 100. The amazing thing is that a day ago we thought Dan's first shift was the standard we'd all compare ourselves to. Tonight I topped that by a hefty margin but still pulled our average down a tenth due to the phenomenal duel Dan and Rick waged throughout the day.
It went like this: Rick - 106.7 mpg, Dan - 111.9 mpg, Rick - 114.8 mpg, Dan - 115.1 mpg. The first three were for 120 mile segments, the last a 90 miler, same as my just completed shift.
We now stand at 107.5 mpg after 937 miles with three bars showing on the guess gauge. Bob called in after his first lap and scored a 107 as well so he's off to a great start. He should be taking us over the 1000 mile mark right about now.
Wayne will take the next shift, then we'll probably go with best available driver until we hand off to Dan to finish us out in style.
Going in to this we were pretty confident we could beat 100 mpg, but honestly didn't think we'd be much over, probably in the 102-103 range. But this great confluence of minds and skills has today produced record after record, and now I honestly don't know what to expect. If we could somehow recharge and start all over again Monday I'm very sure we'd end up far ahead of where we'll end today, but we'll sure take whatever result we do end up with!
Stay tuned,
Dave

[efusco]

UPDATE from Mission Control....

A fifth driver, Bob Barlow, has joined the list of drivers. He only took a few laps but managed 108+ MPG. He's a Honda civic driver. So, after I was corrected, there are 2 exclusively Prius drivers. 1 Primarily Insight driver who also owns/operates a Prius. One exclusively Insight. One exclusively HCH driver.

The current overall MPG is around the 107+ MPG mark. No current fuel level status and I think mileage is around 900 miles. I just don't see how they'll not make at least 1300 miles if they continue to push the 110mpg-115mpg level with the best drivers taking the last few shifts.

[ken1784]

Hi,

They wrote that they are at 107.6 mpg after 1061 miles (9th shift).
http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/prius-i...ml?page=5&pp=10
My estimated results will be 1345miles(2164km).

Ken@Japan

[efusco]

That's just amazing. I can't help but wonder how far they'd get on a flat track course at 35mph on cruise control...would it be more or less due to the added distance gained with the gliding and terrain anticipation?

[efusco]

Latest info -
Wayne is on the course now, one lap done, getting about 108 mpg. Current average 107.6 mpg after 1082 miles, two bars showing on the guess gauge.

May have more in a bit.

[krousdb]

Evan,
I ran the same course a year ago with cruise set to 35MPH. All I could muster was 85 MPG. The rolling hills are definately an advantage. No question in my mind. The hills let the ICE work in a more efficient range while climbing, and enable much longer glides. As you can see our ICE is on between 23 and 32% of distance traveled. A flat terrain would be closer to 50%.

I have also run a shorter, flatter course in Myrtle Beach and my best was 93.6 for 42 miles at 35 MPH held steady.

Dan

[efusco]

My brain starts working. I wonder if one could build a circular track, maybe 1 mile round, with one hill/climb that is fairly steep...you'd have to figure out what the best grade would be where the ICE could run efficiently going up then the glide would last all the way around the course when you'd hit the foot of the hill again just as the Prius was slowing to ~30mph...accelerate back up to hit 39mph at the crest and coast down and around again. It would get darn old and require a lot of concentration, but that would seem to be the ideal course....of course you could make the course longer with equally spaced hills to climb too.

[krousdb]

Latest info -
Wayne is on the course now, one lap done, getting about 108 mpg. Current average 107.6 mpg after 1082 miles, two bars showing on the guess gauge.

May have more in a bit.

This bodes well for 1300 miles. My last tank I went 178 miles on the last flashing bar and still did not run out of gas. I also averaged about 90 MPG during that time. My guess is that there is at least 2 gallons when the add fuel indicator comes on. That translates to about 220 miles at our pace.

Dan

[efusco]

Geez, if you're on 2 bars now at nearly 1100 miles you guys could hit 1400 and push 1500 miles if you can go 200+ miles after the last bar starts flashing (assuming 100 miles per bar left until flashing).