Driving differently for best fuel economy

Dripps · 01-07-2006, 01:47 PM

Does anyone just DRIVE this car without looking at the display and watching the fuel consumption? I was thinking about this the other day. Although I don't have my Prius yet we do have the Lexus RX440h (their hybrid SUV). Whenever I drive it I definately drive differently, always being conscious of the coasting and preparing for road ahead. I liken it to driving like I have an egg under my gas pedal foot or like when I ride my bike. I see a hill ahead I allow the car to build up speed on the downhill to let momentum take me up, etc. When I test drove the Prius it was the same thing.

I was driving my other car yesterday and although I do have display which will show me instantaneous fuel consumption estimates I rarely looked at it. So, switching to that display I drove more consious of it. Again, I was driving smarter for better fuel economy. Now why didn't I always do this?

So my question is...will this feeling wear off after owning the Prius for a while? How much difference does it make in the long run to adding MPG? How do YOU drive?

sanguis · 01-07-2006, 02:03 PM

I drive more purposefully since I got the prius. Lowered my cruise speed on the highway to go with the flow instead of passing everyone. Driving intelligently isn't a burden; it's natural now.

DaveinOlyWA · 01-07-2006, 02:13 PM

after 20,000 miles, i am not as mesmerized gy the display as i once was. but that is not because i want to know what the car is doing. i think its because of the CANVIEW i have. have had it 2 months or so... already have had 3 updates for it, the last one was HUGE... great improvement.

at $200 (more or less, dont remember the exact amount) plus 50 for the flash. its becoming one of the best bargains i have bought for my Prius. as the product progresses and becomes available for more types of Priuses, i would have to say its a must buy for anyone who truly wants to understand what their car is doing

CincinnatiHybrid · 01-07-2006, 05:15 PM

I've noticed that my driving style has changed pretty significantly in the 8 months I've had my Prius. Having the instant feedback has been key, as it tells you if you want to floor it to unecessarily pass someone because they are only going the speed limit, that you'll be paying for that $$$ later.

I think I look at the display less now than I did in the first few months though. I've got a good enough feel and hearing of the engine to know when I'm being efficient and not.

I'm not sure if anyone has heard this one or not...but my buddy at work told me that he saw somewhere where a Honda Insight owner was fed up with getting dirty looks from road raging drivers for not speeding. So, he riggs up a device that projected his current MPG onto his back windshield so the guy driving passing him in the SUV could see what kind of Mileage he was getting. Pretty neat if you ask me.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-07-2006, 09:10 PM

Well I use the Energy Monitor with the instant reading. The reason is, I'm cruising along a road at a set accelerator pedal angle and set speed (no cruise control) and the monitor reads say 5.2L/100km. If I lift up ever so slightly, I see that I can still maintain speed but the mileage drops to 4.7L/100km so I've gained 0.5L/100km right there.

Salsawonder · 01-07-2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CincinnatiHybrid@Jan 7 2006, 03:15 PM

I'm not sure if anyone has heard this one or not...but my buddy at work told me that he saw somewhere where a Honda Insight owner was fed up with getting dirty looks from road raging drivers for not speeding. So, he riggs up a device that projected his current MPG onto his back windshield so the guy driving passing him in the SUV could see what kind of Mileage he was getting. Pretty neat if you ask me.

[snapback]185550[/snapback]

That is so cool!! I would totally pay for something like that!!
My Prius has taught me to be a better driver overall. I don't look at the screens so much anymore and I am just at 6600 and 5 months. My foot has become light and very effective. I am one with the car......

rogerSC · 01-07-2006, 10:57 PM

No, I don't think that trying to maximize your gas mileage (since you have the tools to do it) wears off. You'll still be looking at the MFD, more to verify what you're feeling, or if you're wondering why you can't get the car into "electric-only" mode, or whatever, but over the long term it is still fun to see how high gas mileage you can achieve. And the easiest way to track that is to see what the MFD has to say.

There's also the "health of the car" issue, verifying that everything is working okay.

-Roger

DaveinOlyWA · 01-07-2006, 11:00 PM

there was a link posted here about signs that are programmable that run about $250 or so. check with your local laws. those signs are illegal on cars in some states. most consider it a dangerous distraction

Schmika · 01-08-2006, 03:27 PM

I see it that new drivers will "find" that b watching their consumption screen they will learn how much gas they waste by some of their habits. Once they modify ntheir driving style, they will no lnger get a great deal of benefit with watching the consumption screens. Satisfaction-yes.

The good part is that this driving style will help them in non-hybrid cars as well.

01-07-2006, 01:47 PM	#1
Dripps Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern NJ (Sussex Co) Posts: 116 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Does anyone just DRIVE this car without looking at the display and watching the fuel consumption? I was thinking about this the other day. Although I don't have my Prius yet we do have the Lexus RX440h (their hybrid SUV). Whenever I drive it I definately drive differently, always being conscious of the coasting and preparing for road ahead. I liken it to driving like I have an egg under my gas pedal foot or like when I ride my bike. I see a hill ahead I allow the car to build up speed on the downhill to let momentum take me up, etc. When I test drove the Prius it was the same thing. I was driving my other car yesterday and although I do have display which will show me instantaneous fuel consumption estimates I rarely looked at it. So, switching to that display I drove more consious of it. Again, I was driving smarter for better fuel economy. Now why didn't I always do this? So my question is...will this feeling wear off after owning the Prius for a while? How much difference does it make in the long run to adding MPG? How do YOU drive? __________________ 2006 Barcelona Red Package #8 Bisque Leather interior Body side molding, mudflaps Rear bumper protector and BT Tech Stiffening Plate XM radio Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds 40/38

01-07-2006, 02:13 PM	#3
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	after 20,000 miles, i am not as mesmerized gy the display as i once was. but that is not because i want to know what the car is doing. i think its because of the CANVIEW i have. have had it 2 months or so... already have had 3 updates for it, the last one was HUGE... great improvement. at $200 (more or less, dont remember the exact amount) plus 50 for the flash. its becoming one of the best bargains i have bought for my Prius. as the product progresses and becomes available for more types of Priuses, i would have to say its a must buy for anyone who truly wants to understand what their car is doing __________________ My Blue 2010 : Last tank 541.9 @ 49.48 pump (56.7 MFD) 5.54 CPM, 21 MPH, Lifetime:5442.2 miles 56.5 MPG pump. (62.22 MFD) 4.72 CPM. Summer MPG 57.4 Winter: 49.5 My 2006 SPM: Last tank 376.6 miles @38.21 pump (40.8 MFD) 7.17 cpm winter mpg 49.64 summer mpg 53.41 lifetime: 42,563.5 miles 51.5 mpg pump (52.7 mpg MFD) 5.51 cpm My 2007 Zenn total "fuel cost" $166.58 on "about" 9599.7 miles. 1.74 cents per mile (granted i plug in for free at work!!) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

01-07-2006, 05:15 PM	#4
CincinnatiHybrid Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I've noticed that my driving style has changed pretty significantly in the 8 months I've had my Prius. Having the instant feedback has been key, as it tells you if you want to floor it to unecessarily pass someone because they are only going the speed limit, that you'll be paying for that $$$ later. I think I look at the display less now than I did in the first few months though. I've got a good enough feel and hearing of the engine to know when I'm being efficient and not. I'm not sure if anyone has heard this one or not...but my buddy at work told me that he saw somewhere where a Honda Insight owner was fed up with getting dirty looks from road raging drivers for not speeding. So, he riggs up a device that projected his current MPG onto his back windshield so the guy driving passing him in the SUV could see what kind of Mileage he was getting. Pretty neat if you ask me. __________________ '05 Salsa Red Prius since May '05 Total Gallons of gas: 163 = $365 fuel cost Total Miles: 7907 Overall MPG: 48.5 20 degree Winter weather doesn't help :-(

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01-07-2006, 02:03 PM	#2
sanguis Join Date: May 2005 Location: VA Posts: 85 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I drive more purposefully since I got the prius. Lowered my cruise speed on the highway to go with the flow instead of passing everyone. Driving intelligently isn't a burden; it's natural now.

01-07-2006, 09:10 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 344 Times in 243 Posts Friends: 23	Well I use the Energy Monitor with the instant reading. The reason is, I'm cruising along a road at a set accelerator pedal angle and set speed (no cruise control) and the monitor reads say 5.2L/100km. If I lift up ever so slightly, I see that I can still maintain speed but the mileage drops to 4.7L/100km so I've gained 0.5L/100km right there.

01-07-2006, 10:57 PM	#7
rogerSC Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 156 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	No, I don't think that trying to maximize your gas mileage (since you have the tools to do it) wears off. You'll still be looking at the MFD, more to verify what you're feeling, or if you're wondering why you can't get the car into "electric-only" mode, or whatever, but over the long term it is still fun to see how high gas mileage you can achieve. And the easiest way to track that is to see what the MFD has to say. There's also the "health of the car" issue, verifying that everything is working okay. -Roger

01-07-2006, 11:00 PM	#8
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	there was a link posted here about signs that are programmable that run about $250 or so. check with your local laws. those signs are illegal on cars in some states. most consider it a dangerous distraction

01-08-2006, 03:27 PM	#9
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I see it that new drivers will "find" that b watching their consumption screen they will learn how much gas they waste by some of their habits. Once they modify ntheir driving style, they will no lnger get a great deal of benefit with watching the consumption screens. Satisfaction-yes. The good part is that this driving style will help them in non-hybrid cars as well.