POLL: What mode do you drive in and why what percentages?

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by garygid

My next "standard" freeway trips I will try PWR mode to see if mpg improves over my ECO trips.

What does ECO do to the Air Conditioning?

I think it times just how fast it comes on and also uses intelligence to run it more when the engine is already on anyway and try to lay low when the engine needs to drop out for mileage.

If it were to stay on constantly even when the ICE had dropped out, your "drop out" time would be shortlived as the AC would quickly drain the battery and force the ICE to come back on to recharge.

You foot has to be pretty sensitive to get good mileage in Normal mode, but in power mode I estimate it would be near impossible to drive economically as things are just too touchy.

I see eco mode more as a trainer to get you to normal mode, unless you want to have lots of room for error with the pedal and still get good mileage, just use eco mode.

[Spartane]

Originally Posted by brianric

Can someone explain Normal Mode. I have a 2010 Prius and I have EV mode, ECO mode, and PWR mode.

You get Normal mode when all of the other modes are off.

[jdcollins5]

I use Normal mode mainly around town since the ECO response feels too sluggish, even though I know I can press the pedal harder. I use PWR mode when merging with highway traffic and when starting from traffic lights with traffic behind me so that I can keep up with existing traffic better.

I have a 50 mile daily commute with about 40 being highway. I usually use ECO once on the highway with cruise set.

I use EV around my neighborhood.

NORMAL - 80%
ECO - 10%
PWR - 5%
EV - 5%

I am averaging about 51 mpg calculated (53 mpg displayed) per tank.

[mgb4tim]

On these hills/mountains, Power on the interstate (most of my driving) has improved my MPG, but switching back to Normal in town made it even better.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by mgb4tim

Power on the interstate (most of my driving) has improved my MPG, but switching back to Normal in town made it even better.

No kiddin?.... I'll have to try that on my next long trip.
I knew I liked normal over eco, but I haven't considered Power over normal for interstate.

Your the first person I've seen who notes better mileage in power mode.. thats great!

Do you feel its so during times when you need to run the air "like on hot days", or has that been a non issue lately?

The reason I ask is I'm just wondering if the AC management that eco mode does will make a difference when we need to use the AC allot.

[Pugsy]

I find my mileage to be just as good in PWR as it is in normal, if not even a little better. I think because I get up to speed and "in the zone" faster. That said, I don't always remember to put it in PWR, so I probably spend most of my time in normal.

I tried ECO for a while but didn't like it. I just get frustrated with the sluggishness.

[Jasonsprite]

after playing with ECO and NORMAL i found that NORMAL gave the best mpg. i would use ECO if im stuck in traffic(stop and go).POWER when you need it. The EV mode's just a joke.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by Pugsy

I find my mileage to be just as good in PWR as it is in normal, if not even a little better. I think because I get up to speed and "in the zone" faster. That said, I don't always remember to put it in PWR, so I probably spend most of my time in normal.

I tried ECO for a while but didn't like it. I just get frustrated with the sluggishness.

With my GenII, I tried getting up to speed quicker and that rational didn't work as well as taking it easy for gas mileage.

I guess whenever you have to get mass moving fast in a short amount of time, it takes energy.. hence the massive horsepower needed for dragsters.

I know the electric gives nice low end torque but its still energy nevertheless.

I'm wondering if the reason we are finding the higher modes more efficient is because when you let off the gas, that too moves more aggressively too than when in eco.

In other words, you may have noticed how when you barely let off the gas, you may still show 50ish mpg, but when you let off even more and then put it back, you get to use the battery more and the ICE drops out and you will show 100mpg or if your going pretty fast, maybe only 70mpg or so.

Point being, normal and even power modes move the pedal more aggressively so that when letting off, it lets off "more" engaging the ICE to drop out, or at least free spin while the gas flow is shut off.

If that rational is right, it would stand to reason that the best of both worlds would be to use the higher modes, but be easy on the throttle for take-offs?

Just thinking out loud here.. these "modes" put a new twist on things.

[MPGen3]

1% EV: In the neigborhood and parking lots when its available.

25% ECO: When no one is behind me it P&G Baby!!!!

50% PWR: Merging/Passing, when it's time to go with the flow. Why not it still gets good mileage!

24% NORMAL: When top 3 don't apply by the way, who here's normal?

[Jim Calvert]

As far as I can tell, there are only 3 modes: EV, ECO, and Power. What is "Normal" mode?