Pulse and Glide

[hjon71]

I just found out about this, So I thought I'd do a test.
I had an 80 mile trip to Memphis the other day. It was mostly 4-lane,65-70 mph, with a few small towns,35-40mph. Outside temp about 65 both trips.
On the way there I ran the CC (set at 70)whenever possible,and in the small towns I just drove as I would any other car. Aver. MPG=45.3
For the trip home I decided to try P&G. Accellerating up hills and lifting completely off the gas just before the crest and coasting or barely pressing the gas pedal to maintain speed. Speed varied some but tried to maintain 70 as best as I could. Aver. MPG 53.8
One more consideration. I "figure" that driving west toward Memphis is slightly downhill. So perhaps My findings might be slightly skewed.
Just wondering if others have tried it and how they did. I must now admit that my right leg did get tired but If I can manage this MPG it might be worth the PAIN.

[hdrygas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hjon71 @ Mar 30 2006, 07:54 PM) [snapback]232741[/snapback]</div>

I just found out about this, So I thought I'd do a test.
I had an 80 mile trip to Memphis the other day. It was mostly 4-lane,65-70 mph, with a few small towns,35-40mph. Outside temp about 65 both trips.
On the way there I ran the CC (set at 70)whenever possible,and in the small towns I just drove as I would any other car. Aver. MPG=45.3
For the trip home I decided to try P&G. Accellerating up hills and lifting completely off the gas just before the crest and coasting or barely pressing the gas pedal to maintain speed. Speed varied some but tried to maintain 70 as best as I could. Aver. MPG 53.8
One more consideration. I "figure" that driving west toward Memphis is slightly downhill. So perhaps My findings might be slightly skewed.
Just wondering if others have tried it and how they did. I must now admit that my right leg did get tired but If I can manage this MPG it might be worth the PAIN.
[/b]

You need one more choice. I live and breathe Pulse and Glide. I got 65 m.p.g. how are you doing? OK see below only below 34 mph but still it does make a difference from "just drive it". OK you have to find a route to and from work where you will not pixx too many people off doing this, or someone will run you over. I modified my route, and gained about 10 m.p.g. but lost 4 Min on the trip. You decide. Also I am a bit more mellow at lower speeds and the pigs ( sorry child of the 60's) don't bust my chops.

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hjon71 @ Mar 30 2006, 10:54 PM) [snapback]232741[/snapback]</div>

I just found out about this, So I thought I'd do a test.
I had an 80 mile trip to Memphis the other day. It was mostly 4-lane,65-70 mph, with a few small towns,35-40mph. Outside temp about 65 both trips.
On the way there I ran the CC (set at 70)whenever possible,and in the small towns I just drove as I would any other car. Aver. MPG=45.3
For the trip home I decided to try P&G. Accellerating up hills and lifting completely off the gas just before the crest and coasting or barely pressing the gas pedal to maintain speed. Speed varied some but tried to maintain 70 as best as I could. Aver. MPG 53.8
One more consideration. I "figure" that driving west toward Memphis is slightly downhill. So perhaps My findings might be slightly skewed.
Just wondering if others have tried it and how they did. I must now admit that my right leg did get tired but If I can manage this MPG it might be worth the PAIN.
[/b]

Nice results. I should just say that this is not what most people are refering to when they say "Pulse and Glide." The traditional P&G happens only at lower speeds (it's best between ~30 MPH and 40 MPH) and involves accelerating moderately up to the top speed (i.e. ~40 MPH) and then "gliding" down to 30 MPH. The "gliding" is accomplished by having your foot lightly on the accelerator so that you see NO ARROWS on the MFD. I think it's impossible to get into this "no arrow" mode at highway speeds.

It's actually been discussed here before that the CC in the Prius is overly aggressive (i.e. it REALLY wants to keep you at the given speed), so it can acclerate hard at times (at the expense of fuel mileage). I'll just say that I've experienced my best mileage on hilly terrain by accelerating as little as possible on the hills (accelerating while going up hills takes a lot of gas) and using the downhill part to gain speed back.

[DocVijay]

Darn, I thought this was another sex poll!

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

I find it difficult to to for two reasons. 1) Too much traffic where/when I drive. P&G causes too much variation in speed. 2) The times I've been out w/o other cars around I get too impatient doing the P&G and after a few minutes go back to "regular" driving.

Happy with my 45mpg driving like I always have.

Jeff

[rdenneyutmb]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Mar 31 2006, 11:03 AM) [snapback]232969[/snapback]</div>

I find it difficult to to for two reasons. 1) Too much traffic where/when I drive. P&G causes too much variation in speed. 2) The times I've been out w/o other cars around I get too impatient doing the P&G and after a few minutes go back to "regular" driving.

Happy with my 45mpg driving like I always have.

Jeff
[/b]

I have a new '06 with about 1400 miles on it. I have been pulse-and-gliding to work (30-40 mph), about 22 miles each way, by choosing to take a virtually abandoned feeder road from my home to Galveston, rather than driving at higher speed on the freeway parallel to it. (I cannot avoid a short stretch of about 3 miles of Freeway that includes up and over a substantial causeway, regardless. The freeway stretch is I drive at a steady 55 mph.) I have been averaging 70 mpg for the P&G commute. If I take the freeway all they way at a steady 55 or so, I get about 50 mpg. These figures are for mostly flat terrain and temperatures of 65-75 F. What I haven't done is compare the P&G results with the same route taken at a constant, slow speed (about 37 mph). I will try that some time.

P&G has become a new hobby. But you have to have the right place to do it and some extra time...

[jeneric]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Mar 30 2006, 08:04 PM) [snapback]232748[/snapback]</div>

I think it's impossible to get into this "no arrow" mode at highway speeds.
[/b]

Not impossible, just not really useful because the ICE will still be turning. So you don't make up the efficiency lost from the acceleration.

[hobbit]

At highway speeds it won't be "no arrows" mode. But it will be
"electric drive only", battery to motor to wheels with no ICE
contribution. That's warp-stealth, and it's hard to hold because
it's even more touchy than low-speed gliding, but it is a *serious*
mileage win if you can do it, especially in that "mid-speed" range
between 42 and say 55-60.
.
The potential confusion comes because the ICE is still spinning, but
is being spun *by* the combination of electric motors with no fuel
consumed. Takes a couple of kilowatts to do it, but less overall
than burning more gas.
.
_H*

[ellisfam2]

I P&G to and from work every day. It's about 15 miles each way, all two lane back roads and constantly up hill/down hill. Even in the dead of winter (Maine) I can get between 47-49 mpg. This past tank of gas is being consumed with temps during the day of 48-70 and night temps in the high 30s. So far, Im at 58.4. It's amazing what outside temps do to your mileage, wheather you P&G or not.