"pulse and glide" tips?

[busyrosy]

I'm totaly getting the hang of pulse and glide thing - I think I'm well over 50 mpg at this point .. but after a while, my ankle gets really sore! Ya'll got tips to make this experience more comfortable? Thanks!!!

[humptydumpty]

Pulse and Glide? Sound like you are refering to the gas pedal. I just drive it like I drove the vehicle I had before which was a 70's VW Bus, which is, carfully so as not to overrev or lug the engine. Course that was a stick, but the careful part is what I am getting at.

I average 52 mpg. Perhaps I could be doing better than this...

[EricGo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(busyrosy @ Apr 29 2006, 03:59 AM) [snapback]247124[/snapback]</div>

I'm totaly getting the hang of pulse and glide thing - I think I'm well over 50 mpg at this point .. but after a while, my ankle gets really sore! Ya'll got tips to make this experience more comfortable? Thanks!!!
[/b]

Try moving the seat back a bit.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Pulsing and Gliding is the technique of getting up to speed and then coasting as long as possible. But not just coasting, finding that "sweetspot" where the Energy display shows no arrows at all. At that point, it's almost as though the car doesn't know whether to recharge via the wheels or accellerate via the battery. When that happens, you can physically feel the car "let loose" and coast.

There are two basic types of drivers: those who always have their foot on the accelerator maintaining speed versus those who get up to speed and then let up on the accelerator. Most drivers reflect the former style. Therefore, P-n-G is not necessarily "normal" to most people.

Rosy,
It's possible that you are putting too much emphasis on your foot. It sounds to me that you are actually pushing and pulling your foot at the same time, making your muscles work against each other. It's not bumkiss, I used to do this and had really tired ankles, calves, and even thighs. Driving the Prius is not about tension but rather relaxation. When you are letting up on the accelerator, don't think so much about maintaining the perfect position but rather focus on simply relaxing your pressure. Once you know what to look for and feel for, you will understand. And your legs will thank you.

[busyrosy]

Hmmm... seems like I need to practice this more..

Thanks!!!!

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(busyrosy @ Apr 29 2006, 02:59 AM) [snapback]247124[/snapback]</div>

I'm totaly getting the hang of pulse and glide thing - I think I'm well over 50 mpg at this point[/b]

Without doing that, I am too.

Pulse & Glide is something that I have never endorsed and choose to discourage. JUST DRIVE IT! After enough miles, you naturally become in tune with the hybrid system anyway and end up responding properly to hills, stops, and traffic due to a heightened awareness.

In other words, as time proceeds you'll approach the glide point automatically by simply watching the consumption bar climb.

Put yet another way, I rarely use the Energy Monitor. The Consumption Screen is what taught me to achieve the higher efficiency... without any pulsing that could disrupt other vehicles sharing the same road. The consumption way takes longer to become habit, but it is much closer to the way people normally drive.

[hdrygas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Apr 29 2006, 08:34 AM) [snapback]247175[/snapback]</div>

Rosy,
It's possible that you are putting too much emphasis on your foot. It sounds to me that you are actually pushing and pulling your foot at the same time, making your muscles work against each other. It's not bumkiss, I used to do this and had really tired ankles, calves, and even thighs. Driving the Prius is not about tension but rather relaxation. When you are letting up on the accelerator, don't think so much about maintaining the perfect position but rather focus on simply relaxing your pressure. Once you know what to look for and feel for, you will understand. And your legs will thank you.
[/b]

Very good. Well put!!

[gippah]

If you're getting over 50mpg in a Classic, you're doing pretty good.

But I wouldn't worry about it so much. Even if you drive the Classic like a normal car, you're likely to get 47-48mpg. If your ankle is getting sore, use it a little less and get 49mpg.

[j24816]

Can anyone explain why pulse and glide is more efficient than maintaining constant speed?

It would seem that there are ineffiencies associated with both acceleration and glide (friction)....

[EricGo]

The short answer: because engine use < 1500 rpm is inefficient.

P&G is not the goal, it is the result of periodic smart engine use.