Best "arrows" on Energy monitor screen?

harper42 · 07-26-2006, 10:13 AM

I'm new to the Prius and I'm really not certain about the Energy monitor screen. I basically understand what they are telling me. I know that the ideal screen in the "no arrows" screen, which I am learning how to do. I still have to get the feel of how much pressure to apply for the "pulse" but I have managed to do it many times. But the rest of the arrows: At first, I thought the idea was to use the battery, to not consume gas; however, I have read more of your postings and realize that it is not a good thing, as it requires too much energy to regenerate. Beyond that, I'm confused. There are pinkish arrows and orange arrows and green arrows (which seem to be good, as my mileage goes up when I see them), and they appear to be when I coast, and am regenerating battery. Could you please help me understand this screen. Thanks so much for your help.

sl7vk · 07-26-2006, 10:29 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dulcimer @ Jul 26 2006, 10:13 AM) [snapback]292534[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm new to the Prius and I'm really not certain about the Energy monitor screen. I basically understand what they are telling me. I know that the ideal screen in the "no arrows" screen, which I am learning how to do. I still have to get the feel of how much pressure to apply for the "pulse" but I have managed to do it many times. But the rest of the arrows: At first, I thought the idea was to use the battery, to not consume gas; however, I have read more of your postings and realize that it is not a good thing, as it requires too much energy to regenerate. Beyond that, I'm confused. There are pinkish arrows and orange arrows and green arrows (which seem to be good, as my mileage goes up when I see them), and they appear to be when I coast, and am regenerating battery. Could you please help me understand this screen. Thanks so much for your help.
[/b]

Yeah... Blue is coasting and regenerating your battery.... As well as braking or decelerating. If you are getting blue and you are going your desired speed this is ideal

Orange is the ICE working. I've found that the best Orange to have is when It's running your powertrain and recharging your batter at the same time. At speeds around 40mph you can get the ICE to run your powertrain, and recharge your battery and get 50-70 mpg... Not bad. The yellow of course is the electric. This is really best at low speeds. If you are cruising down a street with no stop signs and doing 25-30 mph this works great. Running on electric only at 35-40 mph tends to use a bit too much battery for my liking.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-26-2006, 12:02 PM

Hurray, a fellow Hoosier!
I use the battery when I can. Don't shun the battery. But you have to use it intelligently for optimal results.

When I explain the car, I specify that the engine will run in order to recharge the battery. Therefore, if you use the battery too much, the engine will run more to recharge it and there's really very little you can do to stop it. So it's best to not over-use and drain it to a point lower than half if you can avoid it.

On the other hand, at speeds above 40 MPH, the engine is most likely going to be running anyway. And as my father used to say, "if you're going to be doing something, make it worthwhile." For that reason, when I'm maintaining a speed greater than 40 MPH, I will try to make sure that the engine is turning the wheels and recharging the battery. This is actually pretty easy to do and I've found that for me, 44 MPH is my ideal speed: not 43 and not 45. Second-best, when I need to go faster, is 51 MPH: not 50 and not 52. I can't explain why these two speeds work best for me and your ideal speed will most likely be different.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, such as steep hills and rapid acceleration, but as soon as those requirements are over, I aim for one of those two states.

I really hope that helped. What's most important is that you keep in mind that what's best for me may not be what's best for you or anyone else for that matter. Once you get a feel for your car and your personal driving preferences, you will find our own zone.

harper42 · 07-26-2006, 01:46 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 26 2006, 09:02 AM) [snapback]292579[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hurray, a fellow Hoosier!
I use the battery when I can. Don't shun the battery. But you have to use it intelligently for optimal results.

When I explain the car, I specify that the engine will run in order to recharge the battery. Therefore, if you use the battery too much, the engine will run more to recharge it and there's really very little you can do to stop it. So it's best to not over-use and drain it to a point lower than half if you can avoid it.

On the other hand, at speeds above 40 MPH, the engine is most likely going to be running anyway. And as my father used to say, "if you're going to be doing something, make it worthwhile." For that reason, when I'm maintaining a speed greater than 40 MPH, I will try to make sure that the engine is turning the wheels and recharging the battery. This is actually pretty easy to do and I've found that for me, 44 MPH is my ideal speed: not 43 and not 45. Second-best, when I need to go faster, is 51 MPH: not 50 and not 52. I can't explain why these two speeds work best for me and your ideal speed will most likely be different.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, such as steep hills and rapid acceleration, but as soon as those requirements are over, I aim for one of those two states.

I really hope that helped. What's most important is that you keep in mind that what's best for me may not be what's best for you or anyone else for that matter. Once you get a feel for your car and your personal driving preferences, you will find our own zone.
[/b]

Thanks. That gives me another way to drive intelligently with my Prius, and it makes sense, to not only power the wheels, but to recharge at the same time. I'm learning............

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-26-2006, 11:04 PM

Oh yeah, I have to also mention that it is possible to do this incorrectly. At all times, the goal should be to use as little pressure on the accelerator as possible and therefore, less fuel. In other words, you can maintain the same speed with the same battery recharge arrows and see radically different MPGs. The key is to continuously lift the pedal little-by-little until you are at the lightest touch possible while still maintaining speed.

It takes practice.

santoro1 · 07-27-2006, 08:01 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 26 2006, 11:04 PM) [snapback]292960[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Oh yeah, I have to also mention that it is possible to do this incorrectly. At all times, the goal should be to use as little pressure on the accelerator as possible and therefore, less fuel. In other words, you can maintain the same speed with the same battery recharge arrows and see radically different MPGs. The key is to continuously lift the pedal little-by-little until you are at the lightest touch possible while still maintaining speed.

It takes practice.
[/b]

As a new owner of a whopping 3 days...I am "listening in" to your conversation. Thanks for the imput. I have found that so far I tend to accelerate at a modest rate to keep up with traffic when starting from dead stop...I notice the MPG is low.. Then at around 40-45 or so, I take my foot off the accelerator for an instant and suddenly the MPG flies upward and stabilizes at about 55-60.. My first 50 + miles have all been in stop and go traffic with lots of lights. AC on low, but on constantly because of the heat and yet I am still averaging 43.8mpg on the MFD. I am sure I will improve on this, but I am impressed, considering that my two other vehicles average 21 and 23 respectively....Thanks for all your help..

sl7vk · 07-28-2006, 10:43 AM

So I'm just starting to figure out that you can't glide over 40mph... Is this right? I have a hill I like to coast down on my way to work. If I regenerate I lose too much speed. So I just throw it into Neutral... Is this the right way to go about it? Speed limit is 45.

BenR · 07-28-2006, 11:32 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 26 2006, 11:04 PM) [snapback]292960[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The key is to continuously lift the pedal little-by-little until you are at the lightest touch possible while still maintaining speed.

It takes practice.
[/b]

So true. I'll be on the highway, look at the speedometer, discover that I'm going 68 (much to my surprise, since the car is such a smooth ride), and then glance at the MFD and see current MPG in the 80s and 90s. The fact that I can sustain that type of performance is really blowing my mind. Then, of course, some jerk-o does something stupid that forces me to interrupt my fuel-saving harmony. Hehehe.

troe · 07-28-2006, 12:11 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Jul 28 2006, 09:43 AM) [snapback]293792[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

So I'm just starting to figure out that you can't glide over 40mph... Is this right? I have a hill I like to coast down on my way to work. If I regenerate I lose too much speed. So I just throw it into Neutral... Is this the right way to go about it? Speed limit is 45.
[/b]

Not exactly, you can lightly hit the gas and you will either have the battery showing the arrows or the ice, but the mpg will be at 99. the key is lightly on the gas, just barely touching it. Try it next time. If you start going too fast then go back to regen.

Autosmiler · 07-28-2006, 02:28 PM

Actually, I was just reading up on this other topic post that says the best is to not have any arrows showing at all! It's called gliding, and here's an excerpt from this discussion which helped me to finally understand this concept:

Quote:

Coasting is 99 MPG and charging your battery. The energy removed from your coast is sent to the battery, but you have lost some energy due to friction in the motor, and you've lost more due to friction in the wires, and you've lost more due to the chemical makeup of the battery. Now you get to a point that you need that power again and you press the accelerator to go faster, but you lose some energy in the battery, more in the wires, more in the motor, and still more due to wheel bearings, and finally more due to road friction.

Glide is 99 and doing nothing. You maintain your glide longer since there is no power generation friction. You go further longer and use less energy, and use the ICE less.

Conservation of Momentum: A.K.A. "Pulse and Glide Baby! Pulse and Glide!" [/b]

I just haven't been able to find a good explanation of how to do it, but from what I've gathered and experimented you have to pull ahead from a stop to get to the speed you want as soon as possible, then let go of the gas pedal almost entirely. If you release gas all the way, you get those blue arrows and you will end up coasting.

Topic can be found here: http://priuschat.com/coasting-vs-gliding-t22622.html

07-26-2006, 12:02 PM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,439 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	Hurray, a fellow Hoosier! I use the battery when I can. Don't shun the battery. But you have to use it intelligently for optimal results. When I explain the car, I specify that the engine will run in order to recharge the battery. Therefore, if you use the battery too much, the engine will run more to recharge it and there's really very little you can do to stop it. So it's best to not over-use and drain it to a point lower than half if you can avoid it. On the other hand, at speeds above 40 MPH, the engine is most likely going to be running anyway. And as my father used to say, "if you're going to be doing something, make it worthwhile." For that reason, when I'm maintaining a speed greater than 40 MPH, I will try to make sure that the engine is turning the wheels and recharging the battery. This is actually pretty easy to do and I've found that for me, 44 MPH is my ideal speed: not 43 and not 45. Second-best, when I need to go faster, is 51 MPH: not 50 and not 52. I can't explain why these two speeds work best for me and your ideal speed will most likely be different. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, such as steep hills and rapid acceleration, but as soon as those requirements are over, I aim for one of those two states. I really hope that helped. What's most important is that you keep in mind that what's best for me may not be what's best for you or anyone else for that matter. Once you get a feel for your car and your personal driving preferences, you will find our own zone. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness >>Current Mileage<< Spreading information and passing gas in the Greater Chicagoland area Click this hyperlink PLEASE. It's not a trick; it's a competition. http://www.facebook.com/login.php?ap...code=pass,2357

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07-26-2006, 10:13 AM	#1
harper42 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 178 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm new to the Prius and I'm really not certain about the Energy monitor screen. I basically understand what they are telling me. I know that the ideal screen in the "no arrows" screen, which I am learning how to do. I still have to get the feel of how much pressure to apply for the "pulse" but I have managed to do it many times. But the rest of the arrows: At first, I thought the idea was to use the battery, to not consume gas; however, I have read more of your postings and realize that it is not a good thing, as it requires too much energy to regenerate. Beyond that, I'm confused. There are pinkish arrows and orange arrows and green arrows (which seem to be good, as my mileage goes up when I see them), and they appear to be when I coast, and am regenerating battery. Could you please help me understand this screen. Thanks so much for your help.

07-26-2006, 11:04 PM	#5
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,439 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	Oh yeah, I have to also mention that it is possible to do this incorrectly. At all times, the goal should be to use as little pressure on the accelerator as possible and therefore, less fuel. In other words, you can maintain the same speed with the same battery recharge arrows and see radically different MPGs. The key is to continuously lift the pedal little-by-little until you are at the lightest touch possible while still maintaining speed. It takes practice.

07-28-2006, 10:43 AM	#7
sl7vk Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 362 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	So I'm just starting to figure out that you can't glide over 40mph... Is this right? I have a hill I like to coast down on my way to work. If I regenerate I lose too much speed. So I just throw it into Neutral... Is this the right way to go about it? Speed limit is 45.