Mountain Driving

pvpost · 06-20-2007, 03:46 PM

Hi All,

Our family is the proud owner of a 2 month old silver pine mica option 1. We're getting 51 mpg and we're thrilled with the car.

We quite often drive between our home in Salt Lake City and San Diego for vacation, with another trip in about a month. I know that I'm supposed to drive the Prius like any other car, but I'm curious how it will do in the mountains entering CA.

I took it up to one of the ski resorts last week and I was at purple bars most of the way up, but what happens if the hybrid batteries just run out? Am I to assume the car automatically switches to ICE and I don't have to worry about it? Except for losing some horsepower? Assuming I have gas, I can just let it go uphill forever with no damage? Obviously I realize that it will recharge on the downhill portions of the mountains, but I worry because there are some pretty steep grades going up.

Thanks for answering what I assume is an easy question. I usually just assume that the Prius is smarter than I am and just let it do its job.

Tim

Trevor · 06-20-2007, 05:00 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pvpost @ Jun 20 2007, 03:46 PM) [snapback]465373[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Thanks for answering what I assume is an easy question. I usually just assume that the Prius is smarter than I am and just let it do its job.

Tim
[/b]

I think you answered your own question best. As long as you have gas there is nothing to worry about. The ice and electric engine are a team and the have each others back. Your job is to just make sure that there is gas in the tank that all of the engineering technology behind the Hybrid Synergy Drive will get you up the hill.

You don't have to keep an eye on the battery at all. I know some who keep the screen off normally.

Presto · 06-20-2007, 05:20 PM

Also try not to keep the accelerator floored while you climb the hill. If you press it down just enough, you can maintain speed, and not drain the battery. Cruise control does a good job at this, provided it's not too high a speed for the grade.

JimboK · 06-20-2007, 05:21 PM

The car's computer babies the battery to avoid over-charging and over-discharging. What you see on the battery display is not, as you might think, 0% to 100% state of charge (SOC). Instead, it's 40%-80%. Two purple bars actually is about 45%. At that point the ICE will run to charge the battery even if it's not needed for propulsion.

You're right; you can let her do her job with the battery and not worry.

anj48 · 06-20-2007, 06:09 PM

Drove up Mt. Washington auto road in New Hampshire about two weeks ago - two people car fully packed. This has got to be one of the most significant hill climbs in the northeast, 8+ miles. No problem getting up whatsoever, purple bars the whole way - found two more Prii parked at the top. On the way down in "B", quickly reached all green so no more regen - stopped twice to let the brakes cool - bad smell of burning brakes just like all the other cars.

ohershey · 06-20-2007, 08:17 PM

I climb 2 3000 foot mountains twice each day on my commute - Cobb Mountain and Mt. St. Helena. I have plenty of power going up both hills in the morning. My home is at a higher elevation than work, so I do actually encounter something like the maximum limt of the vehicle going home at night. Climbing the second hill going home, I will get to a point where the ICE is running, power is diverted to charging, and I'm still trying to climb the hill. Fortunately, there are a couple of nice big shoulders intended for snow chain installation for me to pull onto to let the crazed jacked-up pickup truck drivers blow past me at 5-6mpg.

mmoncur · 06-21-2007, 07:16 AM

On long hilly stretches the battery can run down, but as you guessed, the gas engine takes over and all you lose is horsepower.

I drove ours from SLC to Park City and had a drop in horsepower a couple of miles before the summit. I was still able to go 50-55 MPH, though, and that's a pretty steep hill. (I was driving like a maniac the first half to test the new Prius - I suspect a more conservative drive would leave you with plenty of battery.)

I wouldn't worry about the hills in CA near Death Valley - they're steep but there's a slow vehicle lane on the right where you can safely go 45 MPH. I suspect you could drive the Prius at 60 all the way, though. I'm looking forward to trying it.

captnpops · 06-21-2007, 07:48 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mmoncur @ Jun 21 2007, 07:16 AM) [snapback]465644[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

On long hilly stretches the battery can run down, but as you guessed, the gas engine takes over and all you lose is horsepower.

I drove ours from SLC to Park City and had a drop in horsepower a couple of miles before the summit. I was still able to go 50-55 MPH, though, and that's a pretty steep hill. (I was driving like a maniac the first half to test the new Prius - I suspect a more conservative drive would leave you with plenty of battery.)

I wouldn't worry about the hills in CA near Death Valley - they're steep but there's a slow vehicle lane on the right where you can safely go 45 MPH. I suspect you could drive the Prius at 60 all the way, though. I'm looking forward to trying it.
[/b]

I have a 2005 and have driven it to work, from SLC to Park City for over 2 years(up Parley's Canyon). there is absolutely no problem using cruise control at the posted speed limit(65mph), even for the last mile, approaching Parley's Summit. The real problem is looking ahead for slow moving semi's passing each other, as they switch lanes with little or no warning..
Expect average mileage to drop to the mid 40s.

mcsj · 06-21-2007, 10:11 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pvpost @ Jun 20 2007, 02:46 PM) [snapback]465373[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

We quite often drive between our home in Salt Lake City ...
[/b]

Unrelated, but since you live in Salt Lake City, do you have any experience driving east to Wyoming on I-80? That's quite a long, steep mountain road.

richard schumacher · 06-21-2007, 11:45 AM

Going up a long grade there's no reason not to stomp on the gas all you like. The engine will roar, but that's completely normal: it's just putting out the power called for, and the computers will not let it harm itself. The noise will be startling only because the Prius is normally so quiet.

06-20-2007, 08:17 PM	#6
ohershey Because, if I wear it anywhere else, it chafes. Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 633 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I climb 2 3000 foot mountains twice each day on my commute - Cobb Mountain and Mt. St. Helena. I have plenty of power going up both hills in the morning. My home is at a higher elevation than work, so I do actually encounter something like the maximum limt of the vehicle going home at night. Climbing the second hill going home, I will get to a point where the ICE is running, power is diverted to charging, and I'm still trying to climb the hill. Fortunately, there are a couple of nice big shoulders intended for snow chain installation for me to pull onto to let the crazed jacked-up pickup truck drivers blow past me at 5-6mpg. __________________ "Americans should be prudent in their use of energy during the course of the next few weeks. Don't buy gas if you don't need it." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 1, 2005

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06-20-2007, 03:46 PM	#1
pvpost Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi All, Our family is the proud owner of a 2 month old silver pine mica option 1. We're getting 51 mpg and we're thrilled with the car. We quite often drive between our home in Salt Lake City and San Diego for vacation, with another trip in about a month. I know that I'm supposed to drive the Prius like any other car, but I'm curious how it will do in the mountains entering CA. I took it up to one of the ski resorts last week and I was at purple bars most of the way up, but what happens if the hybrid batteries just run out? Am I to assume the car automatically switches to ICE and I don't have to worry about it? Except for losing some horsepower? Assuming I have gas, I can just let it go uphill forever with no damage? Obviously I realize that it will recharge on the downhill portions of the mountains, but I worry because there are some pretty steep grades going up. Thanks for answering what I assume is an easy question. I usually just assume that the Prius is smarter than I am and just let it do its job. Tim

06-20-2007, 05:20 PM	#3
Presto Has his homepage set to PC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,158 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Also try not to keep the accelerator floored while you climb the hill. If you press it down just enough, you can maintain speed, and not drain the battery. Cruise control does a good job at this, provided it's not too high a speed for the grade.

06-20-2007, 05:21 PM	#4
JimboK One owner, low mileage Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chesterfield, VA Posts: 1,976 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	The car's computer babies the battery to avoid over-charging and over-discharging. What you see on the battery display is not, as you might think, 0% to 100% state of charge (SOC). Instead, it's 40%-80%. Two purple bars actually is about 45%. At that point the ICE will run to charge the battery even if it's not needed for propulsion. You're right; you can let her do her job with the battery and not worry.

06-20-2007, 06:09 PM	#5
anj48 Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 24 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Drove up Mt. Washington auto road in New Hampshire about two weeks ago - two people car fully packed. This has got to be one of the most significant hill climbs in the northeast, 8+ miles. No problem getting up whatsoever, purple bars the whole way - found two more Prii parked at the top. On the way down in "B", quickly reached all green so no more regen - stopped twice to let the brakes cool - bad smell of burning brakes just like all the other cars.

06-21-2007, 07:16 AM	#7
mmoncur Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 32 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	On long hilly stretches the battery can run down, but as you guessed, the gas engine takes over and all you lose is horsepower. I drove ours from SLC to Park City and had a drop in horsepower a couple of miles before the summit. I was still able to go 50-55 MPH, though, and that's a pretty steep hill. (I was driving like a maniac the first half to test the new Prius - I suspect a more conservative drive would leave you with plenty of battery.) I wouldn't worry about the hills in CA near Death Valley - they're steep but there's a slow vehicle lane on the right where you can safely go 45 MPH. I suspect you could drive the Prius at 60 all the way, though. I'm looking forward to trying it.

06-21-2007, 11:45 AM	#10
richard schumacher nacreous lacquer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,099 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Going up a long grade there's no reason not to stomp on the gas all you like. The engine will roar, but that's completely normal: it's just putting out the power called for, and the computers will not let it harm itself. The noise will be startling only because the Prius is normally so quiet.