How do I use the battery info on the comsumption screen?

[dennisd]

I usually drive with the consumption screen on. I like to see what my current tank of gas is getting (49.7 mpg) and the right hand bar that shows me the mpg in real time. I don't understand the recharging of the battery over time and what the little "leaf cars" or "half leaf cars" mean. I would like to use the info to help with my mileage, but I don't really understand what it means. I am a newbie so this topic has probably been covered already, but my search comes up with hundreds of references. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[victor]

The little (MK1) prius outline indicates how much power you have regenerated during deceleration and breaking. Each car represents circa 50kwh I think, and I assume a half car is 25kwh. This power goes into your battery for reuse. A maximum of 4 cars can be shown in each 5 minute block.

Presumably, if you regenerate more its still stored, but unfortunatly not displayed, which is a shame. Ive often had 4 cars shown going down hils.

[Tideland Prius]

50kWh or 50Wh? I think it's Wh...

[victor]

Hummm Could be ops: Maybe I had the Prius GT in mind :wink:

[Frank Hudon]

consumption screen is the one you use the energy screen is the one you display when you want to dazzel your passengers. I've never really found a use for it, other than an odd check of the battery.

[efusco]

Lemme more directly try to answer your question:

First, I've gone through a cycle of which Info screen I use most.
Initially I used the Energy screen. I liked seeing what was going on, when the motor was driving the car, when the ice was, when both were, and when regen was occuring. Unfortunately, it led to a lot of time trying to achieve stealth mode and most likely led to lower fuel efficiency. Once I realized that I switched to watching the ...

Consumption screen. This did wonders for my understanding of how to get good gas mileage and how the car worked over a longer period of time. I could see what types of driving led to lower fuel efficiency over time rather than moment to moment. I began driving to try to achieve higher 5 minute bars and that led to better overall mileage. I began, later, to be able to utilize the instantaneous mpg graph on the right to maximize my gliding and stealth driving without the need to look at the ...

Energy Screen. But, ultimately, I really started getting picky and wanted to eek every ounce of energy I could out of a gallon of gas. I began driving with the Energy screen so I could tell when I was dead-banding (power from the ICE to wheels only, none to or from the battery/motor) which is the most fuel efficient driving when it can be done. Now I probably use it 75-80% of the time in my usual commute (stop and go driving ~12 miles) with glances at the consumption screen to see how I've been doing over time and what my tank mileage is. I still tend to use the Consumption screen for longer haul/hwy/interstate driving where I'm predominantly using cruise control and leave the computer to determine how to best use it's resources.


The green leaf/cars....Think of them as BAD!! If you're seeing them that means that you are using brakes and losing energy. They represent a salvaged tiny fraction of that lost energy. It's better than none salvaged as with a traditional car, but still it amounts to only a 2-4% maximum fuel economy advantage to have the regen braking. I actually am most proud when I have few if any green car/leaves. I've maximized gliding (coasting without regeneration) and minimized braking and thus used as much of the power I put into achieving speed to gain distance.

They do represent 50Wh each. (not kWh)

Hope that helps a little. Let me know if I can elaborate or clarify at all.

[jamarimutt]

I sometimes drive through a section of town where's it's im perative to brake frequently. I have twice seen half a car above (outside) a bar because it would not fit inside the bar (too many cars there already).

[victor]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"43801)</div>

The green leaf/cars....Think of them as BAD!!  If you're seeing them that means that you are using brakes and losing energy.  They represent a salvaged tiny fraction of that lost energy.  It's better than none salvaged as with a traditional car, but still it amounts to only a 2-4% maximum fuel economy advantage to have the regen braking.  I actually am most proud when I have few if any green car/leaves.  I've maximized gliding (coasting without regeneration) and minimized braking and thus used as much of the power I put into achieving speed to gain distance.

[/b]

Cant say I agree on this point 100%. On the level breaking yes, but otherwise no. Depending on where you drive, the car can show you have gined power, for example when you drive down hill. You gain power from gravity. Also, in normal traffic it shows you are reading the road and alowing the car to regenerate power by not using the motor as you come to stopped traffic. This is GOOD. So many people drive at full speed and break ard when they have to stop - Thas bad!

Are you saying you glide down hill so as not to get the cars and slam on the breaks at the last moment if you need to stop???

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(victor\";p=\"43812)</div>

Cant say I agree on this point 100%. On the level breaking yes, but otherwise no. Depending on where you drive, the car can show you have gined power, for example when you drive down hill. You gain power from gravity. Also, in normal traffic it shows you are reading the road and alowing the car to regenerate power by not using the motor as you come to stopped traffic. This is GOOD.  So many people drive at full speed and break ard when they have to stop - Thas bad!

Are you saying you glide down hill so as not to get the cars and slam on the breaks at the last moment if you need to stop???  [/b]

Ah Victor...where did the energy come from to get to the top of that hill??? You're still net losing energy unless your Prius is spirited to the top of hills and thus lets you accumulate free leaves. You ultimately gain MORE power if you do not collect leaves but rather glide to the bottom of the hill with no regeneration at all and then continue the glide until you lose momentum enough to get you to your desired speed.

That does, of course, assume that there is not a stop sign at the bottom of said hill. I have hills I descend that have stops at the bottom, but most do not and I'm able to continue the glide and utilize the developed kinetic energy more efficiently than the energy stored in the battery would have been if useing regen braking.

I do, always, drive safely for conditions.

[dennisd]

Excellent info! Thank you all. I understand coasting as much as possible will help with over all fuel economy. I understand the "leaf car" meaning also. Just one more bit of clarifacation for me. At different time intervals, the bar for that particular 5 minutes ranges from the very top to a middle position. What is actually happening (I suspect the amount the battery is charged. What then, can I learn from the level in which the battery is charged in a particular 5 minute section. There is quite a bit to learn about this marvel of engineering!