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Rockies Trip Report

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by markabele, Aug 2, 2016.

  1. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Went to the Rocky Mountains (specifically Rocky Mountain National Park and Summit County to the south) this past week and spent about 4 days exploring the area. I had been there many times before, but never with a Prius, not to mention a Plug In Prius.

    I was pleasantly surprised that I had pretty much enough power most of the time to make it up some tough grades. Last time I was there the car I drove was a 4 cylinder and had trouble keeping up on grades as well. So I kind of expected worse, to be honest.

    I believe we went over various passes a total of 6 (maybe 8) times. Obviously we were in the power zone for much of the grade up, but not always. If it wasn't an extreme grade then just upper eco is enough, depending on the speed.

    On the grade down was the fun part. I always tried to be at the top with a relatively empty battery. I think it only filled the entire battery about twice. Several times the engine came on during the descent and it wasn't because I got over 62 mph. I think it was because the battery got too hot. I didn't have any instrumentation to measure temp though.

    I found the battery was about the perfect size for those descents. Even though I never once plugged in I got 176 miles of EV! Crazy to think all that energy would totally be wasted with a normal car or even a regular Prius.

    We even did the Old Fall River Rd in RMNP. This trail is all gravel, but decently taken care of. There are only a few places here and there I really had to dodge some very large potholes. It is a beautiful drive that I only one way and all up hill. It takes you to the top right near the Alpine visitor's center.

    Was glad I bought new tires before I left considering the seriousness of some of those mountain roads.

    Averaged a little less than 50 mpg in HV, which I consider pretty decent because of all the uphills and the 75 and 80 mph interstate speed limits.
     
    #1 markabele, Aug 2, 2016
    Redpoint5, dorunron and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, sounds like a great trip! it must be fascinating to drive out of the cornfields into those mountains. (y) were you alone, or with company?
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 2, 2016
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  3. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Sounds like you had a ball. Last time I was in RMNP, I was driving a Nissan Frontier King Cab. One of those SE V6 jobs. If I ever make it back to that part of Colorado again, I intend to stay at the "Stanley Hotel". Saw it from the road the last time I was in that area, and did not know anything about it back then.

    I have no doubt @markabele had a great time and saw a lot of eye candy. (y)
     
    #3 dorunron, Aug 2, 2016
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  4. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Sounds like a great trip!

    My son and I did a super long 4000 (or so) mile road trip a couple weeks ago. We also went through Rocky Mountain National Park...but only had one day. Much of this trip was a 'scouting and day hiking tour' to see where we might want to spend more time.

    Here is a map of it :

    2016 - SW USA

    Of course, we did this trip with our 2010 non-PIP Prius. There were many steep ascents and descents on this route...actually many more than I anticipated. I had to use 'braking mode' VERY often due to full battery. I would have loved to have a PIP on this route to capture all of that 'downhill energy'!

    Which gets me thinking...prices on used PIPs seem awfully tempting lately. Anyone want to buy a mint condition 2012 Sonata Limited? ;)
     
    #4 farmecologist, Aug 31, 2016
  5. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    The engine didn't come on due to battery temperature. I have carefully monitored all temperature parameters when descending a grade and have yet to figure out what triggers the engine on.

    Sounds like a fun trip though. My wife's parents always gives us the Tahoe to explore. I've yet to make the drive in the Prius.
     
    #5 Redpoint5, Sep 1, 2016
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