New Prius C owners please post

Just finished my 1st tank, here is my stat.

Distance : 703 miles
Displayed MPG : 80.2
Calculated MPG : 77.2
EV : 63 % 445 miles


Vincent

Wow! Your low average speed and being in EV mode that much is undoubtedly the key to such great fuel economy.

How did you manage to be in EV mode for that many miles + not drain the battery all the way down and need to constantly recharge? That's incredible. I find I'm great at using EV mode, but then the battery drains all the way down to 2 bars and the car needs to use gas to charge the battery...

Very nice indeed!

Prior Alpha, Porsche, BMW owner, I drive my C like sportscar, and without trying, I average 55 to 60 mpg highway, and as high as 70 mpg around town. I love how it handles. Admittedly, I own the IV, with optional 16 inch wheels.

The low avg. speed is because of the 1st 1000 km free maintenance done by my dealer. I think the engine was idling for 1.5 hrs without moving!

Vincent

The energy required to drive in EV mode has to come from battery, there is no way not to drain the battery. Even if you're gliding, your speed will decline due to friction and wind resistance, you still need to get back to speed by using energy from the gas or battery.

I find it easier to get into EV mode than my previous Gen1. The Gen1 has a target SOC of 56% and when it gets lower than this target, the engine will always come on to recharge it to 56%. The C don't have this target SOC, I can run in EV mode down to 40%. Only when it drops to 39.6%, the engine will then be started to recharge the battery.

Since constantly recharging the battery is inevitable, I always try to do the pulse phase when starting from complete stop or going up in an incline. On the decline or on the level ground, I try to hold speed in EV mode and keep HSI close to and below 50%. When SOC drops to 40%, I do the pulse phase again and the cycle repeats.

What works for me may not work for others due to traffic condition, climate, load, length of trips, etc. YMMV

Vincent

Just hit 6,000 miles and I'm averaging 47 mpg. I've had freeway mileage of 58mpg but I make too many short city trips. My city mileage is usually in the low 40's. My trip computer is always 1.5-2.0 mpg over. I love my car.

If the city trips are short enough (like say <2 miles) and if you are physically able, have you ever considered biking? I find that it doesn't take a whole lot more time for trips shorter than 2 miles (and its better for you and your car ).

2nd tank includes a 466 miles roadtrip.

Distance : 1225.5 km (761.5 miles)
Displayed FE : 35.0 km/L (82.3 US MPG)
Calculated FE : 33.22 km/L (78.1 US MPG)
EV : 56 % 688.5 km (427.8 miles)



Lower EV percentage due to extensive use of CC.

Vincent

Vincent, do you use Imperial gallons or is that U.S. gallons? You should post your results in the top 20 MPG Record Holders thread and claim your spot.

It is in U.S. gallons, I've updated my post. I topped off during refuel, the filler neck has about 2 Liters (0.5 U.S. gallons). Both refuels were over 36 L (9.5 U.S. gallons).

Vincent

I am still trying to bet my best on mpg, since I drive the same route to work, it gives me something to challenge myself on.

Does any one know if changing back and forth from neutral, to drive , to brake / battery make any difference in mpg? While in neutral, the EV doesn't turn on. Does it damage the variable transmission to change back and forth frequently?

Thanks- Habanero2

Topped up and filled the tank on the day I got the car (it took about a 1/4 tank) and today filled up again, having used half the tank... came in at 51.4 MPG according to Fuelly. I assume if the dealer put any fuel in, it would be E10, but I avoid the stuff while I still can.

Out of interest has anyone here experimented with filling up with higher octane fuels?

I should add that buying fuel is a little different down here - there's a little game called the "weekly price cycle" which currently goes in cycles of about 10-12 days where the price jumps about 10% then slowly declines before repeating. Therefore we don't fill up when we get flashing empty lights... instead you take your bet on when you think we're at the bottom of the cycle, then go fill up.

In the old days it used to actually be weekly - for a long time Tuesday was the cheap day in Sydney and service stations would have queues backing out onto the road but now they mix it up and it's more of a gamble and you don't get the same kind of queues. At least now with the c I probably should be able to make it through two cycles most of the time, so if I gamble wrong and miss the bottom I can try for the next one.

I bought new my Prius C (one) last week with 288 miles on it. After several days of mixed driving ('round town, highway, short trips and a long trip of 150 miles) I filled my first tank. Here are the results.

414.3 miles used 8.06 gallons (at $3.75 if you care to know) for 51.4 mpg.

I have it in ECO mode except for briefly when I wanted to see what full accel was once.

I have driven my car to work twice (24 miles one way) and have averaged 58.1 MPG. On the ride home I was right at 60 MPG yesterday. My car has around 200 miles on it so far.

336 miles / 6.68 gallons = 50.6 MPG on my first fuel... didn't turn ECO mode on till 100 miles in. I know I can do better

Side note: I noticed my battery never charges/shows full, any concerns? TIA.

Ooh, ooh, I know the answer to this one! Asked the same question a day or so ago, and it is perfectly normal for the battery to not be full bars. Something to do with the regenerative brakes, and someone who knows more than I will likely provide a more articulate response. ;-)

Here it is: Terminology and other Questions | PriusChat

Short answer - it's fine.