Just got a Prius about a month ago

The first two miles of many of my commutes I get 25 miles a gallon - that's just how short trips are, the thing is most people never realize how bad short trip mileage is without an mpg display in their car. Don't worry about comparing to this other person. If she drove your route, she'd get 30 mpg. If you drove her route, you'd get 40 mpg.

I can guarantee most other cars in your situation would probably get you 15-20 mpg. The Prius is the best choice for the mileage even over short distances.

Furthermore, if you are only driving 10 miles a day or less getting 30 mpg, you're going to be filling up once a month at most, because you're hardly using any gas, which is the point! Just by being closer to work/school, sure, you get 30 mpg, but you use way less gas than I do. This is a good thing!

On the few times you'll need road trips, or if you move in a couple years and have to drive farther, you'll get 45-50 mpg. Nothing's wrong with the car, it's likely a good long term choice.

 

:welcome:

 

Leslie, welcome to the forum.

 

I do short trips as well, i think it's all in how your drive it. When i first got mine i was well lets say a bit of a lead foot, now i take it alittle bit easier, and my gas mileage increased. Try that for awhile first.

 

Some ideas;

There is one way (out of many) that your 12 volt battery can fail that results in poor gas mileage. So do the 12 volt test after letting the car sit overnight.

(about 5/6 of the way down this page Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery with install kit for 2004 - 10

If you do all short trips, grill blocking and Electric Block Heaters can help warm up your engine. They work best when the weather is cold.

If you do all short trips, you may serve no purpose running the A/C or Heat if you arrive before they have much effect.

Toyota runs the air pressure in the tires very low for comfort, many owners find better mileage when the tires are near 40 psi in front 38 psi in rear. You could start there and adjust to suit yourself (never exceed the max on the sidewall of the tire)

 

My car also took a big hit in colder weather. Short trips as well. My car that averaged 50's took a big hit in winter and even bigger when I had to drive to train station which was only a mile away. I could go 30MPg because car never warmed up and would never use battery (also parked outside for a while...).

I think it will improve in summer. It is a lot better than what you were driving though isn't it?

 

Congrats on your new Prius and welcome to PriusChat. You made a smart decision!

There are so many variables to understanding why your MPG are not meeting your expectation. As you've read on the forum, driving technique is critical to coaxing improved MPG including slow/smooth accelerations, coasting and easy braking, and more.

How many miles on your Prius and what maintenance history was documented when you swapped for your Prius? How does Prius MPG compare with your previous car?

 

Its typical that your mileage is not that great when making short trips with these cars. Its my understanding the engine starts and runs to get it warmed up to meet emissions standards. This may improve as the weather gets warmer.

OTOH, I bet your Pilot was nowhere near 30mpg driving the same way.

 

. That's great, It sounds like your driving technique is good. There is one important detail on driving the Prius that is not often mentioned. It is important that whenever you are coasting you keep your foot on the brake pedal ( lightly ) this is to initiate higher regeneration. Do not press so hard as to actually brake, except when needed. After warmup and driving few miles a green battery will be assured. Later when you get good at this, you will be able to produce a solid green HV BATTERY. The object of the HV Battery is to assist the engine.Another tip, take no ones word on previous maintenance, check with the dealer or car fax and assure yourself of actual work done, especially recalls. Since I also have a 2005, the car is approaching 7 years (bought in 2004) and approaching 100,000 miles, I carefully moniitor the HV, The 12v battery, the engine air filter and of course the AC filter. If the engine oil is black, probably the oil needs changing. One very important area that is neglected is the MAF sensor and the air throat area. I presume that in most Prii this is never attended to, causing many different problems. All these areas are covered in detail in PC, just search the subject. Good luck!

 

I have never had a full battery in the 6 weeks i've had it. Is there something wrong?

 

Nope, don't worry about it, Rick. It'll happen sometimes that you'll get 7 green bars, but very rare getting 8. No need to try for it, the car purposely likes to keep your charge at those 6 blue bars you normally see. Some people will get green ones more than others if they have a lot of braking or long downhills, but that's just happenstance of the terrain.

 

I recommend exactly the opposite. If you are coasting, barely touch the GAS pedal (stealth or warp stealth mode). This prevents regeneration, and the energy instead ends up as kinetic energy (i.e. speed). (Maintain a safe speed of course.) The conversion of energy in regeneration (and back) loses a lot of efficiency. Only touch the brake when you want to slow down.

 

Thanks. I agree to only put your foot on the brake when needed.

 

I get 7 bars almost every day because I keep my foot lightly on the brake whenever a coasting opportunity presents itself. Lights,Stop signs, traffic tie-ups. I don't worry about kinetic energy conversion,that is so much theoretical nonsense ( In regard to Toyota Hybrid Synergy ) IF ....there was a major problem with energy conversion then Toyota would have designed a different car! As the situations change my Prius is either charging, pulse and glide( preferably, always glide ) or stealth. OR various combinations also using the ICE minimally. All these modes are energy saving. The one Mode that Toyota neglected was Kenetic energy conversion saving mode........I wonder why??? :cheer2:

 

Because EVERYTHING does it?
Because they didn't have to DO ANYTHING?
Because not having it would be IMPOSSIBLE?

Sorry, I am really just at a loss to figure out how to explain to you that things going down hill, speed up. Or that it HAS to be more efficient than converting that potential energy into kinetic, then into rotational, then into electrical, than into chemical, then all that in reverse.

 

I realize that you are at a loss, that is exactly why I am challenging this stupid theory. If you have a valid theory, then prove it. Is there validity to energy conversion losses? Yes, in large industrial complexes, where energy can actually be saved by changing procedures, installing more economical equipment, ect. Industrial complexes do this all the time. BUT, this concern is not relevant to the Prius. Energy is constantly being converted, used and in some cases wasted because of deliberate and very calculated design by Toyota Engineers. Since conversion losses are totally out of the Prius drivers hands anyway, it is of no concern. Unless you can quantify these losses......