Mileage dropping

Just for fun let's assume nothing else has changed (like tire pressure, trip length, routes, lots of red lights, more traffic and thus lower mpgs even though higher temperatures, as in my case)...

I would try a couple trips (or a whole tank) with no special hypermiling moves, and see if you get better mileage. If that's the case, you might just be still learning how to use pulses and glides well in your terrain. I know for me it took me two to three months to really get a good mileage "routine" on my routes, and I feel like I'm finding little things to improve on. It's completely possible your current pulses are either too long, too weak, whatever, and the glides not of good proportion to the pulses to give better mileage.

 

Which package do you have? Are your tires properly inflated?

 

I don't think that even with bad technique that mileage would drop that much.

How long is your commute, and about how fast do you drive at top speed on the freeway?

 

So is that combined, or how long is the freeway stretch? Do you take the 91 or 57?

 

So a 7 mile commute one way with some highway travel? I'd say you are lucky to get 45mpg. My commute is 15 miles with highway travel in,the middle. Mine works out that the car warms up enough to run from the battery for about 1.5 miles in my town, then highway speeds up to 60 then battery from the outskirts of the next town to work. I think with your shorter commute and higher highway speeds, your ICE is running most of the time until you get close to work, hence lower mpg.

 

No kidding. All local. In that case there are many things you can potentially do wrong with your right foot to have that kind of mileage. Combined with the somewhat short commute, it's not unusual.

You work at Disneyland?

 

Since I've relocated closer to work (was 80 miles RT), I have had to adjust and find different roads that take advantage of the PRIUS capabilities. One hilly road was killing my gas mileage because there were allot of stoplights on the hills. I ended up catching the freeway to work and finding a quick up hill road that coasted a long way downhill to home. So now I take 2 separate paths to work and home with the interstate option to charge the HV battery if needed. Also the long coasting gives the PRIUS the option of topping off the battery using regenerative braking, whereas using the ICE will cause an amperage dump (removes the top 2 HV battery bars). Long story short you can experiment with different routes to obtain max mpg and not rely on just pulse and glide!

 

With all of it so local, I now especially think it's just the implementation of the various techniques Between winter and now, on my "short" 12-mile route of slow speeds, depending on weather and other conditions, I've gotten between 45 mpg and 77 mpg on the display, on the exact same route. In slower local traffic it's all about whether the engine is running, how well pulse and glide works on the terrain, minimal, but some use of battery, and a lot of luck regarding traffic and lights.

If I go 3 miles in one direction from my house I'll be at 35 mpg on a good day (luckily I never stop so close in that direction :-D). If I go three miles in the other direction I can get 60 mpg if I'm lucky with traffic. With our infinite possibilities for routes taken, I don't think 7 miles is too short to get good mileage (48 is already good, though...). It's more terrain dependent.

Prius22, you asked about my mileage experience, I do get a little over 60 for a tank these days (calculated at fill-up - last three 63, 61, 62), but when I first got the car, yes, it was colder, but I didn't know how to do any hypermiling, and would get 50 on the dot, so I think you'll find there's room to improve.

 

Perhaps you are just going up a long hill.

DaYooper is on to something, I think. My commute is 40 miles each way, mostly highway with some city driving. No special techniques (other than not driving like a lunatic) get me around 50mpg regularly. Around town (which are about 7-10 mile trips) the mileage falls off. Weekend trips kill my overall mileage.

 

Try doing a few of your commutes of steady acceleration to desired speed limit or speed and just setting cruise control and see what your avg for the trip is. Like Mike said if you see an improvement you just need to practice p&g some more. I noticed that in some locations of my drive p&g are less effective than steady pedal pressure. Also if possible until you get the feel of your gas pedal drive with out your shoe on and use your bare foot to apply gentle pressure.

 

Before I snooze for the night, I want to offer this picture from my car regarding the "short" trip and inability to get better mileage. You can see in this case terrain and ability to glide was key, so I don't think 7 miles by itself as a "short" trip is enough to preclude higher mileage. This pic was not from a big downhill (in fact a lot of first five minute is gently uphill), just good pulse and glide land.

 

I would recommend that you check your tire pressure, especially when weather starts to change. I keep my pressure at a least 42psi (Front) and 40psi (Rear).

Maintaining proper tire pressure was the single most important factor in order for me to keep my average MPG anywhere above 50MPG.

I personally never trust the people at tire shops to check my tire pressure, there are too many inconsistencies! I would also highly recommend that you purchase a good tire pressure gauge (not a pencil gauge) and an air pump. Always check your cold tire pressure at least every 2 weeks or once a month (minimum).

 

yeah, youre doing alright!

*buy an engine block heater*?

 

Yo mike, what's with the French on the screen?

 

Oh, Wentworth (my Prius) was raised trilingual, he does equally well in English, French, or Spanish.

But really I work in a French environment in the summer and like to maintain it (as a second language) by using most things in the language throughout the year. My Mac has an AZERTY keyboard, too, it's good to be "fluent" in both keyboards I find haha