60 mpg calculated on a tank?

So far, at fuelly.com, one person claims a partial tank, 350 some miles @ 60.

Redneck Agitator (Toyota Prius C) | Fuelly


The poster is a member of this forum. Perhaps he can be persuaded to tell us how he accomplished it.

http://priuschat.com/forums/members/actiondonkey.html

 

Pretty easy; actually I can't see how others aren't getting more than 60. My average is actually closer to 70 but the wife drives it too which puts a damper on the overall score. Here's some of my techniques-

I never accelerate in the power zone. Only time that's touched is if we're crossing an intersection and have to gas it real quick to get across.

Generally do not drive with A/C unless mph is 50+

Try not to use up all the stored EV. In city my strategy is to accelerate so the power gauge fills 1/2 the Eco area (depending on incline) to speed then let completely off the gas, let EV kick in and drive at 35-40mph using the EV.

Try not to stop at red lights. Of course don't run them but try to coast/brake slowly to them as to preserve as much momentum as possible. You'd be amazed how often people speed by in the faster lanes going to a red light, and I having never stopped just pass them in the slow lane as the light turns green.

If I am stopped and another stop or turn is imminent I'll use EV for short-distance acceleration.

If I'm about to hit a long stretch (3+mi) with no stops I'll accelerate in EV mode until the speed limiter kicks in because all that lost battery power will be regained by the time we stop again.

If a downhill slope is steep enough to keep speed, let completely off the gas and let the battery recharge itself. If the battery is full and you're going downhill but the slope isn't steep enough to keep speed, throw it in neutral. This depends greatly on what follows the bottom of the hill - if it's another hill you might want to build momentum to carry-through to the next climb.

Pay attention to traffic patterns and lights. Dont accelerate up to the stop light/sign and get as much battery regen from those brakes as possible.

Learn the best use of the battery resources on your daily route. Don't allow yourself to be pressured by other drivers that want you to go faster; speed limit or 5 under is fine. If they want to go faster they can pass and waste their gas.

I've actually gotten a couple 79.9 & 79.8 mpgs on my daily round-trip city commute that is about 20 miles. Yeah it takes longer but so what... to me it isn't really about the money saved, I think about it like a game where the highest MPG wins. Now if I can just get the wife on board with that...

I'm sure there are a few other things I do but that's what comes to mind. Hopefully some new wheels and a speaker system don't hurt the numbers too bad.

 

You can round me up preliminarily on the first fill-up (see sig). At least 556 miles on the first tank (there were 7 miles on the odometer upon receipt of the car, so I subtracted 5 from the total of 561 to be conservative). The next fillup should be more accurate, and I'm constantly striving to drive at the speed limit or just under as the donkey is (among other things, particularly with accelerating and braking). One thing I tend to overuse after reaching desired speed is the cruise control. Obviously, it is fairly fuel efficient in and of itself.

 

Thanks very much, Action/Red, for responding at length.

It may interest some that xcel at cleanmpg.com drove a c over an almost 60 mile course, all highway, and managed almost 85 mpg. He is a real hypermiling pro and predicts that those who REALLY want to can get triple digits in city driving!

Now, that was not a full tank, of course, but he provides photographic evidence that the tank was topped off beginning and end - so the measured gas usage was precise. He is hoping to get the use of a c for a week or so and perform a more thorough examination of its capabilities.

It might be instructive if there is anyone here who has experience in both a gen II or gen III and now owns a c. They might be able to note any differences or similarities in their techniques for achieving high mpg figures. Let's hope so.

And, thanks again, A/R.

 

While hypermiling is fun and getting a few more MPGs is great, I don't do it when I might hold up traffic and force them to pass me. The Prius and its drivers have a stigma from over zealous users of these techniques and it just deters potential converts because they think there's something wrong with these "slow" cars! Let's not be rude, heck, gun the thing once in a while to surprise them!

 

^I think that as long as one is driving in the right lane on a multilane roadway and at least going the speed limit when there is traffic, that these people just need to learn patience (or pass). And gunning is not a good idea in the first 1000 miles.

 

I was able to get more than 60 mpg on my first tank. That included A daily commute through fairly steep hills and a highway trip of over 80 miles. The main techniques i have used so far are conservative driving like actiondonkey mentioned, mostly accelerating in the EV zone up to 25-30 mph and making the most of the regenerative braking. In highway i didnt go over 55 moh unless the instant mpg was over 75.
I used to have a 2003 honda insight which i used to get aroung 65 mpg so i have prior hybrid experience. Its a learning process changing driving habits.
Well see how it goes in my next fill up which wont happen in a few weeks ;-)

 

At fuelly.com over 1000 Prius hatcbacks are tracking mileage. MPGs range from 32 to 60.

Toyota Prius MPG Reports | Fuelly

How many 'converts' is the 'gunner' at 32 bringing into the fold? It's the driver, not the tool. The vast majority of hatchback (or liftback) reports are between 42 and 52. I doubt these people are being rude to anyone. I also doubt that hypermilers, so obviously in complete control of their vehicles, are insensitive to other drivers. A car is a tool. Right now, obviously, I'm interested in a tool that delivers high mpg, not one that makes a statement or seeks converts.

I should have provided this link to the cleanmpg review of the prius c which includes the great highway loop of 85 mpg.

CleanMPG Previews the 2012 Toyota Prius c - CleanMPG Forums

By the way, 12 Cs reporting at fuelly now averaging 51 mpg. No one at 32 ....yet.

 

come summer time we will see 60+ mpg all over the Pacific Northwest. i can get 55 mpg on my 2010 the C should be a breeze!

 

My first tank had 62mpg on 8.39 gallons of gas and I drove 524 miles on the tank.

 

One factor is trip length. You are not going to produce high numbers with short trips. OTOH, maybe you're not using that much gas, it all evens out. Even then, do what you can to consolidate errands, combine several short runs into one longer run.

Don't be too miserly with the gas pedal: get yourself up to speed, albeit gently, pulse-and-glide when you can, and just get strategic: looking ahead, timing slow downs, coasting to red lights.

Slip the car into EV by lifting off the gas and re-applying gently, when you can, but watch the state-of-charge: if it really starts dropping, back off on that behaviour and go back to pulse-and-glide.

Don't exceed the speed limit. Simple, reduces your acceleration needs, improves your ability to anticipate, and so on.

If no one's on your tail and there's a need to slow down coming up, stay well under the speed limit: no point in unnecessary acceleration.

 

^Yup, short trips are the MPG killer, and I suspect I'd have been higher without them.

 

Trip Info:
Home 1420 FT MSL
Work 20 FT MSL 38.1 StMi
1 Main Hill in the middle from about 500 FT MSL to 1000 FT MSL
Best From H to W 70.5 MPG at HWY: 45 MPH on climbs and 63 MPH rest.
Best From W to H About 60.5 MPG at HWY: Mostly Stop and Go
Roundtrip MPG 63.1
Best MPG for 8.5 GalUS 58.4 MPG and getting better.

 

I will say this about the mpg of the C ...

It's AWESOME.

I can easily get 65+ mpg driving in the city, my mpg killer is the fact that I drive 400 freeway miles a weekend and based on time permitting I either go 55 (63-65mpg per trip) or 65-70 (57-53 mpg).

I haven't dropped to the EPA estimate yet, but the last trip I had I averaged 75-80 mph and only got 49.7 miles per gallon, which dropped my fuelly average.

It's nice to finally have the freedom to drive anywhere I like and not think about the cost of gas.

 

Newbie questions, sorry... I'm a bit confused by this, when to use EV vs. when not. For instance, from the front of my neighborhood to my house is about 2 miles, pretty level, and I can usually stay in the EV range (EV light on in the c) the whole way. Also, another part of my commute is a mile or two of stop and go traffic, and when it's heavy, I can do the same thing, EV all the way. This is good right? Are you saying just don't let your charge go to low, since then the engine has to kick on and both run the car and recharge the EV? In other words, better to recharge the EV thru gliding and braking.

 

Basically try NOT to use EV much. Because EV mode uses HV battery energy that generally comes from the gasoline engine you lose energy during conversion from gasoline to electricity. Better to use the gasoline to move the car. Using a little bit of HV battery energy is good if you know you can replace that energy when slowing down and braking or going down hills. In other words, do not stick it in EV mode and drive until the battery is low or you'll lose mpg.

 

I think I get that... I've never used the "EV mode" button. When I say EV, I just mean, I lifted off the gas, or used just enough that the "EV" light was on.