Any interest in a 1,000 mi, tank club or contest?

I'm looking for some feedback on this proposal.

Our good friends in Japan have a 1,000 mile tank club with at least a dozen members. Others on this side the pond have done 1,000 mile tanks usually as a team effort, back-to-back drivers. But our friends in Japan showed individuals can do it too and I did it last summer. So I'm thinking about sponsoring a 2014 Summer of 1,000 mile tank event:

1. Restrictions - must be any Prius but not the plug-in model(s).
   1. Some form of handicapping - TBD but perhaps not this year. The ZVW30 and NHW20 models are certainly capable. The others have issues that makes handicapping an exercise beyond my interest or energy, tonight.
   2. VIN required but does not have to be made public.
2. Preparation - use GPS or mile-markers to calculate the odometer calibration scale. Can be done before, during, or after but we need some credible data about the trip meter calibration.
3. Gasoline consumption is given by the indicated miles divided by the MPG or the metric equivalent. Must include the total trip miles.
   1. Use of a spare can is not acceptable for the 'score', which is why the pump receipt is not acceptable.
   2. Calculated fuel consumption in excess of the manufacturer tank capacity disqualifies report.
4. Duration: June 1 to September 30, 2014 . . . North of equator. We'll work on the Southern hemisphere dates after the first season but probably Dec 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.
5. Prizes - some sort of trinket, T-shirt or hat, nothing of significant value. One prize per 1,000 mile tank. Bowling trophy comes to mind.
   1. Pass/fail - make a 1,000.0 miles on a tank or any fraction of the tank, is the same as 1,499.9 miles. Take the photo, the win, the prize, and have a happy.

The contest would be open world-wide. There is no entrance fee but I may contact vendors to help sponsor prizes. The prize will have both SAE and Metric text announcing the success, a copyrighted design. The reverse side may have sponsor logos if I have any luck BUT receivers will be requested to submit a digital photo of the prize (i.e., proof of delivery) showing both the copyrighted pattern and sponsor logos.

My thinking is sponsoring a world-wide contest gives Prius owners and teams a chance to 'strut their stuff' and hopefully share techniques they used. This may reveal techniques previously not considered.

Why only Prius? We need a 'stock car' and the Prius will do. Trying to handicap all makes and models is impossible and blew-up a Massachusetts 'driving contest' several years ago. Competition between different rides blows it apart.

Modifications to Prius? Anything short of a tow or plug-in is OK. Far as I'm concerned, describe what you did and life is good. Remember it is PASS/FAIL, 1000 miles on one tank. Over achievers get the same prize as someone who just squeeks over the GPS/calibrated 1,000 mile. Sorry, 999.9 does not pass.

So what do you think?

Bob Wilson

 

I've measured 12.2 gallons with our car. But there will always be some manufacturing variability.

As for the specific route, it is part of planning. This is one of my early 2006 route studies:

But I knew I needed to find safe places to drive for up to an hour at 25 mph and not be a road hazard:

It is a route that was throughly analyzed:


I learned early on that route trumps technique. A good route and efficient driving becomes the default, not the exception. So one thing a 1000 mile tank does is confirm what works and what is noise.

Now there are lots of cheats:

• Use paint or a freebie graphics editor with some photos
  • PowerPoint or photoshop cut-and-paste photos
• Buy a Prius display and spoof the mileage with a microcontroller
• Tow a Prius 1,000 miles
  • For example:
  • 

The real reward is not some trinket that could be found in a Goodwill store. The real reward is mastering the car so you can declare a goal, 1000 miles on one tank, and achieve it.

Yes, it is unfair to the Prius c as well as the Prius v. Both are limited by the size of their gas tanks as is our 2003 Prius. The NHW20 is a good candidate but in North America, the bladder tank makes it a challenge but we know in 2006 at least one NHW20 achieved 1,200 miles on a single tank in a team marathon drive. But that effort was flawed because the marathon drive was not necessary.

The biggest impact on Prius efficiency occurs in the first 5-10 minutes of warm-up. After the warm-up, the car can easily achieve 100 MPG by driving 25 mph. All I did was extend the 100 MPG segment so the warm-up overhead all but disappears. It only took extending each trip to at least one hour to dilute the warm-up effect.

Now it doesn't hurt that our Prius are mechanically in excellent mileage state:

• 51 psi, low-rolling resistance tires
• 4-wheel alignment both camber and toe, front and back
• clean air filters
• engine oil changes
• transaxle oil changes

Bob Wilson

 

I've done a Google Earth analysis and Leadville, CO would be an excellent place to take a Prius vacation:

• low-octane, high energy gasoline should be available or buy a 50 gallon drum
• ~10,000 ft for low air drag
• summer gets nice and warm, lower air density
• paved streets and routes that may avoid stop signs and lights

This would not be a cheat but driving nearly 1,000 miles to spend a couple of weeks driving another 1,000 miles at 25 mph . . .

When Hybridfest had their mileage contest, I just couldn't justify a 1,400 mile, round trip for what? It is like driving to a health club instead of walking there and back.

Bob Wilson

 

As long as it is not a spare gas can, no problem. It needs to be a permanent part of the vehicle. But if you'd like to propose a "Prius c" handicap, trot it out.

Bob Wilson

 

I might have figured out a handicap system for our gas-only, Prius:

	Column 1	Column 2
0	[th]EPA Range[th]2x tank[th]model
1	[tr][td2]488 (*)[td2]976[td]2001-03 Prius @82 MPG
2	[tr][td2]547[td2]1	094[td]2004-09 Prius @92 MPG
3	[tr][td2]595[td2]1	190[td]2010-current Prius hatchback @100 MPG
4	[tr][td2]500[td2]1	000[td]2012-current Prius v @84 MPG
5	[tr][td2]475[td2]950[td]2012-current Prius c @100 MPG

Source: Fuel Economy, for 2001-03 using 11.9 gal * 41 MPG

Based upon the comments from this thread, I'll announce sponsorship of a year-long, international contest with clear and unambiguous rules and details about the 'prizes'. The contest is for the 2014-2015, June-to-June.

BTW, I'll have to repeat my earlier tank in the 2003 and 2010 Prius. This tank won't do:

My tank was 190 miles short.

Bob Wilson