G2Prius : Absolute maximum mpg @ 65 mph and beyond ?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by cDxA, Oct 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM.

  1. cDxA

    cDxA New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2025
    18
    3
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I planned to aeromod a 2008 Prius with a full length boattail, smooth underbody, wheel skirts front and rear, reshaped nose, and removed mirrors and rear wiper / antenna.
    However, after finding out more about how the hybrid system works, I have given up on the idea.
    According to A.I. , the Prius does not allow the car to take advantage of aerodynamic modifications to the degree that other cars do.
    A.I. estimates a maximum of less than 60 mpg at 65 mph even with extreme aeromodding.

    So I'd like to ask what is the absolute maximum real time mpg you have seen from a G2 Prius at 65 mph and over ?
     
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    8,357
    4,259
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Because AI knows everything and gives correct and accurate information.
     
    Brian1954 likes this.
  3. cDxA

    cDxA New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2025
    18
    3
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not just A.I., but several absolutely brilliant minds over at EcoModder are saying this as well.
    And not just one A.I. querry, but several confirm that the Prius hybrid system does not allow the engine to loaf along at low RPM while at high speed.
    In a conventional car like a Honda Civic VX, or Insight, extreme aeromods could allow the engine to take advantage of lean burn even at speeds of 65 -75 mph and return MPG near or greater than 100 MPG..
    Even without lean burn, a Civic with extreme aeromods, such as the AeroCivic could see over 70 MPG with it's base engine.
    What I should have asked was is if there was a way to 'cheat' the G2 Prius into loafing along while at high speed, much the same way that coasting in neutral does in a conventional car.
    What is the maximum MPG ypu guys have seen at 65 mph and over ?
    Even with a tail wind while nearly falling down a mountain.
    The way that it was explained to me is that the hybrid system will keep the engine at what it thinks is an optimal RPM to keep the batrery charged even if the engine could run at extremely low RPM due to aerodynamic changes.

    I posted this in the wrong forum section.
    I hastily posted withput noticing this is a forum that apparently is for the Prius Prime. ( That is the plug in version, correct ? )
    I just saw the words " fuel economy " in the section name abd thought this was a sectiin for posting fuel economy questions.
    I dont have a computer and do all of this on my tiny phone screen so im half blind too.
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    27,173
    17,828
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Sounds like someone being too clever by half. The car can't ever, in equilibrium, have the engine producing more power than it takes to maintain the road speed plus whatever charging the battery needs. If it did. either the battery would be getting overcharged or the car would be accelerating, or both.

    That first term is diminished by your aero mods. The car 'notices' in the normal course of adjusting power to maintain the wanted speed, just as easily as it 'notices' the road starting downhill.
     
    cDxA and VelvetFoot like this.
  5. VelvetFoot

    VelvetFoot Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2025
    217
    55
    0
    Location:
    New York State
    Vehicle:
    2026 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    My view is that hypermiling is not without risk and maintaining a constant speed on a downhill, or for that matter, uphill, is not a factor. :)

    If I'm coasting downhill, in high gear (MINI Cooper S), I'll have the system-indicated mpgs pegged at 90, but probably achieve some kind of 'terminal velocity', which is less than if I had it neutral.

    On a downhill coast, I'm not sure if topping up the battery with regen braking is the best option, if you can pop it in neutral and go faster and farther. There are electric transformation losses in storing energy, but you'd want some left in the battery if there's a stop sign at the hill's runout.

    These are just hypermiling ruminations without actual knowledge and assume safe operation on a known course and not massive mountains. :)
     
    cDxA likes this.
  6. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2024
    344
    188
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I planned to aeromod a 2008 Prius with a full length boattail, smooth underbody, wheel skirts front and rear, reshaped nose, and removed mirrors and rear wiper / antenna.

    Does the car remain street legal with all these modifications?
     
    cDxA likes this.
  7. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2024
    344
    188
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I've driven a 2007 that showed 61.x mpg and 510 miles on the mfd when I filled the tank. No idea what average MPH was, but was used for daily commuting (about 50% relatively flat highway) and daily living stuff. Some claim the mfd is not accurate, but I've not experienced anything significant. My MFD mileage always matches my ODO and has always been pretty close to gallons pumped. For example, 510/61 is ~8.4 gallons and that's about what I would pump. Never saw any significant discrepancies.

    I know that with a long enough flat highway, and a soft foot, you can find the sweet spot where the car just rolls with the battery not showing charge or discharge on the mfd and the mpg should be maximum. Unfortunately I don't remember what it showed for actual mpg. Next time I do it, I'll jot down some numbers.
     
    cDxA and VelvetFoot like this.
  8. cDxA

    cDxA New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2025
    18
    3
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    With one small motorcycle size mirror on the driver side, yes.
    Only one door mirror is required in the U.S.
    My 1993 Civic didn't even come with a passenger mirror. It was a factory option.
    Regarding the other modifications, as you know, you must have all tailights and such at the rear of the boattail, as well as lights for the license plate. The plate can't be covered or angled back either.
    Lighting or reflective markers are a good idea to have on the sides of the tail as well.
    The third brake light must be visible too.
    Technically, I guess an added tail becomes part of the vehicle structure, much like one of those oversize bumpers that mount to the existing bumper, but I add a legal safety flag to the back of my tail when I extend it out.
    My tail is bolted to the inner bumper structure ( the frame )
    Nothing that I have found says the flag can't be rigid, so I just tape it to the top rear section of the tail.
    Anything past something like 24 " past the bumper needs a safety flag.
    Bumper in this case being the end of the inner structure ( frame ) of the bumper, the plastic bumper cover on the body of the car, or the end of an added boattail ?
    It depends on if the policeman is having a bad day.
     
  9. cDxA

    cDxA New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2025
    18
    3
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I know a G2 Prius can get 60 or more MPG, but when people post this figure, it is an average.

    I'm wondering about instant MPG at 65 mph and higher, and if there is a way to 'cheat' the hybrid system into letting the engine run at low rpm with aeromods.

    Everything I am finding out ( and from extremely good sources ) says that the car is just not built for that. It's a low speed city car, and not a highway mileage champ.