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1000 mile tank highway challenge by Japanese hybrid drivers

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by ken1784, Jun 7, 2009.

  1. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    1000 mile tank highway challenge (Japanese only)

    2010 Prius: Shigeru Miyano, some Guinness mileage record holder
    AERO Prius YURASTYLE: Takuya Yura
    2010 Insight: unknown :confused:

    Three hybrid cars left Tokyo at 6:30 AM on June 7th (JST) for Kumamoto, 1000 mile away.
    They will arrive there in Monday morning.

    Yura writes their real time status on his blog...
    Yura's Blog

    As of 20:50 Sunday, the current numbers after 821km(510mile) are...
    YURASTYLE: 34.4km/L(80.9mpg)
    2010 Prius: 33.2km/L(78.1mpg)
    2010 Insight: 31.0km/L(72.9mpg)

    Please note that the YULASTYLE wears almost wore out Yokohama Earth-1 ECO tires, and the 2010 Prius wears a brand new Goodyear GT3 OE tires.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Very nice!

    I really like the look of the front of the Yurastyle Prius. I want to know where he got the cover for the upper grille area. That looks sweet. I might have to make one out of fiberglass!

    Thanks for posting this challenge Ken. :)
     
  3. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    +1 on liking, wanting an OEM appearing upper grill cover...
    I run year-'round with it blocked with a pipe insulation block.

    Just last night I checked Sigma and Hybrid Effects sites for it...
    nothing shown.

    Edit: Just did a quick revisit at the Sigma site. There is an A-Coro
    front end-front bumper piece that deletes the Upper grill opening.
    It comes as part of a multi-part package... $1030, unpainted. :eek:

    I guess that I am looking for a upper grill "insert."

    F8L,

    I'd be interested if you pursue something along these lines.
     
  4. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    The AERO mod is his own design and build.
    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-modifications/37756-aero-prius-yurastyle.html

    Yura's Blog
    Updated at 0:02 Monday (JST) after 1005km(625mile).

    YURASTYLE: 34.2km/L(80.5mpg):7 pips remained on fuel gauge.
    2010 Prius: 33.0km/L(77.6mpg)
    2010 Insight: 31.1km/L(73.2mpg)

    Please note that Yura's first pip disappeared at 736km(457mile) reported at 18:45 Sunday.
    He expects to run 1285km(799mile) more, therefore the total distance will be 2021km(1256mile). :eek:

    edit: added picture taken at 740km point.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
  5. SureValla

    SureValla Member

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    is someone sponsoring this challenge or is this just for fun on these guys free time?
     
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    As usual, thank you for your helpful posts Ken. :)

    Yura went 457miles on the first pip?
     
  7. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    The sponsors are...
    - YOKOHAMA TIRE
    - RAYS wheel
    - Microlon Oil Treatment
    - RACING PROJECT BANDOH OFFICIAL SITE

    Yes.

    Yura's Blog
    Updated at 2:20 Monday (JST) after 1100km(684mile).
    The 2010 Insight almost ran out of gas, so the vehicle quits the 1000 mile challenge. The mpg number was 30.8km/L(72.5mpg).

    Updated at 3:53 Monday (JST) after 1233km(766mile).
    The fuel warning started on the 2010 Prius

    Updated at 5:50 Monday (JST) after 1311km(815mile).
    The 2010 Prius quits the 1000 mile challenge, but it continues to run with TYRASTYLE by adding fuel.

    Updated at 7:15 Monday (JST).
    YURASTYLE: 1396km(868mile) 34.2km/L(80.5mpg):he took another highway for a while :)
    2010 Prius: 1388km(863mile) 33.1km/L(77.9mpg)

    Please note that the fuel tank specifications are the same 45L(11.9 US gallons), however it looks the JP 2G Prius tank is bigger than 2010's, 60L(15.9 gallons) vs 47L(12.4 gallons).

    The special fueling technique is shown below. :)

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    Looks like the Insight did pretty good and so did the 2010 Prius. What I would like to know is if the Insight or the 2010 Prius is easier or harder to get those high numbers compared to the 2nd gen Prius?
     
  9. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Their cruising speed is approx 75km/h(47mph), which means all these vehicle's engines are always running. So, I think there is no special technique is required to achieve those numbers, just drive with steady speed.

    If Miyano knew the 46mph magic number on his 2010 Prius, they may have changed their cruising speed strategy.

    Ken@Japan
     
  10. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    So they were not doing any pulse and gliding? If not those numbers look even better. I kind of figured they would be doing the P&G to get the 1000 mile tank.
     
  11. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    I believe we only get the advantage from true pulse and gliding below 42mph on the 2G Prius or 46mph on the 2010 Prius.

    Yura's Blog
    Updated at 10:00 Monday (JST).
    YURASTYLE 2G Prius: 1466km(911mile) 34.2km/L(80.5mpg)
    Four pips of gasoline is remained.

    Ken@Japan
     
  12. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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  13. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    +1. I would be interested too. Also note the license plate is moved down to the lower grill, blocking almost half of it. It makes the bumper more aerodynamic.
     
  14. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    His 2G Prius is fully equipped original YURASTYLE.
    1000 mile tank highway challenge

    He has a window tunnel at his factory, but he never measured the Cd value yet. He expects the Cd will be 0.24.

    I believe we'll see a few percent better FE/MPG with the YURASTYLE, however you'll see the same FE/MPG with your 2G Prius driving it under a few percent slower speed. :)

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    For a closeup pix of the wheel covers go here.

    And Âhere for the skirts.

    AND he's got a very smooth upper grill cover.

    Very, very sick, er... make that slick. :p
     
  16. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Sick AND Killer,
    Don't forget that most excelent rear spoiler. Don't let Pat Sparks see this ... or he'll NEVER settle for the touring spoiler.

    [​IMG]

    The way the rear skirts flow into the body molding is nice, too. I wonder what kind of trick panels they glued to the underbelly for lower drag.

    .
     
  17. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Yura's Blog
    Updated at 12:56 Monday (JST).
    YURASTYLE 2G Prius: 1600km(994mile) 34.6km/L(81.4mpg)
    He thinks 1600km=1000mile, but it isn't. ;)

    Updated at 14:17 Monday (JST).
    YURASTYLE arrived at the goal, Kumamoto air port.
    The driving distance is probably 1672km(1039mile) with a lot of gasoline remained.

    Congratulations to Takuya Yura/Masazumi Kondo(co driver) and his AERO PRIUS YURASTYLE for over 1000mile a tank driving.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
  18. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Yura's Blog
    Updated at 15:55 Monday (JST).
    The driving distance was 1677km(1042mile) and the FE was 34.5km/L(81.2mpg) with 22% fuel remained. :eek:

    The final stage data was 36.9km/L(86.8mpg) for 210km(131mile) country road.

    Ken@Japan

    [​IMG]
     
  19. jprates

    jprates https://ecomove.pt

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    Well, although I'm always happy to see these record competitions, I must say I'm not at all impressed with the results. I've seen far better, and I've done far better myself. Mind you, I'm a poor and lousy "miler" compared to any real hypermiler. So what's the fuss all about here?

    1) In my own European 2006 Prius, High-Pack version (fully equiped and therefore with more weight) I can do 2.5 L/100 km, which translates to 40 km/L or 94 MPG (US) simply by setting the cruise control at 70 km/h (displayed value). No tricks, no pulse & glide mambo-jambo, no wheel covers and esoteric skirts. Plain vanilla 2006 model with 51 psi inflated Goodyear Excellence ROF 195/55R16.

    Here's the end of a trip from work to home with CC set on 70 km/h:

    [​IMG]

    2) I know this example is nothing out of the ordinary, simply because I know that a lot better has been done, for example this:

    [​IMG]

    So, again, why is this performance of "only" 34.5 km/L so special??? The guy altered his car with more mods than I could remember, and still he does not beat standard vanilla ones??? C'mon!

    3) The only thing I found most interesting was its MFD screen. Where did that data all came from? What is the kit (aftermarket I presume) the guy is using?

    I hate having things floating around the console, but having all that info in the Prius own MFD is just too sweet to be true. Where can we find more info about it?
     
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Congrats! Does it mean he went 1,042 miles plus 131 miles until he ran out of gas? Total of 1,173 miles?