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Stop and Go, then 70mph achieved this...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by socalcoast, Jun 28, 2013.

  1. socalcoast

    socalcoast New Member

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    I am very much a newbie Prius owner of three days, but I am enjoying this car more than my old BMW.

    So today, I drove home from work and actually watched my MPG, the traffic was terrible, then it would clear up I would do 70 mph, then stop and go again- all in ECO mode...How in the hell did I end up with 58 mpg average...? It looks like reading this forum has helped my MPG...

    This car gets such good mileage I think I will just put in $20 dollars every Monday in order to keep the fuel tank lighter. My old car required $120 dollars/week... Man, what a difference...!

    58mpg.jpg
     
    saver likes this.
  2. skwcrj

    skwcrj Member

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    You must be doing something right! Keep it up.
     
  3. saver

    saver New Member

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    Would you please elaborate your techniques ? I have never achieved 100 mpg ever in 5 mins. I tried driving at 55 (cruise) 65 (cruise) but could not find much above 70 mpg in a 5 min.
     
  4. socalcoast

    socalcoast New Member

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    Sure, however I am not exactly sure I achieved this, here is a little more detail:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    • -Car: Black color 2010 Prius 3 with 65k miles, no passengers, my weight is about 160, small gym bag and laptop in the trunk. Car shows 7 bars of gas, and is a Certified Pre-owned model just picked up from the dealer on Monday. Brand new tires, fresh tune up from the Toyota dealer, etc...
    • -Weather: 80 degrees and sunny.
    • -Settings: I only drive in ECO mode , one bar of AC at 68 degrees, radio on.
    • -Traffic: Horrendous stop and go. The first 20 minutes I was driving about 0 - 20 miles an hour, so I hit the EV button during that time, which switched off once I picked up speed.
    • Commute: 35 miles, 90% is freeway, with a few inclines and descents. This trip took place Thursday night from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. My normal commute is about 40 minutes, so this was a bad traffic day.
    • -Driving style: I learned from this website about the Pulse & Glide, and I drive about 60 - 68 mph in the right lines (usually behind a slow moving truck) when the traffic clears up. I also ascend slowly at traffic lights and freeway on ramps. I use the display that shows me how close I am to entering into the Power Mode, which a avoid unless I need to go uphill.
    • Reference/Admition: After driving like an idiot for so many years with jackrabbit starts, freeway lane changes to obtain maximum speeds I am glad to drive like a human now...I bought this car as a commuter car to save gas, I put one hundred dollar bill in my wallet to remind me what I saved this week...!
    Good luck,

    Former BMWLeadFoot&Idiot.Driver
     
    Jeff Parriott, kensiko and skwcrj like this.
  5. JuRuKi

    JuRuKi Junior Member

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    I get 100mpg in 5 minutes daily. Just a matter of running on EV for 5 minutes. Slight downhills?

    [​IMG]
     
    socalcoast likes this.
  6. eliteconcept

    eliteconcept 700 mile club, top tank mpg 69.5

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    Fairly easy to explain. He stated he was in stop and go traffic.... his 100mpg rating was achieved during the stages of stop or very slow movement.
     
  7. socalcoast

    socalcoast New Member

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    Same terrible stop & go traffic- 57.9 mpg.
    The worse the traffic the better the mpg for me.

    I drive in Eco mode only, I do P&G and enjoy driving more slowly in the right hand lane....
     
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Welcome to the choir:
    Our first Prius was also used, a 2003 Prius bought in 2005, and after the first tank, we've never looked back. Let me suggest your testimonial would be even more effective in gasser forums and I don't mean the ones in PriusChat. The only challenge is how to share it as ordinary facts and data.

    Bob Wilson
     
  9. prius_in_pa

    prius_in_pa Junior Member

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    I just got back from a long trip 1100 miles and I got 57.1 mpg. Most of my drivings were on the freeway doing above 65 mph. I have to assume that you got a better MPG than I did is because you were able to let your car glide more than I was able to, in terms of percentage. Stopping the Prius isn't necessary a bad thing if you could let it glide long distance before coming to a stop.
     
  10. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    Last Tuesday, left Seaside Oregon for Reno and Virginia City Nevada. Prius loaded with three passenger and plenty of luggage, vehicle gross loaded weight, 3,900 lbs. Oregon Dept. of Transportation truck scales.

    Round trip with many side trips over 1,700 miles. Speeds 65-75 mpg real world driving keeping up with traffic and not behind a 18 wheeler going 55 mph. AC on as temps went as high as 104 degrees. Went to Lake Tahoe and climbed mountain ranges on our trip, of course both ways. Coast Range, 1,640 feet, Siskyous, RT 5 southern Oregon, 4,400. Northern CA Sierra Nevada Range, 6,0000 + feet.

    Returned home at sea level, I reset trip A prior to leaving, indicated 51.5 mpg, which is at least49 mpg true, as my computer has only been over reading about 2 mpg.

    Our Prius now has well over 100,000 miles and quite pleased
     
  11. socalcoast

    socalcoast New Member

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    Great to hear about the success on the trips.

    I didn't bring the Prius on my Vacation this week, though I am seeing quite a few in the hotel parking lot. The temperature is 115 degrees, so I was thinking that my black Prius was not the perfect road trip car...
     
  12. JuRuKi

    JuRuKi Junior Member

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    Would the pri have problems running in super high temps of 120?
     
  13. socalcoast

    socalcoast New Member

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    Good question... Any prius owners out there in the Palm Springs, as that's where I was last week in 122 degree weather, though without my Prius...
     
  14. prius_in_pa

    prius_in_pa Junior Member

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    Excluding the warm up period, I normally get 65+ mpg on local roads. On highway, I actually get better MPG if there was mild congestion. By going slower, you don't have to fight the wind resistance as hard and it will give you more chance to glide or cruise. Both will improve your MPG
     
  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Two thumbs up :)
     
  16. saver

    saver New Member

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    Can someone point me in right directions regarding proper driving styles? I have been averaging 49 mpg mixed (mostly rush hour traffic). I have 80 miles round trip commute. In the mornings I get 56-63 mpg depending on speed and traffic while on returns mostly 48-49. I can imagine slopes make so much difference.

    Once I traveled at 4 AM same return at 55mph consistent cruise (with no traffic) and still achieved only 49 mpg. I was disappointed that doing a 55mph in no traffic did not make any difference in my return.
     
  17. prius_in_pa

    prius_in_pa Junior Member

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    Generally speaking, to achieve high MPG, you have to glide, meaning keep your Prius moving without the ICE running and no regen (braking). You could glide whether you're on local roads or highway but traffic condition may not allow you to do so. In additional, the people behind you may not like you to glide too slow.

    If you're driving 55mph with no congestion, you should easily get 55MPG.

    To glide, here what you should do, once you get to your cruising speed, let go the gas pedal completely. This will shut the ICE off. Then re-apply small amount of pressure to the pedal again just enough so that you're not doing regen. Go to youtube and check out videos on the Pulse and Glide method.
     
  18. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Specifically speaking, that will produce highest efficiency. But that isn't necessary for higher efficiency.

    "Just Drive It" is the motto for the majority of owners. They still see great MPG even without doing anything beyond just having a heightened awareness of the road & traffic.
     
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  19. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    If my wife is typical, the part of your post I bolded is where people fail, not being able to translate "aware" into less fuel use.
     
  20. prius_in_pa

    prius_in_pa Junior Member

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    I did say something about traffic condition. And I assume (or maybe I shouldn't) I was responding to a responsible adult so awareness of the road and traffic is given. I don't think I need to treat him like a baby. He was asking about a driving method, not driving lesson.