Please suggest driving strategy to use for long distance trip

If the trip is not crowded and very level, Cruise Control is calm and painless.

Deciding to follow a 70 MPH semi at at least a 2 second distance would cost you less than an hour and gain you almost 15 MPG.

 

78 MPH is too fast to expect 50 MPG...there is a signifcant speed impact...expect maybe 45 MPG at that speed...less for my car but your car is newer.

 

Keep the AC off and get fresh air from outside.

 

I got 47 mpg with AC on 78 deg going low 80's mph. P&G doesn't work for me or I'm doing something wrong. Drive Without Brakes, DWB, and Driving with Load, DWL, works for me.

 

Actually took about a 200 mile "minor" freeway heavy road trip just earlier today....or yesterday as it technically is now past midnight.

Averaged 53 mpg. Very happy.

In my opinion, you don't have to think about it much at all. Just drive the Prius safely. Maintain highway speeds with traffic using cruise control...or your own foot. Steady smooth acceleration...maintain reasonable speeds.

The Prius will really do all the work.

 

Apropos of nothing if US cars over read like mine your indicated (assuming your 78 is referencing the speedo read) 78 is in fact a true 73 or so.

I cruise at an indicated 75 which is exactly the 70 mph UK limit measured by the satnav GPS.

 

Just make sure there is a vehicle in front of you and keep a safe distance. You'll see an increase in MPG.

 

Make sure your oil is at the right level

Set your tires to max side wall pressure

Drive in good weather on a good smooth road.

At 78 mph- computed at the pump 44 mpg in bad weather 47 mpg in good weather using Cruise Control.

You'll get better fuel efficiency if you vary your speed with 78 mph being your top speed and 63 mph being your low speed going faster on the downhills and slower on the uphills (Driving with Load) but doing that for 7 hours is hard work - you might be better off sticking to Cruise Control with the Air Conditioner on and the windows rolled up.

The Prius gets better fule efficiency if its speed is closer to 50 mph than 80 mph... but I suppose u know that already and that's not an option for now... but if you were to go slower - its easier if you time shifted your trip to start at the end of rush hour traffic when everyone has already gone home to have dinner and/or have gone to sleep.

 

Excellent advice. Relax and enjoy the trip. Why the need to drive 78 MPH? Six hundred miles is a long trip. Take a break, and as The Electric Me stated, "the Prius will really do all the work. By driving a Prius, you're guaranteed better fuel mileage than your peers on the road.

 

Just remember, for each additional mile per hour you go over the speed limit the less impact that it has on total trip time. But the inverse is true on miles per gallon. Each mile per hour you go above the speed limit has a greater and greater effect on your fuel economy.

 

I'm not sure about that. On another thread the conclusion was windows open at high speed causes more mpg loss than running the fan due to air turbulence drag. I believe the AC is very efficient. Sometimes I sit parked for fairly long periods with the AC running (wife shopping) and the EV miles hardly show any decrease.

 

He didn't say 'windows open'. Use the vents and fan to pull in fresh air.

 

Exactly ! Thank You Fuzzy

 

80+ degrees and that could get uncomfortable. And I'm guessing that could happen considering it is August.

 

If it is hot as hell than by all means put the AC on a few bars.

 

Like most cars, it's probably 1-3 high.

 

If you relax and drive the speed limit the overall mpg's will meet your expectations