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Canadian fuel economy ratings changed, more realistic?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Mendel Leisk, Nov 5, 2014.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I hadn't been on Toyota Canada's website in while, and see they're showing 4.6/4.9 (city/hwy, L/100KM) for the regular Prius.

    My first thought was that I'm within spitting distance of those numbers, for the lifetime average. My next thought: how come, aren't these ratings always ridiculously optimistic? Didn't they used to be much lower. What's going on?

    The "fuel efficiency rating" text is a hyperlink, to an explanation, saying for 2015 they're using a new rating method, more in line with real driving conditions, more realistic.

    It's refreshing to be seeing numbers you can actually relate to, attainable.

    The Toyota Prius page: TOYOTA CANADA: Language

    Explanation of revised fuel economy ratings: TOYOTA CANADA: New Fuel Consumption Ratings

    Capture.JPG
     
    #1 Mendel Leisk, Nov 5, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2014
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  3. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    The new ratings seem realistic and compare well with Fuelly averages
    .
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Conversion to US mpg values:

    4.6 (liters/100 km city) = 51.1 (miles per US gallon)
    4.9 (liters/100 km hwy) = 48.0 (miles per US gallon)
     
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  5. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    I think trying to achieve the EPA mileage is a reasonable goal, at least for those of us in non-mountainous, middle-latitude states. I strive to stay over 5o mpg with our 2012 hatchback.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The new canadian numbers are readily achievable, without flat-out hypermiling. And really a breath of sensible air. The OLD city number was 3.7 liter per 100 km, translates to 63.6 miles per US gallon.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Nov 5, 2014
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  7. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I get the old ratings in summer, and the new ratings in winter.
    3.7 was what I got sometimes going to work, but more often it was 4.2. Now that it's colder, I'm getting 4.5 - 4.7-ish.
     
  8. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I don't know if this can be proved, but I think some gasoline is more fuel-efficient than others. I stopped filling up at Superstore (Loblaws) because I didn't seem to be getting good mileage.
     
  9. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    My gasoline study back in 2008 found that to be the case in Huntsville AL. It really has to be tested to know.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What about the plug in factor tho? Also, calc'd or displayed?
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Nov 5, 2014
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  11. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I totally disregard the plug-factor. It has no place in calculating mpg or L/100km. I usually ignore the EV range, and I don't bother plugging in anymore.
     
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  12. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

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    Why do you not plug in Greg? H
     
  13. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Unless I'm parked near an outlet, it's not worth the trouble for the benefit of roughly 1 liter of gasoline.
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Hmm, just noticed: the government site says 4.7 for city, Toyota Canada site says 4.6. Both say 4.9 for hwy.

    Greg, are your numbers calculated?
     
  15. Grren4ever

    Grren4ever Active Member

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    Hi Mendel,

    I noticed at the Toyota dealership a few months ago that the government stated different numbers for our cars. I am usually getting 4.5 on the hwy and 4.7 in the city according to my dash readout. I think last year, the car was rated for something really not realistic like 3.9 hwy and 4.3 city?

    Anyhow, I think the new numbers definitely reflect our cars better. but it still stumps me that my hwy driving gets me better fuel mileage than city. If I head to the USA on the I-5, or am driving on hwy 91/ hwy 99, I am getting 4.5L/100km. Going at about 100km/hr.
     
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe 'cause your city driving is more short trips? Depends on traffic, gradients too. All things being equal, I believe the Prius will do better around town. That is fully warmed up.

    Yeah, the old vs new numbers are up the page, circled screen shot in post #2.
     
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  17. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Agree with that Mendel. When the Prius is FULLY warmed up, it always shines around town. Can easily meet or beat the EPA when she is warm even on those cold winter days. Thing is keeping her up to full operating temperature... Out on the highway, the best I can get is low 50's and that is if I am poking along in the right hand lane at 55. Down here in Texas they drive crazy too. You can literally get run over down here when the traffic is heavy. Normally have to move along at 65 to 75 or more to keep with the flow. But get out of town and on the open highway, then you can slow it down some. Still have to watch for the big trucks. Maximum speed here now in Texas is 75. Moving on even in the Prius if I dare say so. But the Prius will do it and more. Haven't topped it out, but have had it up to almost 90 passing at times... Smooth as silk even with those 17 inch tires and rims...
     
  18. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Rough calculations (in US terms): At 50 mpg, 12 miles of EV charge is about worth 1 liter (litre) of gasoline. A full EV charge costs me around 42 cents. That's worth half a liter, when gasoline is at 84 cents per liter, and about a third of a liter at 1.26.

    Not worth the effort of plugging in most of the time.
     
  19. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    There might be a better strategy to use the 12 miles of EV.

    Our regular 2010 only gets about 35 mpg for the first 3 miles due to the warm-up overhead. To reach 50 mpg the car needs to be warmed up which worse case takes up to 3 miles. Using EV while the engine warms up at idle for just 3 miles would give about four starts running 50 mpg+. Certainly worth a test when the cold weather arrives.

    Bob Wilson
     
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah it's NRC's new testing (which is quite similar to the EPA's new testing since 2008). You can see that most of the numbers line up with what the EPA publishes for the same model.

    Record is 3.9L/100km (same as the old Prius but greater distance to the tank) but the new 2015 numbers are closer to what I get averaged over the entire year (including the harsh winters).

    Low 4s is easy in the summer with P&G, especially in Richmond/Delta/Surrey/Langley. The hilly areas require more distance to average out the ascent/descent (though rolling hills definitely help with mileage).