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Strange observation while driving yesterday...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Leopold Porkstacker, Apr 13, 2006.

  1. Leopold Porkstacker

    Leopold Porkstacker New Member

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    I was driving my normal commute home from work through town in a 45MPH zone, and my average MPG (as indicated on the on-screen display) rate was 52.7MPG. I was just puttering along. Well, I needed to really romp on the throttle at one point for about six seconds, and then a few seconds later I observed the averge MPG and it hadn't changed -- in fact, moments later it went up to 52.8MPG!!??!?!!? :huh: I then tried this many more times, specifically when the traffic lights changed to green I did a "dragrace" style start (uninspiring in a Prius, BTW) up to 47MPH, only to observe that the average MPG had not changed!!!

    I can only conclude that during those "dragrace" acceleration sprints were producing a buttload of recharge current to the battery pack. Any other ideas?
     
    #1 Leopold Porkstacker, Apr 13, 2006
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Not really, but I do like your login.
     
    #2 richard schumacher, Apr 13, 2006
  3. Leopold Porkstacker

    Leopold Porkstacker New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Apr 13 2006, 11:21 AM) [snapback]239242[/snapback]</div>
    Are you by chance related to Ralf and Michael Schumacher?
     
    #3 Leopold Porkstacker, Apr 13, 2006
  4. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Sadly, no.
     
    #4 richard schumacher, Apr 13, 2006
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leopold Porkstacker @ Apr 13 2006, 01:18 PM) [snapback]239235[/snapback]</div>
    Not that suprising really. Brisk acceleration is something we've long recommended, very hard acceleration will burn more gas and you probably did burn more than usual, but realize that you got to your target speed more quickly/the up side to more gas use over slow accelleration. Thus you were able to stay at a nice efficient cruise speed a bit longer.

    You were probably fairly far along in the current tank of gas (ie 200+ miles), so brief moments of hard acceleration result in little change in overall mpg, but if the outside temps were good, you were warmed up, and then held speed for a while the avg. mpg will rise.
     
    #5 efusco, Apr 13, 2006
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