Fuel milage is relative

In my area they recently built a mid-and-high school, waaay up the top of this ear-popping hill. Every so often we've had to pick up or drop off the grand kids there, and every time it has me fuming. I'd think 90% of the kids are driven up there, day after day after...

For an excercise: trying pushing a car (any car but a prius, which can't be off and in neutral) a few feet. On level ground it takes a bit of effort, but it's doable. Now repeat, but on an ever-so-slight upslope: you're lucky if it doesn't roll back on you, and going forward: it's like you're trying to push a wall.

 

If you drive a PP, then you can get back ~60% of the energy spent on going up the hill on your way down by regen as usable EV miles.

 

If the 57 mpg was roundtrip, then it is not a fluke. You cancel out elevation and wind if blowing parallel to the direction of travel.

You can't blanket state it costs you more in hilly areas than flatter areas. Consider Texas highways with 85 mph speed limits to San Francisco hills. Because one is effectively doing pulse and glide in a Prius (engine revs up hill but is off going downhill) they may be getting better fuel economy in slower speeds hilly areas than constant higher speeds in a flatter terrain.

 

For a regular Prius I think going down that hill is detrimental too: I would put it in B once I got into the steep zone, and endure roaring engine all the way down to the base. Hate that hill...

 

I’ve found that using cruise control really helps. It eliminates the human nature to keep foot on accelerator and use gas when it’s not needed. EV mode in the high 30mph range is common. Routinely I get 60+ mpg on suburban drives in flat terrain. Haven’t ever done a mountain yet so can’t say. Maybe this summer.

 

i think the 'saving money' part is relative too, and based on a lot of variables. but it is more likely at $4.50 than $2.50

 

I need to point out the misunderstanding that some owners only bought a Prius to save the planet and be smug and not because it was smart money. Every single Prius owner bought one to save gas and thus money, every single one.

I came from a 14 mpg vehicle, my commute is shorter, but it hurt on longer 1-2 hr trips. Now that I have inherited our Prius I am getting low 40s average around town driving, but can get high 40s if I hypermile on the freeway. I don't think we have ever seen above 50 unless it is perfect conditions with tires above 40 psi on the highway for a good while and a really try, but then getting off of the freeway brings the average down. Topography and hills probably make mpg worse, but at least you save on brake service and replacement with a Prius vs. other ICE cars.

 

i didn't, no offense meant

 

You didn't offend, I wasn't referring to you and I was never offended by the naysayer whining that goes with every incremental step in progress, just annoyed it is still going on. Even in the other thread about EVs and electrical costs people are mistakenly trying to blame EV purchases on politics when it always comes down to preference, performance, and convenience.

 

Nobody has mentioned dip and glide which makes a huge difference in my mileage. My average in my gen 2 is around 64mpg (UK miles)
but it's a lot less if I drive it like a normal car and don't bother what my foot's doing.

 

I like my Prius because with the high mpg it virtually eliminates any thought about what a given trip will cost for gasoline.

And contrary to what some folks contend, the maintenance costs of the Prius tend to be quite low in my experience.

Using cruise control helps. Too bad there’s no aftermarket hands free driving option.

 

Talk about bad timing
Rising gas prices from Russia-Ukraine conflict hit L.A. - Los Angeles Times

Benjamin Valdez, a part-time Uber driver, upgraded last fall from his Toyota Prius to an SUV — a decision shaped, in part, by the fact that Uber pays $1.20 per mile for XL rides (those that fit up to six passengers) versus 60 cents per mile in smaller vehicles.
In retrospect, Valdez said, it was probably the wrong move. The new vehicle takes more gas, and the demand for Uber XLs is largely during the day, when Valdez can’t drive because he’s working his other job in computer tech for a community college.