EV Mode Pump and Glide

When driving my 2005 Prius Hybrid, I learned how to successfully ‘pump and glide’. This was accelerating quickly (gas engine) followed by a coast where I wasn’t charging or discharging the Hybrid Battery. I could gain MPG greater than the normal driving routine (which could also annoy other drivers…I tried to not bother others if possible).

I owned a 2012 Prius PHEV (Toyota Prius’ first one) and it was very clear that you could not gain improvement (in EV mode) by accelerating quickly and then coasting. The most efficient EV driving seemed to be restricted to slow acceleration (and, and course, as little braking as possible).

Now, however, in my 2025 Prius PHEV, it almost seems like the best way to get improved EV efficiency is to accelerate moderately and then coast. I’m not talking about flooring it in EV mode but it just ‘feels like’ super slow acceleration isn’t as good as it was in my 2012 version. The best EV efficiency (> 6 miles/kW-hr) seems to happen to me while coasting after moderately accelerating in EV mode.

I would not have expected this to be the case. Does anyone knowledgeable in this area have an answer (does my recent experience of EV ‘pump and glide’ technique not have any logical basis)?

Thanks!

 

I look at ‘neutral’ as pushing the accelerator to the point where there is neither charging (from braking) nor supplying an output drive. When I am doing this, the car feels like it could coast forever. That is how I can get the best efficiency numbers (in the 6 or more miles / kW-hr range). This coasting to a stop, though, can really annoy other drivers so I try to avoid it unless I’m alone on the road.

I may be totally off base but it really feels to me like the electric motor is more efficient accelerating the car if it accelerating a little faster than the edge of the EV / Power border.

 

There is a point on the meter when you are in the middle when neither the ‘charge’ nor the ‘eco’ words are displayed. Have you not pushed the accelerator pedal partway down and tried to coast? I do that all of the time when I approach a stop light. Maybe you don’t own the 2025 model and it behaves differently than mine???

 

There is a point on the meter when you are in the middle when neither the ‘charge’ nor the ‘eco’ words are displayed. Have you not pushed the accelerator ped

I thought about doing that but I could not think of a safe way to take picture of that because I’d have to be driving at the same time. That would be dangerous!

I don’t think it has to be exactly in the middle to be useful. If you’re off a little bit in the acceleration direction it still coasts. If you’re doing a bit of regenerative breaking that’s ok too. You can still ‘coast’ for a long time if you’re close to the middle (but both words do disappear when you’re right in the middle).