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EV mode performance

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by ukr2, Feb 26, 2007.

  1. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

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    Has anyone checked their Prius mpg on their typical drive to and from work for each of the following -
    (A.) using EV mode as much as possible, with no CC or P&G, verses
    (B.) using Cruise Control as much as possible for the same trip, with no EV or P&G, verses
    (C.) using Pulse & Glide as much as possible for the same trip, with no EV or CC ?

    Many feel that you may get poorer MPG using EV, but I'm not yet convinced.

    With so many guys having their Prius hooked up to the CAN monitor, hopefully they could record a few test runs.

    If this has already been done, please point me to those posts.

    Thanks,
     
    #1 ukr2, Feb 26, 2007
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I'm not aware of anyone doing formal tests though I'm confident of the results you'd get.

    Further, I'd add an option "D"
    D)Using ideal technique including P&G, CC, and EV when most effective.

    Which is what I do.
     
    #2 efusco, Feb 26, 2007
  3. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

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    Evan,

    Do you have the CAN monitor or any other logger on your Prius?
    Are you able to perform the tests or do you know the best guys to ask?
     
    #3 ukr2, Feb 26, 2007
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ukr2 @ Feb 26 2007, 09:58 PM) [snapback]397050[/snapback]</div>
    I do have and use CAN-View. The 'best guys'...maybe over at CleanMPG.com might be interested in toying with this. The issue is having reproducible conditions...traffic, terrain, ect. The required route would need to be long enough to get an average you can believe/trust...you'd probably need to do each run several times for each of your conditions. And how do you decide what "equal conditions are?" If I strict EV do I maintain the exact speed limit the whole way? If so when I pulse and glide do I exceed the speed limit at time to get my exact average speed for that run the same as my EV only run? And finally, how do I show how and when I used EV and P&G and CC on my route in a manner I felt was most efficient and in such a way that you can translate it to your particular conditions?

    I put to you that this is something better learned though experience and repeatition than through someone else's independent expiriments/testing mostly b/c translating it to another individual is so difficult.
     
    #4 efusco, Feb 26, 2007
  5. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    If you're planning on the Prius EV mode saving you significant gasoline *all by itself* then save the time and effort.... it ain't gonna happen. The EV mode is great for certain things, but in the grand scheme of things, you aren't going to see significant mileage gains without employing many other FE techniques.

    The EV mode in my car sometimes saves me a teeny tiny bit of gas and quite a bit of pollution - I use it when I shuffle the cars around my garage/driveway so I don't have to perform a cold start. I don't actually drive anywhere, so my mileage consequences are... well.. inconsequential. But any time I can avoid a cold start, I'm all for it.
     
    #5 darelldd, Feb 26, 2007
  6. jmccord

    jmccord New Member

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    I have installed "EV mode" and use it like Darell - sparingly. The energy conversion process is less than perfect (i.e. losses occur) so discharging the battery to drive and then using a gas engine to recharge the battery is inherently less efficient than other modes. The most effective mpg boosters are probably:
    1) Pulse and glide.
    2) Driving the speed limit.
    3) higher tire inflation pressure.

    But by all means, keep experimenting and let us know what you find out.
     
    #6 jmccord, Feb 27, 2007
  7. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    4) Drive an electric car that uses NO gasoline - EV mode 100% of the time!
     
    #7 darelldd, Feb 27, 2007
  8. tripp

    tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it?

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Feb 26 2007, 10:49 PM) [snapback]397092[/snapback]</div>
    Ride a bike or walk and don't any fossil fuel for personal mobility. Of course, if you have to drop the kids off at school and go grocery shopping you may have to buy a bigger bicycle. :p

    Seriously though, I use EV mode pretty sparingly. Parking lots are a great place for it. Like darell said, it's great for just moving the car around the driveway. I use it for the last 0.3 mi on the way home from work where I'm already at speed ~30mph and as I pull onto my street I have a small downhill run. I mostly stealth and then gently brake into the driveway. I usually put it in EV mode so that the ICE doesn't come on. If you use it heavily it will just force the car to idle or otherwise run MG2 as a generator and you'll incur a variety of efficiency penalties that you want to avoid.
     
    #8 tripp, Feb 27, 2007
  9. McShemp

    McShemp New Member

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    I use EV mode when I know the car won't be used again for several hours.
    • The last half mile to the office (uphill)
    • The last mile or so home after work
    • My sister's neighborhood - her kids get a kick out silently zooming around their cul-de-sac
    • Garages, parking lots, and at the gas station (that's the best one of all).
    It's a fun gadget, but it won't make a serious impact on your FE.
     
    #9 McShemp, Feb 27, 2007
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