Highway vs city driving mpg?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BethlehemPrius @ Jun 11 2007, 06:10 PM) [snapback]459855[/snapback]</div>

It may be more a matter of how far you go between stops than how leaden your foot is. By stops, I mean where you turn the car off, not where you come to a stop light or sign.

Everytime I drive around Spokane, my mileage goes up. When I drive around Cheney (15-20 miles away) it goes back down. Going back and forth across Spokane is 15-20 miles each way, whereas Cheney is about 2 miles across.

Dave M.

 

Isn't a Prius a smooth ride?

On long highway trips, I get 45 to 50 MPG, depending on how heavy my foot is.

MPG in city driving can be a little misleading until you realize that optimum MPG isn't attained until the car (ICE, battery etc.) is fully warmed up. Once everything is nice and warm, you can get great MPG in the city. I typically see well over 50 MPG.

BUT because city trips are often fairly short, a significant portion of those trips occurs when the car is cold and MPG is low.

I typically start off around 25 MPG for the first 5 minutes (depending on the time of year), with a ramp up to 50 MPG after 10 to 15 minutes (3rd or 4th bar on the Consumption display).

 

I seem to get great mileage, upper 50's - lower 60's on my morning commute to work at about the average speed of 55 - 60 on the city interstate. Looking into it a little further I have noticed that my MPG is higher if I go faster and stay in the passing lane as I think it has something to do with the median having cement dividers on the shoulder most of the way. As it drops off when the dividers go away. On the way home though I don't seem to have the same type of results, possibly I am being helped with a combination of the wall and a tailwind.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BethlehemPrius @ Jun 11 2007, 07:10 PM) [snapback]459855[/snapback]</div>

We also just took our first road trip. Before the trip I was averaging about 46 mpg, averaging from January (about 38 mpg initially) to June. The overall average was increasing as the summer arrived. We reset the meter before our trip and averaged 54.5 mpg for the 700 mile trip. Down we drove on interstate at 65 mph using cruise, but stopping several times to change drivers. Got 56 mpg going that way. On the way back we stopped half way for the night and took another route back that had a slower speed limit and a few stops. So overall 54.5 mpg.

I live quite close to work, only 15 minutes so I suffer from the warm up period for the first 5 minutes. So my average is dropping slowly now that I am back to a normal

 

I have now had several, if only 35 miles long, trips to DC and back to Baltimore and invariably get 53mpg with cruise control set to 65mph. Tire pressure is at 44/44. That is with the A/C set to low and an outside temperature of about 70-85F

Your city mileage might have to do with tire pressure, your tires being new and that you haven't adjusted your routes and/or technique.

I get 63mpg to work because I adjusted my route to one with several long downhill glides mostly through several but green lights. On my way back uphill it's a whole different story with the lights and I only get about 44mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BethlehemPrius @ Jun 11 2007, 09:10 PM) [snapback]459855[/snapback]</div>

I remember being just as excited the first time I cracked the 50 MPG barrier.

My commute to the office is 25 miles each way. My usual route includes about 8 miles on the highway at the beginning of my trip, and I've been getting about 52 MPG that way. However, for the last week or so I've been taking an alternate route -- lower speed limits, but no appreciable affect on my travel time -- and the MFD reports I'm getting 55 MPG so far (~300 miles)! Of course, there are pretty good odds that other things are factoring into that difference, such as the warmer weather and less traffic (meaning I can drive a little more conservatively, and also that I won't get stuck in as many mileage-lowering traffic jams). Whatever the cause, I'm happy to see my numbers continuing to get better and better!

I usually get great mileage numbers on low speed (under 40 MPH) surface streets by going very easy on the throttle and coaxing as much electric-only driving as I can get.

- Justifyd

 

I recently drove from Los Angeles to just north of Sacramento (435 miles each way over mostly flat land + 1 5,000 foot mountain to cross). On the way up I was on cruise control at 77 mph and averaged about 40 MPG. On the way back, I was again on cruise control but at 73 mph and got 49 MPG. I'm sure if I was set at the speed limit of 70, I would have done a little bit better.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paulccullen @ Jun 11 2007, 09:27 PM) [snapback]459865[/snapback]</div>

I'm debating purchasing a Prius. I drive 5 miles to and from work, (stop & go, fairly level, 45 mph max) and frequently use A/C when it's hot outside. Based on what I'm reading here, I'm assuming I'm not going to get great MPG from a Prius. Any comments on this?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jwag @ Jun 13 2007, 03:04 PM) [snapback]460687[/snapback]</div>

Any car can't get good fuel economy under such environment especially in winter by consuming warming up fuel.
My winter records under similar conditions were...
1993 Honda Accord wagon 2.2L: 6 km/L (14 mpg)
2004 Toyota Prius 1.5L: 14 km/L (33 mpg)
I'm very happy with my Prius.
What kind of fuel economy are you getting with your current vehicle?

Ken@Japan

PS. My best is more than 80 mpg on long trip.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=32895&hl=

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pixeltaker @ Jun 12 2007, 06:29 PM) [snapback]460539[/snapback]</div>

I drive that route a lot and can tell you that there is a consistent strong southerly in the San Joaquin Valley. So, I would expect you to get better gas mileage coming back from Sacramento. Your true mileage is better represented by the average of the two numbers.

Crossing the Grapevine (what you refer to as the 5000 ft mountain ) is in effect a net zero issue. You go up the hill... and then go back down the hill to recover all / most of that potential energy.

By the way, your overall average of 44 - 45 MPG is consistent with what I get.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jwag @ Jun 13 2007, 02:04 AM) [snapback]460687[/snapback]</div>

Contrary to a "conventional vehicle" the Prius gets BETTER fuel economy with "city" (non-highway) driving, exactly as you mentioned above. As far as the A.C., it is operated off the "electric motor" and not the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and does NOT effect MPG as you would think. So in answer to your question, the Prius would be great for your situation. For someone that travels over 90% of their miles on the highway, the MPG will not be as good (as city driving under 30 miles-per-hour), but still pretty high up there !!

 

Won't addiding a bike rack (or any other racks) with a bike, etc. reduce MPG???

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Arts137 @ Jun 13 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]460811[/snapback]</div>

Sure, it adds "wind drag" and you have now changed the aerodynamics of the Prius, but so does adding extra weight, like three passengers that weigh 225 pounds each or even 100+ pounds of luggage you take on a trip.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ Jun 13 2007, 03:30 AM) [snapback]460699[/snapback]</div>

Last time I checked my mileage was 19 city/ 26 hwy. If I could get 40mpg in the city with a Prius I'd be happy with that. Mostly I'd feel really good about not polluting the atmosphere so much.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BethlehemPrius @ Jun 11 2007, 09:10 PM) [snapback]459855[/snapback]</div>

Had ours to NC twice, ave around 54MPG highway, mainly interstates at 70MPH, around 46-47MPg city.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jun 13 2007, 08:15 AM) [snapback]460752[/snapback]</div>

But the short trips and stop & go driving Jwag describes still make for a less-than-ideal scenario.

Jwag, don't get me wrong -- as Ken suggests, the Prius will still outperform virtually any car out there. Just don't assume you'll get 60 MPG. Short trips don't allow the ICE (internal combustion engine) to warm completely, and a cold ICE wants to run to keep itself warm even if it's not needed for propulsion. Your scenario is among those most helped by an engine block heater, even in summer. You might consider one if you get the car.

Depending on how much stop & go you have, the AC can still pull your mileage down. Yes, the AC is electric, but the ICE has to run to replenish the battery charge. Sitting in a traffic jam is when you need the ICE the least but might need AC the most.

Still, with the block heater, I think 40+ MPG is very achievable.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jwag @ Jun 13 2007, 11:40 AM) [snapback]460883[/snapback]</div>

1000 miles after purchased new and the tires and ICE are broken in the Prius will DEFINITELY have >40mpg for a 5 mile trip IF you:

1) Inflate the tires to 44/44

2) you extensively deadband at 41mph. If you slightly press the acceleration pedal at 41 mph or less the energy screen will show no arrows meaning there are no energy transfers and no energy losses. This can be done above 41mph but it's much harder to achieve.

3) You do not carry a lot of weight in your car.

4) Measure during warm weather.

I think one has to drive unreasonably or to be very unlucky with traffic and traffic light to get <40mpg under most conditions but YMMV.

I have to refuel today, I have an 8 mile commute, which I have adjusted to get favorable traffic and lights, but most of my miles in this tank are from highway at 65mph. I have slowed down considerably to get 53.8mpg. Driving like I used to would got me about 45mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ystasino @ Jun 13 2007, 03:19 PM) [snapback]461038[/snapback]</div>

Thanks to you all for your comments and advice. I'm going for a test drive this weekend. Perhaps I will soon be a proud Prius owner too.

jwag