Very "terminology" challenged newbie

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(R_Ann @ Aug 1 2007, 03:20 PM) [snapback]488813[/snapback]</div>

I'm sure you'll get a lot of help here. Some of it will be good advice. (unfortunately, some won't and it can be difficult to figure out who is right sometimes when there are multiple incompatible opinions.)

I've been informed that the MFD isn't as accurate as you'd like for good hypermiling, but until I fork over the cash for the scanguage, it will have to do.

Someone has probably already mentioned it while I was typing this, but in case they haven't, ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine. It is just how the locals distinguish between the electric motor/generators and the gasoline engine when discussing the various components of the HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive). Each of the 2 electric motor/generators has it's own local acronym as well (MG1 and MG2).

 

Another point you may (or may not) have read already...

Above the speed of 42MPH, you cannot get an all-black-screen glide (no arrows, any direction.) You can get an electric glide (sounds like a dancefloor move), where the arrows go from battery to motor to wheels.

You also cannot easily, if at all, get the black screen glide (while under 42MPH) until your ICE (the gas engine) has warmed up sufficiently. The Prius will keep the ICE running until that temperature zone is hit; then it becomes easy for the ICE to stay off, during sub-42 glides.

[Hopefully I've not misrepresented any of that, being relatively new myself!]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChristoB @ Aug 1 2007, 03:45 PM) [snapback]488837[/snapback]</div>

I'm certain that while traveling over 42 mph I've seen no arrows, any direction. Now I'm aware that in this condition the ICE is still spinning, and as such is using up some of your momentum to overcome the internal friction of the various moving parts. I'm also aware that the MFD isn't always a perfectly accurate representation of the use of fuel or electricity, so without a CANview, I can't be certain that no fuel was being consumed, and no current was flowing to or from the battery. Still if we are choosing to use the MFD as our information source, then I'm certain I've seen the no arrows all-black-screen glide at speeds higher than 42 mph.

 

R_Ann, let's look at this from another point of view. What is your tp (tire pressure)? Inflating the tires to at least 42psi front/40psi rear will increase your mpg. I am running the stock Integrities at 45psi and I wouldn't push them any higher.

The gas engine runs cool. It runs longer and more often to keep hot. Buy some pipe insulation and block the upper grill. Yes, even now. You will find the engine doesn't start as often and runs for shorter periods of time. You will use more of your battery more often. Don't freak when you see the two purple bars.

Fire Engineer (one of THE experts) recommends the EBH (electric block heater) all year. This is a part that is attached to the engine. Plug it into a timer (which is plugged into a wall outlet) so it will heat the engine for 3 hours before you start the car in the morning. This will improve the mpg during the 1st 5 minutes which is poor.

Doing 1 & 2 above (if not already being done) should push you over 50mpg. It takes almost everyone a lot more time than a couple of weeks to improve their driving skills. I'm not the hypermiling expert so I will defer to the others.

Are you comfortable with the climate control set to 79-80F and AUTO?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(R_Ann @ Aug 1 2007, 04:20 PM) [snapback]488813[/snapback]</div>

I've done a few. If you're ever in the central VA area I'd be glad to help you out.

 

R_Ann

I'm fairly new to Hypermiling, but if you browse this website you can obtain LOADS of valuable information. Thanks to everyone who posts, and especially to the Senior Prius Posters. Check out their advice, and you will be getting great mileage soon. Sticky added an Acronym Thread "http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=13051&hl=acronyms" (or just search on acronyms) that helped me. I'm working on 59.2 mpg on my current tank -200 miles, and the information on this site really helped. I have no EV switch or mods. welcome, and good luck Hypermiling

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(R_Ann @ Aug 1 2007, 02:20 PM) [snapback]488813[/snapback]</div>

It's not really hard to GET (if your engine's up to temp), but it's a little harder to HOLD ONTO. First, accelerate (ICE only, if possible) up to about 40mph. Take your foot all the way off -- you should see the regen (green) arrows. Then, with as little hesitation as possible, BARELY press ("feather") the pedal. You should enter the glide (all-black) condition. If you get the EV (orange) you're pressing too hard. To maintain the optimum glide, you will be slowly but constantly DECELERATING. Adjust the pressure as your speed drops. The difference between right and wrong is very small. Some people have been known to drive barefoot to maximize their sensitivity! When you're down to the minimum that traffic will allow, repeat the process. Attached is a picture of my commute home yesterday afternoon. I have the luxury of a long stretch of rural paved road with a 30-mph speed limit and only a couple of stop lights. I tend to P & G between 38 & 25 mph. I'm still experimenting trying to find the optimum rate of acceleration. I've only known about this stuff since about March, so I'm not seasoned, but learning fast.

Good luck.

-scottyd

 

R_Ann, in a Prius a bit of a drive is nothing. People drive for a couple hours to go to the Prius meet for lunch. I'm driving across the state (the short way) to get the car "shrink wrapped".

Even at 100F the engine is cold.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(R_Ann @ Aug 1 2007, 04:20 PM) [snapback]488813[/snapback]</div>

ICE(Internal Combustion Engine, also known as the gasoline engine, specifically in the prius it is called the Atkinson cycle vs. the Otto cycle for all other vehicles...maybe the RX7 has a rotary engine)

Required reading.... go to this link and read about Prius power flow
http://priuschat.com/Introduction-to-Prius...low-t30286.html
The state of charge on the traction(HV) battery is controlled by a battery computer. The visible part of the battery you see is 40%-80%. The batt computer wants to keep the HV battery at 60%(5-6 blue bars) all the time. This is to maximize the life of the battery.
It is very hard to get your battery to 8 green bars unless you already have 6 blue bars and you go down a hill at approx 6% grade or better for about 3-4 miles(coasting preferrably). After this if you keep driving on a flat surface the car uses the excess energy to run MG2 to help power the car to draw the HV battery back down to 6 blue bars(approx 60%). If you have all greens all the time then the car has no place to store excess energy and must burn it up through resistors as heat to the environment. The HV battery is what starts your ICE(gas engine).
Read the 5 stages of operation here(click on the HERE link in the first post):
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=4...amp;hl=5+Stages

Ahhh. Blocking the upper grill. I blocked my upper grill for summertime but not the lower. It forces the ICE to operate at slightly higher temps which makes it more efficient. I do not recommend doing this unless you have the scanguage II to monitor engine coolant temps. Blocking the lower grill also during extreme cold months will also give greater FE. If you can not keep up with the lingo then you need to read this:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...l=abbreviations
hope all of this helps. Read often and tell other drivers about this site.....very informative.

When people say "Pulse & Glide" most people think push the accelerator then coast to recharge the battery......
This is not the true intent of pulse and glide. It take some skill to do this properly.

1. PULSE Only pulse up to 40 MPH or below because at 41MPH the ICE will continue to run at 960 rpm even though the engine icon on your energy screen is not pink( lit up) to prevent MG1 from overspeeding. Yes I have the scanguageII and I have watched it countless times. If I am on a flat surface and doing P&G and get 41 mph by mistake then the ICE will not shut off(0rpm) until I reach about 37-38 mph so that is a few more seconds before the ICE shuts off and more fuel consumed. To prevent exceeding 40 mph on a down hill slope then do not pulse up to 40...make it less based on how long the hill is. I like to use regen to slow down if I know the rest of the down hill will take me where I wan to go without more acceleration. While on this note I will say that above 45 MPH the wind drag kicks in greatly and gets increasingly intense the faster you are above this speed.

2. GLIDE. This is the point that you take your foot off of the pedal to force the ICE to shut off. Read the 5 stages of operation and click on the here link to help you facilitate when the ICE will and will not shut off based on what STAGE it is in http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=4...amp;hl=5+Stages After you remove your foot from the accelerator you then must reengage the accelerator ever so slightly while watching the energy screen to observe a NO ARROWS CONDITION(not regenerating AND not providing propulsion...no pink or yellow arrows). You might be thinking by now.....why is this so in depth??? It takes some SKILL, slight of foot or feather foot to accomplish this. You can not be eating, conversing on the phone and any other things while trying to stay in a P&G mode. It clearly takes some skill and knowledge to do this correctly. I am trying to provide you the knowledge and pass on the info I have for this. From now on when having a conversation about P&G you can pass the MPH threshold and No arrows conditions on so others know. When someone says glide in the future this is what comes to mind each time.

3 Do it all over again...try to watch for traffic lights and anticipate them so you can Glide. If you have a down hill ride home like I do for an entire mile prior to your drive way then you will master the downhill glide for battery recharge vs. no arrows glide condition. Good luck with this and keep us posted. If you feel this info is particularly useful and you have more input I will edit my post to accomodate your thoughts. Please advise through PM or click on my name and email me direct and please copy and paste the URL as I have many post so far on multiple threads.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D Rock @ Aug 16 2007, 03:46 AM) [snapback]496760[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for this added info. I have read many of the posts before, but it takes time behind the wheel to learn how it really works.

I don't have the P&G down, but I'm learning. I'm not yet 300 miles into this new world, but I'll get better.

I was quite worried when, for the first few days, I saw only four or five blue bars -- and several times I was down to two purple bars. I wondered if I'd ever see green! Today, after driving at highway speed for a long time, I finally saw green! I then was disappointed to find it quickly go away and return only infrequently. To find out that this only means the car is operating within its design limits brings great relief.

More insights to share?