best method(s) for going uphill?

The problem is we don't know the grade which along with velocity defines the energy needed to climb any individual hill. So I'll offer this ad hoc approach:

• use energy display and avoid 'from battery' arrow - going up a hill at highway speeds, the best state avoids borrowing energy from the traction battery. Let the very efficient 1.8L engine provide the hill climb energy (traffic permitting.) Slack off accelerator just enough to stop drawing traction battery power and my testing indicates you'll be doing about as good as can be done.
• Without borrowing traction battery energy, enter base of hill with maximum, permitable kinetic energy.
• Use semi-trailer trucks as pacing vehicles when climbing.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

I have an 8 mile commute to work. I live in Seattle and have one big hill and several smaller hills to get to where I am going. I have had my 2013 Prius 4 about 2 1/2 months and it seems like my to and from commute is about 47mpg no matter how I drive it. Times where I have freeway and street combo driving I am around 50mpg. I cringe when my hubby gets in to drive because he is a lead foot and my mpg goes to hell in a hand basket.

I try to keep it out of the power range on the smaller hills but there is no way in commute traffic to not get into the power range on the big hill. This is a 35mpg zone with on traffic light mid hill. I'm happy with it for now but always looking for good advice on how to be more efficient.