Guess I'm a contrarian....

I'm like you; I just drive it, although I'm more sensitive to mileage issues that I was with other cars. I suspect most Prius drivers are like that. You have to remember that PC contains a self selected group of Prius nuts, who are more likely to embrace extreme techniques. It's that way with all enthusiasts.

Tom

 

I'm probably somewhere in-between. I do make some effort to optimize my mileage, but I try to not be obsessive about it.

I think it reflects the strength of the design that you can just turn on the cruise control and get good mpg without
obsessing about getting fantastic mpg.

 

Well, we all have our obsessions.
By watching the consumption screen, I've noticed that going a bit slower uphill can make a big difference to the mileage. If you'd rather stick it on cruise and not worry about it, that's fine. If I'd rather not worry that the wax I use on my bike to keep the dust off is actually heavier than the dust and will slow me down, that's ok too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mootsman @ May 4 2007, 08:35 AM) [snapback]435367[/snapback]</div>

With your last sentence you've partially answered your question. Like Tony, I enjoy the challenge. Others obviously are like you and just enjoy the drive. And still get respectable results. To each his own, and I respect all approaches. That is, except when the driver is a road rager.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mootsman @ May 4 2007, 08:35 AM) [snapback]435367[/snapback]</div>

Driving on rolling hills is pulse and glide, minus the annoying changes in speed that you'd get on the flat. That's a geeky thing to say but it's still true. You use the engine at some moderate power level (in an efficient load range) to get up the hill, storing energy as potential energy (height) rather than as kinetic energy (speed) as it would be on the flat. The engine shuts off on the downhill where it would be at an inefficiently low load range. You release the potential energy (lose height) rather than release the kinetic energy (lose speed) as you would on the flat. The only difference is that energy is stored as potential energy (height) rather than kinetic energy (speed). Instead of annoying changes in speed, you get pleasing changes in height. I have one route -- to visit my mother -- that's 9 miles of rolling hills with few stops, and no matter who drives it (me or my wife) we get better mileage on that route than we do anywhere else we drive. Rolling hills is ideal Prius terrain. And I bet you'd get slightly better mileage if you took it off cruise control and let it slow down and speed up a bit at hilltops and valley bottoms -- it would avoid some of the losses inherent in cycling charge in and out of the battery. Of course, I have no data to back that up. But I believe what Dr. Fusco has occasionally pointed out, that from a mileage point of view, the best thing to see on the energy screen is nothing -- no arrows at all. And you'd get more of that if you let it pick up speed on the downhills. But point taken, at mid-50s mpg, why bother.