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Highway Trip non-stop cruising.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by tomzgod, Jun 3, 2007.

  1. tomzgod

    tomzgod New Member

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    I went to Michigan which is 310 Miles away from me at night. I was driving a constant 70mph on the highway on cruise, I was averaging 45/47mpg. 475 Miles on a full tank with half a gallon left. Not possible to get 1000 miles on a full tank, maybe if your driving downhill.
     
  2. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    I saw you post in VABeachPrius' 1000-mile tank thread, so I'll assume you're referring to that. You are correct; there is no way you'll come close to that on the highway. He is doing it with almost exclusively city driving and extensive use of "hypermiling" techniques.
     
  3. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    If you come to our ChicagoPriusGroup outreach this Saturday, I can show you how VABeachPrius is doing what he is.

    Wayne
     
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomzgod @ Jun 2 2007, 11:39 PM) [snapback]454225[/snapback]</div>
    How far is Michigan from you during daylight? :p
     
  5. redrockprius

    redrockprius redrockprius

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 3 2007, 02:47 PM) [snapback]454545[/snapback]</div>
    I remember when I was growing up in Jersey (before the NJ Turnpike and GS Parkway existed) it took just over an hour to go from the Newark suburbs to southern Jersey (Manasquan) in the winter and about half a day in the summer. Never thought to check the day/night difference. :D
     
  6. Specialissimus

    Specialissimus New Member

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    Along some sections of the I-15 my old (1988) Camry would just refuse to run without overheating during the day. Same thing in Death Valley. That makes it take a looonog time to get places in the day. :)
     
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomzgod @ Jun 2 2007, 11:39 PM) [snapback]454225[/snapback]</div>
    At 70 mph, you got pretty much what is expected:
    [​IMG]


    Bob Wilson
     
  8. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    Coincidentally, I just got Wayne Brown's Palm-based MPG simulator, as described here. I plugged some numbers into it for your trip, making some assumptions (that may not be valid) about your driving conditions. The assumptions:
    • 60F ambient temperature (for night time driving)
    • Chicago's elevation (as reported by the simulator) of 596'
    • 70% humidity (again, for night driving)
    • Barometric pressure of 30.00
    • Load of 200# (passengers and cargo)
    • No AC
    • No winds
    • E10 as fuel
    • Smooth, dry pavement
    • Goodyear Integrity tires inflated to 44 front, 42 back
    The simulator also assumes level terrain. (It doesn't look like that can be changed.)

    The result: 46.57 MPG, remarkably consistent with your results. Out of curiosity I analyzed each of these changes individually:
    • 50F ambient: 44.91 MPG
    • 50% humidity: 46.54 MPG
    • Barometric pressure of 29.8: 46.75 MPG
    • 400# load: 46.04 MPG
    • 10 MPH head wind: 39.75 MPG
    • 10 MPH cross wind: 39.83 MPG
    • 10 MPH tail wind: 54.71 MPG
    • Summer fuel, no ethanol: 48.26 MPG
    • Light rain: 42.16 MPG
    • Goodyear Integrities inflated to 38/36: 45.19 MPG
    If you can give me these variables specific to your drive, I can plug them in.
     
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Jun 6 2007, 08:39 AM) [snapback]456477[/snapback]</div>
    Try it with a quartering headwind and see how the numbers drop...it's really dramatic at those speeds. Also, show him how much the mpg improves with a speed drop to 65mph.
    (sorry, feeling too lazy to drag my pda out to do this myself...I've paid my dues in the past posting stuff just like this, it's your turn to do it while you're still playing w/ your new toy!)
     
  10. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 6 2007, 09:43 AM) [snapback]456480[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah, Wayne and I have had some dialog about it. As I'm sure you know, he says his observations show that winds in the 35-39 degree region relative to vehicle direction have the most effect.

    Not a problem playing on behalf of others. You've paid your PC dues many times over with this and in many other ways! Of course now others can have their own toy for just $22. :)

    Anyway, Tomzgod, dropping the speed in the base scenario returns the following:

    65 MPH: 49.87 MPG.
    60 MPH: 53.90 MPG
    55 MPH: 57.08 MPG