1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Playing the acceleration game.

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Fuel Economy' started by I'mJp, Apr 22, 2016.

  1. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    628
    552
    0
    Location:
    Ma, USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    Three
    Ok, it's become much easier to get trips in the 70+ mpg range with the gen 4. Also, at the end of the trip you get a score card.

    For the past week, I've been playing the acceleration game, doing rabbit starts, experiencing what the car can do (now that I've got 3k miles on it). When I get up to my cruising speed, I go back into being more conservative. I'm trying to get my acceleration score to go as low as it can go, while keeping the rest at near max. Haven't got a 0.... yet.

    Guess what, my overall mpg is still 70+ !!!

    Yahoo
     
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,066
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Based upon the Gen-4 ad hoc maximum acceleration test and regression testing of our Gen-3, this makes sense. You'll have to exceed ~78 mph in a Gen-3 before seeing a significant drop. The reason is the car reaches maximum 5200 rpm. Above this speed, the car has to do inefficient things.

    Keep trying!

    Bob Wilson
     
  3. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    1,396
    1,489
    0
    Location:
    Newark, OH, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    High ICE load at moderate RPMs is typically the most efficient way to get power from the ICE, which explains why hard acceleration isn't hurting your fuel economy.

    Is there a BSFC map available for the 2016s, out of curiosity? (It's worth noting that the Prius's transmission will almost certainly keep the engine at the best BSFC for the requested power demand, within emissions constraints.)

    Here's the BSFC map for the Gen 3, for what it's worth: Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) Maps - EcoModder

    So, on the Gen 3, it's most efficient to stay between about 11 and 31 kW (about 15-41 hp) of power requested from the ICE (more can be provided by the battery), but still reasonably efficient well past 40 kW (53 hp), maybe even up to 50 kW (67 hp). I'd guess that the Gen 4 would be fairly similar, but possibly broadened in range.
     
    Aaron Vitolins and CR94 like this.
  4. LauraThomas

    LauraThomas New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2020
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    1998 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    It's a good game, I love it.
     
  5. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    I think I have already got the lowest I'll see from it. I've never seen 70 MPG.

    Soon enough, I'll be below 41 MPG for the life of the car.