Poor ev milage on 24 prime

I'm now seeing 44-46 on the projected EV mileage on a 2024 Prime, varying by air conditioning use and weather - here in South Florida we have the advantage of very warm weather which improves battery efficiency.

What I'm less clear on is the effect of tire pressure. The 32 psi recommendation seems low to me...I ran my 2017 Prime Advanced at 38...

 

You can do your own testing.
Try a tank full (or a few 'EV range' tests) with the tires at their 'Max Pressure' as stated on the tire sidewall.
You won't hurt anything. You might notice a harsher ride over small bumps.

 

The recommendation likely favors ride comfort. I find under 40 psi squishy in most cases. Higher pressure gives a stiffer ride, while reducing rolling resistance and tread wear. Take care when testing out higher pressures though. The traction might drop.

Also measure tread depth across the tire. Too high, and center will wear faster. Measure even if you don't change the pressure. Some gen2s at recommended pressure wore the sides faster, which means the pressure is too low.

 

I find the EV range is strongly affected by outside temperature. All summer I was getting 60-61 kms EV range, but as it got colder, now I get 50.

 

The EV range of my Prius 5 Prime, has now increased to 99 km, (61.5 Miles) which you can achieve mainly on normal country roads (50 km/h to 80 km/h). (31 miles / 50 miles).

When I drive on the highway (112 km/h) (70 miles/h) this range quickly drops to only 70 km. (43 miles) always in EV mode.
When I make longer trips, I almost always drive in "Auto EV mode" and "Predictive mode" with a full route in the standard onboard navigation system.
(manually switching between EV and HV mode clearly consumes more)

When I bought the car in November 2024, I started with only 71 km of range, this first increased a little to 76 km, but on days below 11°C, this dropped 4 to 5 km and with real freezing temperatures this dropped to about 64 km. (40 miles).
The total range on petrol for a full tank is about 756 km or 470 miles, whereby this is mostly used by the Prius on the highway (112 km/h or 70 miles) in Auto EV mode.

My Prius has 195/50-19 inch summer tires because there is little snow here and a normal panoramic roof.
When switching on the heat pump, (battery and even for interior) but also lights, windshield wipers, you immediately see a decrease in the range. (I don't see any disadvantages of steering wheel and seat heating, I don't have seat ventilation in my Prius))
Frequent regenerative braking is essential, otherwise I drive calmly at the maximum permitted speed.

• The average kWh consumption has also dropped from 13.3 kWh/100 km to 9.27 kWh/100 km (including charging loss) or now 6.7 miles/kWh
• Gasoline consumption dropped from 2.1 L/100 km to 1.59 L/100 km or now 147.93 mpg (US)
(This is always for the total distance driven by the car)

Here I drive a total of 74.5% on electricity (always a power outlet at home with PV, regenerative braking, electricity via HV mode). At home I use a normal 230 Volt socket and charge the car at max 10 Ampère, for 5h20 for an empty battery (11.45 KW)

That is more than the official consumption of 0.7 L/100 km, but I am still satisfied with this.

 

Is there any way to drive where you don't use Regen Braking? The Prius has Blended Brakes.
Regen is the act of slowing down.
And some would say the less regen (braking) you do, the more efficient the power usage.

 

The trim level makes a significant difference, particularly the 17” verses 19” wheels - in my 2024 Prime SE I have gotten 92 km (57 miles) of EV driving with moderate speeds, good weather and minimal use of A/C or heat.

Rain and cold weather drops that down to the epa range of 71 km (44 miles) and highway speeds drop it further.

 

Regen Braking = Blended Brakes = braking by recovering electricity via the electric motors, which then work as an alternator

The only difference is:

· Regeneration braking happens automatically when you release the accelerator or when using ACC, but you can turn it on or off and adjust it at 3 levels or using B drive. (Vehicle Settings)

· Mixed braking is if you uses the brake pedal, until you push so hard that the disc brakes also become active.


Always letting the car roll out completely to a standstill or deceleration is indeed the most efficient way to use electricity sparingly.

However, this is not always possible...

· The second best way used to be, gradually "mixed" braking with the brake pedal. (and thus recovering electricity)

· The third best way, because people do not always pay attention in traffic and therefore suddenly have to press the brake pedal too hard, "Regenerative braking" was developed or when driving ACC.



A Prius with 17 inch rims drives more economically than one with 19-inch rims. This is because the 19-inch rims weigh more and you therefore have to use more energy to accelerate.

However, because the tire width is the same 195 mm, there is no greater rolling resistance.

The greater mass of the 19-inch rims does give a greater flywheel effect, which you can (partially) recover by letting yourself roll out or using regenerative / blended braking and the real disc brakes as little as possible.