This might be a dumb question...

The "B" is for Bliss. Only use it every few thousand miles, or you will use it up. That said, I drive in Bliss everyday and I still seem to have lots in reserve.

 

Hobbit's B-Mode piece: http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/b-mode.html
Must go to sleep now.

 

B = "engine Brake". It is used on long downgrades when you might otherwise ride the usual brakes to the point of overheating them. You don't want to use it in any normal driving because it reduces fuel economy. I don't think there's any place in Florida that you need it; the closest would be in Appalachia.

BTW, if the url in the previous post doesn't work try
http://216.235.242.8/~hobbit/cars/b-mode.html
Ironic that a site called "techno-fandom" should have nameserver problems :_>

 

B is for bypass, bypass this feature if you want good fuel consumption.
Use it only if you are going down a long steep hill which will see your battery over charged at the bottom. If this is the case use B mode but if the battery fills up the HSD system looks after the excess so don't worry about the battery. B mode in this rare situation can help maintain constant speed going down hills, like down shifting.

Use the normal service brake to maintain speed on hills normally, the Prius uses regenerative braking unless you brake hard so there is no danger of overheating the brakes when using them to maintain speed.

 

It's a mode that you may never need. If it wasn't there, most of us would not mind. DON'T let anyone tell you it stands for battery or battery mode.

 

I once thought you had to hold the shifter in "B" until you didn't want it anymore. Not sure where I got that idea from. I was later horrified to learn that my somewhat poor gas mileage was from the gear being in "B" until I shifted it to something else!

 

"B" is for "But, I thought I was going to get good MPG with this!!"

I've used it on long, long downhills, to reduce brake usage... but, other than that, just say No.

 

In brief summary:
The 'B' is good for LONG downhill decending (Engine Braking) only.
Never mind using the 'B' mode if you rarely driving on downhill roads.
That's it.