Top 10 for New Owners

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(momfortheenvironment @ Jul 6 2006, 06:51 PM) [snapback]282331[/snapback]</div>

You won't find it in the manual. The idea is to accelerate to about 40 mph (but never over 42) at a rate of acceleration at which you see no arrows into or out of the battery on the Energy screen, and then let up on the pedal briefly and then apply very gentle pressure so that the engine shuts off (no arrows out of the engine) and there are no arrows into or out of the battery. The "pulse" is acceleration on engine only, no battery, and the "glide" is coasting without engine and with no energy into or out of the battery.

The result is an extremely erratic driving style, guaranteed to annoy other drivers behind you, and likely to draw the attention of any cop who happens to notice you, as you may appear to be drunk. It also is the most efficient way to drive a Prius. The ultra-high-mileage P&G drivers who did this in a long-distance cross-country test were stopped several times by cops for their erratic driving.

You will burn less gas if you can master this technique, and you will increase your chances of causing an accident or engendering road rage in other drivers. The actual amount of gas you save will be small, since you are already burning relatively little gas. Is it more important for you to achieve bragging rights for high mpg numbers, or is it more important to drive safely? I'd say the latter. Especially for a mom who (presumably) often has her kids in the car.

Pulse and Glide is not a responsible way to drive on city streets. Save it for rural roads where there really is no traffic at all.