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

Whats MPG assuming always using electrical motor

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by sil180sr, Sep 30, 2008.

  1. sil180sr

    sil180sr Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2008
    4
    1
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Hi all!
    Thinking about purchasing a prius for the mother. She basically drives local for a total of 3-4 miles a day, 5 days a week, and makes the occasional grocery trips. I would assume driving like this would mean she would constantly be using the electric motor. Top speed of 45mph, which will engage the engine? Will she benefit from driving a Prius for such short trips?

    Your inputs are appreciated! Thanks!
     
    #1 sil180sr, Sep 30, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    She'll probably see ~45mpg. Your assumptions about the electric motor are not accurate...but don't worry about that. The engine starts any time you drive the car and it works in unison with the electric motor. her problem will be the very short trips making it hard to get particularly good MPG.
     
    #2 efusco, Sep 30, 2008
  3. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2008
    1,483
    137
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    With 3-4 mile round trip or 1.5-2mile one way, just long enough to warm up the engine to operating temperature, lucky to get upper 30mpg.

    But this is still much better than a Corolla, which may give you mid 20 mpg under the same driving condition.


    quote=sil180sr;719054]Hi all!
    Thinking about purchasing a prius for the mother. She basically drives local for a total of 3-4 miles a day, 5 days a week, and makes the occasional grocery trips. I would assume driving like this would mean she would constantly be using the electric motor. Top speed of 45mph, which will engage the engine? Will she benefit from driving a Prius for such short trips?

    Your inputs are appreciated! Thanks![/quote]
     
    #3 bedrock8x, Sep 30, 2008
  4. Ogo

    Ogo Prius Owner since 2008

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2008
    220
    44
    9
    Location:
    Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    For such very short daily trips, buying a hybrid, especially a new one, does not make much sense. Maybe when gas prices go toward 20 bucks per gallon.
     
    #4 Ogo, Oct 5, 2008
  5. jpadc

    jpadc Type before I think too often

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    343
    34
    0
    Location:
    Indianapolis and Northern Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    But that is exactly the sort of driving that would be perfect for a plug in Prius (even a 6 mile one). I certainly hope Toyota offers one in the US market in the next year or two...
     
    #5 jpadc, Oct 5, 2008
  6. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Get a Corolla or Yaris.
     
    #6 patsparks, Oct 5, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)