On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:43:50 -0500, Bob Noel
wrote:

In article ,
James Robinson wrote:

I have seen people quote average mileage numbers as low as 25 mpg in very

On the expressway ours will run about 46 MPG at 70 MPH. Faster than
that and it's down hill in a hurry, but there are no places around
here where we can legally go faster than 70. Most of the roads are 55,
but typical traffic moves 62 to 63. What ever it's moving, just stay
with it.

I can't imagine one getting 25 even in the coldest part of our
winters. Of course it's a small engine and cools quickly so maybe they
just leave it running out in the parking lot.
Of course if they drive the belt way around Atlanta where the off
ramps are running about 65, the center two lanes about 80 and who know
what the through lanes are running. It was fast enough I was
uncomfortable in a Trans Am with a Corvette engine.

The early Prius did not get as good a mileage as the present ones.

cold or hot climates, to over 55 mpg under ideal conditions. Some quote
consistent numbers of 35 mpg. So it seems that people can experience a
great spread of fuel economy with the car.

Some things that adversely impact the per mile fuel economy of my hybrid:

1) ethanol in the fuel

Everything here is 10% ...so far.

2) New England winters (the engine runs much more often to stay warm)
it should only run if the battery needs charging or it needs extra HP
for the moment. Even in the winter if we don't let it warm up the
engine doesn't start until after the garage door has opened and we are
half way to the road. it seems strange to back out of the garage and
then the engine starts, or pull out of a parking spot and start down
the he street before it starts.

We actually let it warm up in Michigan winters and use the air
conditioner a lot in the summer and have still been running about 47.
Admittedly that is only after a bit over a year and a half.

3) short trips

On short trips (5 or 6 miles) it does very well

However the car is extremely sensitive to driving technique and winds.
Jackrabbit starts with full throttle to highway speeds and mashing on
the brakes at the next stop really kill the mileage.

Gentle starts (no you don't have to take a mile to get up to 55) and
light braking seem to be the best combination. Light braking seems to
be the key. The regenerative braking appears to work, but not when
it's mainly maximum effort stops.

There are clubs that are experimenting with unmodified cars running
contests using driving technique. There was a program (Discovery
Channel...I think) where several of the members using the Toyota Prius
did well over 100 MPG. I think the winner was 128 MPG. Of course they
were using driving techniques that would never fit into normal city or
hill country driving without getting the driver shot:-))

Setting the cruise control in hills is hard on the mileage. You let
is ease up the hill while gently slowing and then let it gain speed
coasting, or slowly accelerating down hill. That is where it really
shines.

Roger (K8RI)