Team Achieves 110 MPG Average In Prius
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 08.11.05
Dan Kroushl, Wayne Gerdes, Rick Reece and Bob Barlow drove 47 hours and 1,397 miles on 12.87 gallons of gasoline in an unmodified Toyota Prius. How did they do it? Carefully, of course. The 4 men alternatively drove the car in 4-hour shifts on a 15-mile stretch of Route 65 in the US and used the "pulse and glide" technique (some info about it here). They also tried to keep the car in the electric-only mode as much as possible, which resulted in the gas engine being used for only one third of the trip. They drove with the "low fuel" light blinking for more than 8 hours, something that few people could do without having a nervous breakdown.
This new record shows just how much our driving habits can influence fuel economy, especially with hybrid cars, and will hopefully bring more attention to hybrid cars and what is possible with current technology. Of course, this is an extreme scenario and the driving conditions were not "real world", but our everyday driving could benefit from more awareness of fuel economy (as we've already mentioned here).
::Post-Gazette, via ::AutoBlog
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Is the Cash for Clunkers Program Right for You?
- Save Water in Your Garden: 5 Tips for Maximum Conservation
- What is the Cheapest and Greenest Way to Travel?
- How to Use a Solar Oven: Beans and Rice Recipe
- Increase the Life of Your Car, Gas Mileage by Using The Correct Motor Oil
- Is Your Toilet Wasting Water? Take These Quick Tests to Find Out
Amazing!
Now imagine if they'd gone so far as to run an ethanol blend while doing this...
http://www.greenenergynetwork.com/media/studies/prius-e85.PDF
Amazing!
Now imagine if they'd gone so far as to run an ethanol blend while doing this...
http://www.greenenergynetwork.com/media/studies/prius-e85.PDF
Heh... something to live up too for all of us Prius owners. :) I have trouble making 50 mpg in Seattle because of all the hills. I get 65 on the way to work (down hill) and like 45 on the way home (all up hill).
Best I can do on my 07 Prius is 51, (we have 10% ethanol in our gas). And, ethanol, don't be fooled, it's not the answer some would like you to think it is. It takes 5 gallons of fossil fuel to make one gallon of ethanol, plus the water that is used is outrageous, not to mention the depletion of topsoil.
ethanol will decrease your mileage as it does not provide as much power as gas. It will decrease your emissions somewhat (prius is already super low emissions).
If I drive my Prius like i would a regular car I get around 43mpg... if I drive it conservatively and try to get max mileage (have to be willing to not be a leadfoot and drive a bit like a grandma) I can get 60+mpg regularly
that means they were averaging less than 30 mph. not practical unless you live in a major city.
I got 51.7 MPG Drafting a Grayhound Bus doing 80 MPH
How were you able to go 100 miles per gallon of not gas?????????
Please answer this as soon as possible because I'm doing an essay on you in biology class and I could really use this information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got about 80 mpg ONCE in a Prius going 40 mph for about 20 miles on an Interstate during rush hour and not having to brake. Usually I would have to brake or go faster. At 80 mph, I will average under 40 mpg every time.
My wife swears 10% ethanol reduces her gas mileage by 10% in a Prius. That should be just 1% because of the reduced energy in ethanol. Have others noticed this? This, if true, would mean ethanol is useless in a Prius. And now we can not pure gas.
Another way to save energy is to wear as few clothes as possible. This reduces cleaning supplies and the weight when you drive. ;-)
I got about 80 mpg ONCE in a Prius going 40 mph for about 20 miles on an Interstate during rush hour and not having to brake. Usually I would have to brake or go faster. At 80 mph, I will average under 40 mpg every time.
My wife swears 10% ethanol reduces her gas mileage by 10% in a Prius. That should be just 1% because of the reduced energy in ethanol. Have others noticed this? This, if true, would mean ethanol is useless in a Prius. And now we can not pure gas.
Another way to save energy is to wear as few clothes as possible. This reduces cleaning supplies and the weight when you drive. ;-)
getting high MPG out of your prius is not hard, it just takes a good feel for your car. get up to speed, and if possible drive behind another vehicle ( still with braking distance ). then let off your gas very gently. There is a little happy point where your car is using the bare minimum energy to maintain speed. Watch you consuption display. you will notice how you are getting over 100MPG. Gently press the gas ( feather gently ). You will pick up speed. Your MPG should still stay at 100MPG +. If your MPG drops you are pressing too much. Then gently let off again. and repeat. I was able to maintain 100MPG+ for over A 5 minute time frame on flat ground ( not down hill ). It is possible you just have to be very gentle. This was traveling at around 45 MPG and 48 MPH. When going 80 this is harder because of wind resistance and you have to be dangerous and draft off larger vehicles to achieve these results. Its easier at slower speeds. where wind resistance is not as large of a factor.
I get 50mpg with my 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. In addition it is the best car I've ever owned. Mileage drops off in winter due to fan HP necessary to keep the moisture off the windows. But my view of the future is an all electric future with offpeak charging from cheap nuclear power or my own wind powered electric system - fully independent from the monopoly oil/gas crowd. None of this future view requires action by anybody but me - all I have to do is convert my old Jeep Cherokee ( '92 245,000mi - still running straight six ) to electric drive and hoist up my windmill tower in the side yard - need to clear a few very tall white pines to help with wind energy flow to the mill - everyone needs to consider taking action now- stop waiting for someone else to solve your high energy cost problems. Be independent !!
If the hybrid vehicles were COMPLETELY redesigned to take advantage of the most efficient means possible. We could achieve much greater than 100 mpg . For example , 30"x 1.5" aluminum alloy rims attached to a carbon tubular chasis direct driven by dc permanent magnet regen. motors as well as low displacement three cylinder diesel multi fuel motors. Surrounded by a teardrop shaped ultralight composite body with thin film solar panels laminated to the body. Use Lithium Ion batterys for now till Hydrogen cell's can be mass produced. A hybrid of this type should be able to push effiency over 250 mpg without any noticable sacrifice of our ego supporting speed or power needs.
I get over 100 mpg regularly in my Honda Insight in real-world driving (though using 40~50 mph highways instead of interstates).
Typical mileage is 43mpg.
Ten percent ethanol brings it down to 38 mpg.
i ran out of gas on the highway in my 05 prius, i doubt they got 8 hours after it was on e!!
Lessee here... *takes out calculator*
1397 miles in 47 hours is... 29.72mph
Impressive. You'll get 110mpg, you just won't ever be able to get anywhere on time.