I amended my previous post, I understand your response.

I use light breaking while going down hills rather than using "B" mode. When level and when I can I use light pressure on the accelerator to keep the ICE from running. The problem is when I go up that hill my mileage goes into the toilet.

 

Can you moderate your speed going up the hill to 65 mph or less? The reason is this will let you gain altitude efficiently, 55 mph is a special sweet spot if the traffic allows. The potential energy you gain will be available on the reverse side as long as you can avoid the least efficient climb speeds and modes.

Bob Wilson

 

"I'm not really sure what you're asking. Could you clarify it?"

Everytime you "warp stealth" (that still sounds cool to me . . . I must be getting old!) above 42 MPH the battery pack is used. Say you are doing 65MPH and decide to coast, the battery pack will kick in regardless. When you do the same in "B" mode, no battery pack energy is used. That is what I meant, free coast (no energy flow whatsoever) above 42 MPH.

BTW, I just found out that you can do a combination of "cruise control+slight pressure on the gas" that allows to keep an on screen average above 64MPG. I have been doing a 50 miles trip every day (100 miles total per day) on highway using this technique and "Dreamer" is well above the EPA's value, even in highway and with very little effort if any. The way I calibrate my pressure on the pedal is by doing say 60 to 65 MPH and then finding the pressure where the on screen computer says the car uses 90 MPG or about. I fix my foot in that place, set cruise at 55 MPH and enjoy the ride. Every little climb uses more energy but in the downhill portion it extends a lot in the 90 MPG range. Beautifull and simple.

 

fluteman — What you say about battery usage when coasting above 42 miles per hour is not correct. Here's what happens in the Camry Hybrid when coasting at speed in 'D.' Electrical power flows from MG1 to MG2 (some power may also flow to the NiMH battery to charge it, if needed) so as to spin the ICE (using no fuel — it's in "fuel cut" mode) in order to protect MG1 from over-revving while applying mild engine braking. In 'B' mode, the direction of electrical power flow is from MG2 to MG1. The Prius is undoubtedly similar, but its numbers may be somewhat different. For more information, see my Graphs F, G, I and J in post #34 in the TCH Forum's thread "Heretical Mode."

Stan

 

HI Battery Buddies! - my commute home includes a long steep downhill, and then a slope all the way through town to my house in Stealth Mode. The engine doesn't run at all for the last 3-4 miles of the 34 mile commute. I coast down the steep hill in D and drop into B for the last 2-300 yards to the 25 MPH sign. I often reach the bottom with Full Green. The other day, I got behind a slow towed RV Trailer, and used light braking most of the way down the hill, and when I dropped into B, the engine RPMs were normal at first and then raced much faster. I think the battery was fully charged much higher up the hill due to the light braking, and I experienced True Engine-Only Braking for the first time! Before, I was still 'topping off' the battery, and didn't need all the engine RPM. Quite a difference!

 

thanks for the infomation. the link to the article was very helpful. i have an additional question. my 2010 has an ev mode but anytime i try to use it i am told that the function is not availible. how and when is ev used.