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#1 2007-10-18 19:54:45

prius03
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Registered: 2007-10-18
Posts: 3

Prius has city mpg higher than highway mpg?

Any idea why would 2003 prius have city mpg higher than highway mpg - 52 city vs 45 highway?

_no_links_mpgtune.com/epaDataLookup.php?mode=SEARCH&id=4850&year=2003&make=Toyota&model=Prius

Last edited by prius03 (2007-10-18 19:55:10)

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#2 2008-01-02 16:38:16

69Firebird400
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Registered: 2008-01-02
Posts: 7

Re: Prius has city mpg higher than highway mpg?

The Prius is relying more on the electric motors in the city cycle, but relies more on the gasoline engine during highway travel.  Most full hybrids have the same phenomenon.

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#3 2010-08-30 19:09:40

Yogi
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Registered: 2010-08-04
Posts: 2

Re: Prius has city mpg higher than highway mpg?

I believe that it is also because of the regenerative braking that hybrids use.  When you step on the brakes, the electric motor is reversed and becomes a generator, which recharges your batteries with the braking force which would otherwise be wasted as heat in conventional braking systems.  This recovered braking energy allows you to go further on a gallon of gas.  Also, the aerodynamic drag is greater at highway speeds and becomes a factor in the comparison.

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