Posted by richard schumacher on October 22, 2007, 3:27 am
> Thanks guys for your help in responding to my initial question.
> I managed to get a longer test drive today and was even more impressed.
> One other thing I wanted to check up on ,which the dealer was unable to
> answer was how real is the possibility of the battery completely discharging
> when going up hilly roads and the car reducing its speed significantly
> because it only has the petrol engine left. I am asking the question because
> the NW of Scotland where I live does have some rather steep winding roads up
> the hillsides. I know I am only talking about sea level to about 1500 feet
> which is small by US standards but some of these are roads are 7 to 10
> miles before they reach the highest point. Is this an issue or am I worrying
> unnecessarily? The Dealer is situated on the east of the country where the
> land somewhat flatter so could not answer this.
People in North America drive them through the Rockies so your hills
will be no challenge. The engine will be loud and you may have the
sensation of a slipping clutch, but these are completely normal in a
Prius.
Posted by Bob & Holly Wilson on October 22, 2007, 5:15 am
> Thanks guys for your help in responding to my initial question.
> I managed to get a longer test drive today and was even more impressed.
> One other thing I wanted to check up on ,which the dealer was unable to
> answer was how real is the possibility of the battery completely discharging
> when going up hilly roads and the car reducing its speed significantly
> because it only has the petrol engine left. I am asking the question because
> the NW of Scotland where I live does have some rather steep winding roads up
> the hillsides. I know I am only talking about sea level to about 1500 feet
> which is small by US standards but some of these are roads are 7 to 10
> miles before they reach the highest point. Is this an issue or am I worrying
> unnecessarily?
What I've found is any speed below 65 mph (USA) or 105 km/hr will climb
all day long. However, for efficiency, I prefer to find a fully loaded
truck going up the hill and follow them up at their same speed. I often
use fully loaded trucks as my 'pace car.' I don't follow close behind
but just use them to set my cruise control speed.
What I've also found is this strategy preserves the excellent cross
country efficiency. It seems an efficient climb gets converted into
potential energy very efficiently and then plays out nicely on the
downgrade.
GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson
Posted by Elmo P. Shagnasty on October 22, 2007, 9:52 am
bwilson4use@hotmail.com (Bob & Holly Wilson) wrote:
> However, for efficiency, I prefer to find a fully loaded
> truck going up the hill and follow them up at their same speed.
Rt. 68 in WV?
You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph?
Posted by Bob & Holly Wilson on October 24, 2007, 1:39 am
> > However, for efficiency, I prefer to find a fully loaded
> > truck going up the hill and follow them up at their same speed.
>
> Rt. 68 in WV?
>
> You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph?
Rt. 68 in WV, that doesn't sound like an interstate.
Following trucks up grades works quite nicely on 4-lane, interstate
highways and I notice many of them in mountainous areas have a climbing
lanes, 5-lanes. For example, I-81 between Roanoke and Bristol.
Bob Wilson
Posted by Elmo P. Shagnasty on October 24, 2007, 4:05 am
bwilson4use@hotmail.com (Bob & Holly Wilson) wrote:
> > Rt. 68 in WV?
> >
> > You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph?
>
> Rt. 68 in WV, that doesn't sound like an interstate.
Yup, it is. Interstate 68.
And there's one helluva mountain right there.
XML site map
> I managed to get a longer test drive today and was even more impressed.
> One other thing I wanted to check up on ,which the dealer was unable to
> answer was how real is the possibility of the battery completely discharging
> when going up hilly roads and the car reducing its speed significantly
> because it only has the petrol engine left. I am asking the question because
> the NW of Scotland where I live does have some rather steep winding roads up
> the hillsides. I know I am only talking about sea level to about 1500 feet
> which is small by US standards but some of these are roads are 7 to 10
> miles before they reach the highest point. Is this an issue or am I worrying
> unnecessarily? The Dealer is situated on the east of the country where the
> land somewhat flatter so could not answer this.