ZVW30 performance baseline, 2010 Prius
 

Hi,

I've been busy the last couple of days but wanted to share this baseline, performance data:
http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_2010_800.jpg
The benchmark protocol was to reach cruise control speed, confirm with the GPS and then reset the trip meter. The raw data:
direction MPG speed distance
E 65.3 50 5.2
W 67.5 50 5.3
N 58.3 60 8.1
S 64.1 60 8.2
N 55.3 65 7.9
S 54.2 65 8.2
E 57.1 70 14.3
W 47.9 70 13.2
E 51.6 75 10.5
W 47.1 75 14.3
S 40.0 80 11.7
N 39.4 80 11.7

To put things in perspective, our NHW11 gets 39 MPG at 75 mph:
http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/epa.jpg
This chart includes some high speed, NHW20 data gathered on a hot day, 90F. Sad to say, my 80 mph data was gathered at 62-64F, my first opportunity to run the test. This is a stock ZVW30 with none of our usual hacks running Shell 87 E10, the dealer tank.

I was also able to do some hill climb tests:
http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_2010_810.jpg
It looks and sounded like the maximum, sustained hill climb speed is between 77 and 84 mph. The maximum sustained speed is the engine-only powered speed that does not draw on the traction battery energy. For example, we also have an older, NHW11, 2003, and earlier testing revealed that the worst fuel consumption on a hill climb corresponds to the 'all engine' power up the hill:
http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_hill_climb.JPG

Bob Wilson

Hi Bob - Am I correct that the "ZVW30" is the 3rd gen Prius?

You might want to parenthetically indicate which vehicle it is when you first mention it. Outside of the Prius technical community, I bet not many people know what the letters & numbers mean!