An update on the Prius that I've been driving for 1.5 months. I've spun its wheels about 1300 miles now. It's getting a running average of about 47.5 miles out of each gallon of gasoline. For those who haven't seen one before, this is the fuel consumption display that is set in the middle of the dashboard:

One of the things that driving a Prius has taught me is that fuel efficiency varies a lot. On cold mornings, driving up my hill in DC, I'm getting like 7 miles per gallon. But then out on the highway on a flat stretch, going 65 mph, I get 100 miles per gallon. Huge disparity there. As much as having an innovative engine, I think some of my success with the (relatively) low gas mileage is learning how to maximize efficiency through my own driving habits. This little dashboard display is constantly telling me whether I'm getting as much as I can be out of my gasoline, and I can adjust my pedal position or coasting strategy accordingly. It's more brainwork than driving my old Corolla used to be, but it's also kind of engaging to be thinking about. Anyhow, it's still giving me good gas mileage and a lot of positive vibes.

Also: another geo-blogger, Jim Repka, wrote about his Prius in a recent post.

Labels: oil, prius