Here and elsewhere, I read that the way to get maximum MPG out of a Prius is to drive using the "pulse and glide" method. So I took a look at YouTube videos demonstrating "pulse and glide" - some specific to Prius, and some more generalized. After spending an hour or so watching various videos, I thought to myself, "That's the way I've been driving my whole life, since the day I learned to drive!" So I'm confused. What other way is there to drive BESIDES "pulse and glide"??
there are many ways to drive. probably the most common these days is to press the accelerator to the floor until reaching desired speed, driving as close to the bumper of the car in front of you in hopes that they will speed up, and waiting until the last minute to stop by mashing the brake pedal, in hopes that the reason for stopping will change before you get there. and then there is the way most people are taught to drive. accelerate with traffic, maintain speed with traffic, and brake with traffic. neither of these methods will result in mileage as good as pulse and glide. no one teaches pulse and glide, where did you learn it? i had never heard of it before joining priuschat. first of all, you can't really glide in a gasser like a hybrid.
I accelerate to the speed limit, engage cruise control, and am a predictable 'target' for speeders. speeding up and slowing down in front of them will only encourage road rage. (yes I could save some gas with pulse and glide, but there is something to be said for consistency as well) If there is no traffic behind me, I glide to a stop, often 3/4 of a mile.
