Your Hymotion™ plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is just like a regular hybrid or conventional gasoline powered car in that your fuel economy is greatly affected by the way you drive. Paying attention to a few basics like acceleration, maintaining vehicle speed and trip planning will help to improve your fuel economy and reduce your vehicle’s carbon emissions.

We find that Prius owners whose driving styles allow them to achieve the EPA rated 48 city/45 highway MPG with their standard Prius generally get double that or better in their Hymotion Prius. For those new to hybrids, here are some tips from Hymotion Prius drivers to get you on your way to truly exciting results!

Hymotion L5 PCM Usage

• Charge your L5 PCM as often as you can. The Hymotion L5 PCM must be charged and turned on to get the benefit of battery power. Plug in often to keep your L5 charged as much as possible to maximize the electrical energy available to drive your Prius. Frequent and/or partial charging won’t damage the life of the battery so plug in whenever you can!

• Plan ahead so you can start your day with a fully charged L5 PCM. A fully charged Hymotion L5 PCM has a range of 30 – 40 miles of electrical assistance before it is fully depleted. After the L5 is fully depleted, your fuel economy will revert to that of a stock Prius until you charge the L5 again. Therefore, the state of charge of your L5 when you set out for the day is important to get the most benefit over the distance of your trip.

Driving Techniques

• Accelerate gently. Smooth acceleration allows the gasoline engine to remain disengaged in many circumstances. Try driving as though there is an egg under the accelerator. Don’t smoosh it!
• Use the pulse and glide technique of acceleration to help disengage the engine. To pulse and glide ease off the accelerator to disengage the engine, then gently accelerate to increase or maintain vehicle speed using electric power.
• Use the Prius display for feedback. The Prius display monitors when the gasoline engine is engaged and provides real-time mileage numbers. Use this feedback to know when the gas engine is on and, if possible, apply the pulse and glide technique to help replace the engine’s power with battery power to maximize your fuel economy.
• Follow your intuition. You will notice which actions make the gasoline engine come on, solearn to be responsive with your foot. Easing off the accelerator at the right moment and gliding before the engine engages can become second nature.
• Stick to the posted speed limit. In many cases this will cause the gasoline engine to come on less frequently.

Other Factors to Consider

• Check your tire pressure regularly and keep tires inflated to the proper PSI.
• Seasonal changes will affect fuel economy. In cooler weather, the gasoline engine will come on more frequently to warm the vehicle’s emissions system and to provide cabin heat.
• If not needed, keep the defroster off as the defroster “on” setting will reduce the electrical assistance from the L5.

• Drive with an uncharged Hymotion L5 PCM; this will result in standard stock Prius fuel economy.
• Aggressive driving, i.e. accelerating hard and “flooring it”, will constrain your fuel economy.
• Failing to ‘listen’ to the car. You will notice what behaviors kick on the gas engine, both from viewing the dashboard display and from feeling and hearing the engine. If you make no adjustments in response to the information the car is giving you, you fuel economy will suffer.
• Blasting the heat. The vehicle uses the gasoline engine to power the heater.