Civic Hybrid 45 MPG HWY 12.3 gallon tank 2877 LB Curb = 553 Miles/Tank
Civic EX-L 36 MPG HWY 13.2 gallon tank 2820 LB Curb = 475 Miles/Tank


So on a single tank of gas, the hybrid travels an extra 78 miles while carrying around more weight than the standard Civic? Seems like it's going a little further than a quarter mile.

 

We did not have any Priuses there. They were all Lexus. We had like 8 people in the class. With the engine/generator disabled, the vehicle will not go far on only hybrid battery power. Trust me. It also takes an enormous amount of power(electric) to simply get the vehicle rolling. When the motor generator is working with the batteries, they charge often, and they charge very fast.

 

I cannot say first hand with the prius, but the Lexus models are bigger and heavier. I am sure when the plug in hybrids come out, they will go quite a bit further on battery alone.

 

you listed out the size of the gas tanks as well.. 553-475+ an extra 36 for that gallon of gas = 114 miles.. but still the vehicles are built to operate with the engine in place as well.. 1/4 mile might be right though. The electric motor is made to get the vehicle rolling for less gas and to recover the energy in the cars momentum when you make stops.. it's not really meant to drive the vehicle.

 

Depending on how heavy you are accelerating, it may use the electric motor(s) and may use the engine as well. The RX has two electric motors that move the vehicle, and another that is used to start the engine, as well as generate electricity when the engine runs.

 

^ Yup I know all about it.. my moms got one and Ive had plenty of time driving it. Youre gonna suffer on mpg if you have a heavy foot though.

 

Is it a Prius or a 400H?

 

A prius.. the thing is ugly as sin but it isn't bad to drive.

 

my girlfriend has a prius...those things are dogs. i wonder if there's a way to give it more pep...maybe use the electric motor and the engine at the same time. idk, just thinking out loud i suppose. then again i'm the kind of guy that can't leave **** alone. for example, my friends and i got a free go kart and it just wasn't fast enough. so what did we do? what could be better than a supercharged briggs and strat using a mustang air pump? lol

 

People mod the Prius all the time.Usually, the programming in order to get better gas mileage. I'm sure you can reverse it, but I wouldn´t know the consequences in terms of the charging, etc.