Why is my Prius gas mileage decreasing?

Believe it or not, the number one reason Prius owners see a decrease in fuel economy is inclement weather. That means extreme hot or extreme cold (like we are seeing now) plays a massive role in your Prius’s efficiency.

Why is my hybrid getting bad gas mileage?

“Hybrids get notably lower mileage in the winter, due to reduced battery performance and greater use of power-sapping heating,” writes John Voelcker at Green Car Reports. With less power available from the battery, the car has to rely on the internal combustion engine more. The engine uses gas, thus, lower gas mileage.

Do diesels get worse mpg in winter?

Winter blend fuels contain additives to lower the temperature at which diesel fuel gels. These additives adversely affect the cetane level of the fuel and can result in a loss of one-half to three-quarters of an mpg in fuel efficiency.

How do I get the best gas mileage out of my Prius?

Following Prius-Only Steps. Drive at slower speed when possible. Try to take routes that have long stretches with few stops with speed limits of at least 30–35 mph (48–56 km/h). At speeds less than 45 mph (72 km/h), when you reach speed, remove your foot from the accelerator pedal, this turns off the gasoline engine.

Does cold weather affect hybrid gas mileage?

Fuel economy tests show that, in city driving, a conventional gasoline car’s gas mileage is roughly 15\% lower at 20°F than it would be at 77°F. It can drop as much as 24\% for short (3- to 4-mile) trips. The effect on hybrids is typically greater. Their fuel economy can drop about 30\% to 34\% under these conditions.

Does Prius need to warm up?

Warming it up is not necessary and will only reduce your MPG. Running an engine hard before it’s warmed is bad for an engine, and also increases polution as the CC isn’t fully warmed yet. On a prius though, letting it rev in neutral to warm up is unnecesary.

Is a Toyota Prius slow?

It is slow among its peers, though. Yes, they do accelerate slower than most cars. But, under normal conditions, most cars don’t use maximum acceleration, so the Prius can indeed accelerate just as fast as all the other cars under normal conditions.