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wcmack · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 10:44 AM

Chris,

I should have given my answer to your "coasting" question in my last post. Here goes.

"E" mode as I understand it means the electric motor only is supplying power to the wheels. When you are coasting (as you put it), generally you are regenerating the big battery. Since the instantaneous MPG guage needs to have some reading at this point, I guess the Toyota engineers figured the best place to have the needle was at 60 MPG. This of course is technically incorrect, since the momentary MPG in that state is infinite (as it is in E mode).

BTW, to some on this site, the term "coasting" means something a little different...I've seen people on this site discuss coasting as that state where nothing is happening while the car is moving...no ICE, no regen and no electric motor. I personally have not seen this state for very long when I drive. As you do, I consider coasting to be moving with no power input to the wheels. But "hypermilers" seek that state of energy Nirvana where nothingness occurs, since this is thought to increase FE even more than being in regen!! (Some say it also causes the car to spontaneously levitate, but this may be purely apochryphal!!)