How do I get better gas mileage out of a toyota prius?

[shepdawg5000]

I read an article a few months back where some prius owners found ways to get 200-300 mpg, with someone found a way to get 500 mpg (the article said the person lives in california and is an electrical engineer). I know it involves adding more batteries and doing a couple of other electrical modifications, but I simply do not know how to hook it all up. Also, as a side question, I would like to know if anyone has actually put an aftermarket stereo into a prius (I am refering to equalizer, atleast two amplifiers, replacing stock speakers and adding subwoofers) and how they accomplished it.

 

[Joeschmoe]

I would advise against modifying your Prius by tampering with the hybrid drive. It will void the 8-year / 100,000-mile warranty.

The current NiMH battery in the Prius holds enough charge to move the car on electric alone for about 2 miles. In order to extend the electrical range you will have to modify the Prius by putting in an entire bank of batteries on the body floor, building a new cabin floor above it, then modifying the electronics to work with the new battery banks.

Toyota is coming out with a new-redesign Prius in 2010 that will give you that same kind of long-range electric capability by using a much more compact Lithium Ion battery. I suggest waiting for that instead.

 

[pro-diesel]

Do believe everything you read. Some of these figures are obtained under conditions that are not so normal. The driving techniques are done very carefully by professional drivers. Slow accleration, careful braking, coasting, and not using the A/C. One way you can get better mileage out of your Prius is keeping your revs down while driving it on gasoline and not using the A/C so much. What these people have done as well is spend LOTS of money to do this. Another thing you have to watch is voiding your warranty if you do these modifications. I know the existing batteries on the Prius are very expensive if they need replacing.