Sometimes I "just drive it", and sometimes I like to drive it like a
mileage game. This is especially fun on my commute, since I know the
route so well and can compare one "game" to the rest.

This is how I drive to maximize mileage. None of this is new to this
group, but is my summary and my opinion of what works:

Basic principles:
1. Stay off the brakes as much as possible. This is intuitive, and,
as Lee explained recently (#10511) although regenerated energy is
better than none at all, it can be no better than 50% of the original
power.
2. When the ICE (internal combustion engine) runs, run it at high
rpm. This is ANTI-intuitive! I think we're conditioned to believe
that "gentle" acceleration and better mileage go hand-in-hand. Not
so when the ICE is on! In the Prius, gentle acceleration is only
good when the ICE is off. The Abe paper [Ref. 1] describes higher
thermal efficiency at higher engine output power. The driver's way
to access higher output power is to "accelerate briskly", which
generally means high ICE rpm.
3. The best information on whether the ICE is running or not (when
road/wind noise prevent you from hearing it) is the instaneous
mileage (right-hand bar) on the consumption screen (as Peter Rawlins
stated in #10514) Beware however, that even this screen has a 2-
second delay, so it's only "near-instantaneous". I can often feel
the ICE coming on before the screen indicates so.

---From stop to go. There are two ways to do this:
A) Accelerate slowly enough to delay the ICE from coming on as long
as possible, i.e., stay in "stealth" as long as possible. As long as
the ICE stays off, "gentle" acceleration is good.
B) Pedal to the metal.

"A" is often not practical because it seriously annoys drivers behind
you. "B" is very practical, and is a lot more fun than "A", with
very little, if any, mileage penalty. (You also get where you're
going in less time.)

---Driving. Accelerate briskly to speed, then get completely off the
accelerator so that the ICE shuts off, then gently apply the
accelerator to apply as much power as possible without forcing the
ICE to come on. This is the true essence of the "game". I find that
there is a certain light pressure that accomplishes this. A bit too
much pressure and the ICE comes on, too little pressure and I'm not
maximizing stealth power. The actual speed and acceleration (or
deceleration) of the car during all of this is highly dependent on
the terrain, especially the slope (uphill, downhill, or level). It's
the pressure on the accelerator that's key.

When the ICE comes on, I press the accelerator down far enough to
bring ICE rpm's up to a nice roar, accelerate to as fast a speed as I
think I can get away with for this particular section of road
(considering safety, speed limit, and anticipated turns/stops), get
off the accelerator, apply gentle pressure to the accelerator, and
repeat the cycle. Eric M. coined the phrase "pulse driving" for
this.

---Anticipate stops. To minimize braking, get off the accelerator
early. If you require braking, get on the brake early and GENTLY to
maximize regeneration. I have gotten particularly good at this on my
commute since I am so familiar with the route.

SUMMARY: Keep the ICE off as much as possible, but when it is on,
maximize efficiency (and mileage) by running it at high rpm.

Note: My wife and kids can't stand "pulse" driving, so I only do this
(and other questionable behavior) when alone.
Also note: Drag (wind resistance) is proportional to the square of
speed, so the benefits of "pulse" driving are cancelled above some
speed, I think about 50 mph. The technique is best suited for non-
highway driving.

I have posted my "just driving it" mileage vs. outside temperature on
my commute in the Files section, and hope to eventually have a
comparison with the "pulse" driving technique.

Sam
--------
Ref. 1: "Development of the Hybrid Vehicle and it Future
Expectation" by Shinichi Abe of the Toyota Motor Corp. This
excellent reference has not been posted out of respect for copyright
laws, but just might be made available for anyone who really wants
it. ;)