Can PHEV electric motor accelerate for traffic flow?

Yep. Besides the above videos, john1701a's video that I posted at http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-...eft-really-hard-keep-ice-off.html#post1274977 and Rick's tests at http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-...-hot-desert-ricks-turn-phv-5.html#post1169606 should give you better idea of what a huge difference the PHV Prius is vs. a non-PHV.

 

I test drove the PHEV once. The PHEV version of the Prius has enough power to accelerate at the same pace as rest of the traffic. To get a feel of how the PHEV accelerates on your own prius you can try this. Warm up the car first by drving at least 5 miles or more. If you have scanguage, the engine temp should be at least 70C or 156F. The hotter the engine is the more likely it'll stay in EV mode. Once your engine is warmed up enough, you need to get 7 bars on your battery meter. You can do this by regen from 50mph to stop a couple of times or regen from an overpass. Once you've got a warm engine and 7 battery bars activate both EV and PWR mode. Now, accelerate with HSI just to the left of PWR bar. The ICE will kick on once you hit 25MPH. Now imagine this, the PHEV can accelerate faster and up to 62mph.
Here's a video of PHEV's acceleration, skip to 2:30

 

Or, get warmed up, get seven or eight bars and then shut down. now pull fuse no. 37 (could be different in US cars. it's the fuse under the hood responsible for the fuel injection system). Start up, and you'll get "check hybrid system". Now floor it. it's pretty fast. the PHV is faster.

 

The cordless Prius under-utilizes that electric motor. There's greater potential available than what the low-capacity battery can provide.

Being able to accelerate up a long & steep hill in my neighborhood from a dead stop at the bottom to 40 MPH, then maintain that speed with the greatest of ease without starting the engine, was the ultimate demonstration. I drove the PHV around the valley 3 more times after that first attempt to verify how hard I could push the EV. Every time was a pure delight.

It's proof of how well thought out Toyota designed the system... lots of opportunity from an extremely flexible set of components.
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At 2:30 in video, I clocked you about 19 seconds from 0 to 50 MPH in EV.

This is a very good topic because it raises the question -

can you do the short trips up to 40 and 45 MPH boulevards, fit in well with traffic and not invoke the ICE? Sounds like the answer is yes.

Obviously with this car, you would want to make it as convenient and easy as possible to plug in, because you may be doing it a lot.

 

Ummmm, something like 200 lbs? or so more of battery (2 EV, 1 hybrid pack) which are also Li-ion (more power for its size).

The PHV's battery fills up the spare tire and cargo tray area, plus the load floor is lifted a couple inches. IOW, it's a much bigger battery.

It's all about the battery in EVs. That's what supplies the power.

Gasoline has MUCH higher energy density than batteries, unfortunately. Not sure I said that right, but gets the picture across.

 

Yep. As Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla stated, the 1000 pounds of batteries in a Tesla Roadster has only the energy content of ~2.5 gallons of gasoline. I posted about it at http://priuschat.com/forums/tesla/67655-charlie-rose-interview-elon-musk-tesla.html.

2.5 gallons of gasoline weights ~15.75 lbs.