Prius Plug-in High MPG Mode

What you are asking the blended mode. Yes, Prius PHV blends power from both sources automatically to obtain optimal efficiency. There is no black and white fuss about battery or gas comes first. They both work as one to obtain synergy. Afterall, it is called hybrid synergy drive.

 

doesn't the current prius already do that? you're not going to get 50 mpg in every situation.

 

Cordless Prius already blend as well but with limitation. PHV will have more power and energy to strongly blend more electricity.

Remember, Prius traction motor (MG2) is rated 60 kW while NiMh HV battery is rated 27 kW. Cordless Prius EV mode is using the MG2 at a fraction of it's rated power. Hack Leaf's traction motor is rated 80 kW.

The Lithium PHV battery provides much stronger EV experience as well as more balanced blend of gas (98hp) and electric (80hp).

 

but after you're cord charge runs out, is mileage gonna be better than cordless?

 

Yes, a little more efficient per Toyota Japanese site. The PHV prototype is about 200 lbs heavier but it can absorb regen energy quicker and longer.

We'll have to wait for the spec of the production model and how well it will do under the EPA procedure.

 

Now that the PHEV can regen into the PHEV pack, I'm sure it would increase the EV range.

 

It can also glide in EV to 62mph, which will give it a bump on the highway.

The most interesting thing about the PHV to me is what it says an alkaline Gen IV could do.

 

Alkaline battery is not rechargable. Prius gen4 with disposable battery? Not practical.

 

According to what Tony Schaefer wrote about his one week trial, after battery depletion he got about 80.3 to 73 mpg. ( Post # 6 ) on a 5 mile return trip. That seems pretty incredible.

 

And that's precisely why I suggested "alkaline" to describe the HEV: it's not rechargeable.

The point being: not all of the advantages of the PHV are due to it having a larger battery. Some come from the chemistry or other changes Toyota are making. For real comparison we need to see those changes in an HEV.

 

But it is rechargeable, with an onboard generator or regen brake; instead of from a cord. Hence cordless.

 

Cordless mouse: no cord in use. Recharge by plugging it/batteries in.
Cordless phone: no cord in use. Recharge by plugging it/batteries in.
Cordless drill: no cord in use. Recharge by plugging it/batteries in.
Cordless Prius: no cord in use. Recharge by plugging it/batteries in.

That'll be the PHV then.

 

so, is the op's question answered?

 

Not quite.

You will be able to turn the EV mode off.

The PHV is an HEV with better EV capability.
- You can charge the battery at home instead of having the car burn gasoline to do it
- You will be able to stay in EV under heavier load, but the engine will still come on under a very heavy load
- You will be able to drive and glide in EV up to a higher speed (62 v 46) but there will still be a speed limitation.
- You will get better regeneration, but there's still a limit

 

Your analogy doesn't work because we don't have an EV (or PHV) that drives while the cord is plugged into a wall. It is not even possible.

We have a Prius PHV that has a cord to charge from a plug and a cordless Prius that does not need charging. EOD.

 

I believe so. The PHV battery will be used to boost the MPG. It'll continue to blend gas and electric like how a hybrid should. There will be more situations where you can be in pure EV operation.

The prototype starts in EV mode by default. The production version is rumored to have a button to turn off the EV mode to preserver the charge for later use.

I think the videos John1701a created with the PHV would answer OP's questions.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxbHPCr-K-Y]‪Prius PHV - First Commute‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

 

My analogy works well enough to explain that referring to an HEV as cordless makes absolutely no sense. Going "Cordless" is about freeing the user from range restriction not saying that you can't plug it in.

"Cordless" makes no sense for an HEV, especially in comparison to a PHEV, because being a car being an HEV doesn't free the user from range restriction.

"Cordless" makes sense for a PHEV, but only as a way of contrasting it with a BEV, which is metaphorically tied to the wall, as BEV doubters often mention with their tired jokes about long power cords.

 

Adding this mode to your existing car, or making it more aggressive than it is now, would hurt mpg, not help it.

When the gasoline engine is running, the most efficient energy path is the direct mechanical path through PSD. The MG1 -> MG2 path is less efficient, though necessary for a portion of the energy in order for the PSD to function. The MG1 -> battery -> MG2 path is least efficient.

Keeping instantaneous mpg high is not necessarily the path to maximum trip mpg.