2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: 15 mile EV range, 87 MPGe, $32,000

Does anybody know if there is ambient lighting in the footwells and under the sky console?

 

Want:

Maybe:

Not worth the money:

Don't want:

Basically it's a Three/Four and it's out of the range of the main group of Two/Three Prius buyers, especially given the low AER mean low savings.

 

Don't forget SatNav!

 

I don't believe the prices charged by these utilities can be fairly compared. The 'competitive' playing file is not even close to level. The Pacific Northwest's energy grid is still dominated by hydropower projects built with mid-20th Century federal subsidies, which still hold down the costs.

And publicly owned utilities such as Seattle City Light have legal preference over privately owned entities such as PSE, producing significant cost advantages. Back in the later 20th century, this included taking over hydropower dam built by private utilities when those facilities came up for re-licensing when the original 50 year licenses expired. Sure, the public utilities had to pay the original owners for those dams, but at the fire sale prices set by regulations, it was hardly different than theft.

Seattle City Light also got first crack at the prime hydropower sites in the entire state, such as the Skagit River, no-where near Seattle.

PS. I am a Seattle City Light customer. But being outside the city limits, both Seattle and my own city tack on extra charges above what Seattle customers pay. But it is still below PSE rates.

 

So how does it compare in features and price to a 2012 Prius III?

 

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Betting on HOV Access!
by Auto Observer,

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Betting On HOV Access - AutoObserver

 

This is nice, but HOV access for the car would end in December 31st, 2014 in California. Too short to even cover a typical lease term.

 

Don't underestimate the power of HOV lane usage. Many people will pay and have paid large amounts of money for that sticker.

 

^^ That is close to 1000 hours of being stuck on a miserable highway, for people in congested areas where a HOV pass saves them an hour a work day. Even people earning minimum wage can justify the $ premium over a base Prius package 2

 

Yes, but it will be very disappointing to use it for a couple years and then lose it. It will have no value to a resale buyer since it would have expired when you sell the vehicle unless you plan to keep the car for a very short time.

 

^^ a lot less disappointing than not having it at all.

 

I wasn't that disappointed after having HOV access for 5 yrs. The premium for the plug in option is really only about $3000. I cannot afford it or don't want to buy it then don't. There are lots of options out there.

 

The original hybrid HOV access was supposed to end much earlier too. But politics extended it several times. Will some buyers be counting on similar extensions?

 

^^ I wondered about that too. At least in CA, the expiry date is for HOV access to all alt vehicles, not just PHV.

 

That's right. Both White and Green stickers will expire at the same time. So either you buy Leaf of Civic NGV, you are in the same boat as Prius PHV.

Eligible Vehicles - Single Occupant Carpool Lane Use Stickers

 

Too expensive. It won't sell in large volume. They want to be at $25K, the current Prius price.

 

After the tax credit, it is still lower than a base CT200h.

 

I don't think so. Marginal cost is what matters. You should compare your total electricity bill with and without plug-in car. The difference is the electricity cost of the car, which turns out to be an unpleasant surprise.

 

Although the search tool often sucks major sphincter ... sometimes it can be your friend:

http://priuschat.com/forums/nissan-hybrids-evs/89954-low-cost-240v-evse-upgrade.html

There are a few on-line aftermarket EVSE's priced as low as the $500's (plus shippin). Then the mod costs around mid $200's.
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