Should I still buy Prius plug-in knowing that I can charge it only once in a while?

Depends on your driving style and pricing.

Depending where you are in the country, a PiP is actually *cheaper* than a Three. If you do lots of highway driving on non-flat terrain, a PiP will give you marginally better mileage (think +5 mpg at most). If you're in CA, you get to drive in the carpool and express lanes with no passengers.

 

tell us state you live in since incentives figure into the decision.
OK with me if you only charge up PiP once in a while.

 

seems to me that with the current discounts, state+federal incentives, and the ability to use the carpool lane solo, save money on tolls/express lanes, it's a no-brainer.
of course, i'm slightly biased

 

oh yaaaaaaaaaa!

 

ditto ...you give up spare tire and a little room but you have a more flexible fuel option, made for CA really.
You qualify for $25oo fed credit + $1500 state + HOV (see Incentives sticky thread)

 

There are free EV stations all over the bay area. You can plan your errands out around where the free station are.

The only thing to wonder is in 3-6 years when a new PiP has significantly greater battery, will it still have better resale value than a comparable non PIP. Not sure exactly how it will all play out, but I would guess that it will hold more value than the prius three.

 

for the marginal price difference, I would go for PiP.
HOV access alone should be worthy of the value.

 

If you can only charge once in a while, you might want to get a larger battery.

 

uh-oh…

 

LOL!

I remember hearing either here or on MNL of someone w/a neighbor w/a Volt that had NEVER been charged.

 

Lug that big battery around robbing a rear seat? Don't think it is a good idea.

I think the plugin with the most efficient gas engine is best for the OP.

 

Considering that the OP has not described his/her driving profile, or vehicle seating needs, I find it rather amusing that the Prius community would rather keep the OP in the dark about their options than help them explore solutions that might be more optimal.

Of course, I don't have a closed mind like some.

 

heated seats, nicer wheels, all for same or less with rebates/incentives....slightly better HV mpg, and a higher resale value.

There is no question that even without ever charging its a better buy then a THREE.

with the odd charge here or there, it just gets better....im sure you will end up charging it more then you think.

Dan

 

of course. the downside though, from my experience, is that short trips that i felt guilty about doing before, because of the gas consumption and emissions, i now don't even think twice about taking, because hey, it's just EV miles!
:/

 

not a downside at all! I agree i tend to take more short runs now and not worry at all when they are under 14miles! gotta love it, still the best vehicle ive owned to date..and I have owned alot over the yrs!

many performance cars too....this Pip is just a different type of performance!

Dan

 

PiP can capture regen brake energy faster and more.

 

guilt free, carbon free, and $ free EV is very addicting

 

IN case the original poster is having trouble following, John was suggesting a Volt, because it has a much bigger EV battery, so there could possibly be an opportunity to charge less often and get more battery-only miles. Toyota philosophy is smaller EV battery, with accent on much higher efficiency gaso engine (50 MPG). So on the surface, your case fits PiP much better because Volt gaso engine is not as good MPG (~37). PiP is the better choice if you plan to rely more on the gaso engine. Volt fans are those like John like to rely mostly on electric engine. I am not in that camp, but you (orig poster) are the focus here.