Does anyone know what the future of the plug in Prius is?

If you're gonna play....you're gonna pay.

If BHP is that important to you, then you might wanna look at Ford's PHEV. (C-Max)
They're almost as despised on this forum as the VOLT, but they offer real world horsepower, twice the EV range with a higher EV speed capability, and they are orders of magnitude more comfy on the inside.

Here's a "Tree-hugger" stare and compare between the FORD and the "v"
I picked it at random and haven't even read it yet.
Test-drive: Ford C-MAX Hybrid vs. Toyota Prius v [Updated] : TreeHugger

Just remember.
There IS no free lunch!
The comparison is against the "v", not the pip.
You're going to get lower mileage with Ford's product and there's STILL no spare tire for you in that car.

Good Luck!

 

The v is 230 lbs more than the Liftback as well, same HP. Works for me.

Except it smells better, is much quieter and cheaper to feed.

Name a bug, and we can check, but first we would have to find one to check.

I predict exterior color changes next year and a Gen 4 body in 2015. More power is unlikely to be a design goal. The only issues you have going uphill onto a freeway in the panhandle is finding a hill.
(My youngest brother lives in Shalimar so I drive I-10 to Crestview a lot, my wife is remodeling a Coast Guard Station in Panama City Beach so I have been that far this year, farther east I am not as familiar with)

I am guessing you came to look at a Prius looking for power. Toyota has other, non Prius hybrids and EVs for the power hungry.


All the power an adult could need, just not all the power a boy could want.

 

None of the plugin vehicle this gen has spare tire. Not even the Leaf or Model S. Technology is new and Lithium has limitation.

Some regular hybrids like C-Max has no spare tire.

 

1) I believe the weight difference on the production version of the PiP is about 110 pounds, so your brother in law must be a child, or a midget.
2) There aren't really any "bugs" per se. This is the 3rd actual version of the PiP, just the first one that was available for sale. There are some peculiarities to learn about for those of us who prefer to operate the car in pure EV mode as much as possible.
3) The BHP is more than adequate, especially with both the electric motor and internal combustion engine providing power for quick acceleration. Mine is on the traction control if I floor it from a standstill. This is from a guy who spent the last 7 years in a gas guzzling 600 WHEEL horsepower Supra. I find I am a lot less prone to road rage in the Prius.
4) Most of the EVs have eliminated the spare to make room for extra battery capacity. Many other production vehicles also have no spare, like the AWD Toyota Sienna. (they use run flat tires) I ran my Supra for most of the 7 years without a spare, on trips up to 1000 miles from home. I never had a flat, much less a tire shredded. If you keep good tires on the car, and are observant, you can avoid most road hazards. I kept tire plugs and a can of fix-a-flat in the car, but never needed either.

The PiP comes with free towing from Toyota to the nearest dealership, the tire slime and compressor are strictly for emergencies. Having worked in the industry for many years, most tire replacements/repairs are due to screws or nails in the tires, something the kit is adequate to repair. I replaced the factory kit with an aftermarket compressor and Slime brand, so that I can inflate a low tire without having to insert the slime in the event of a slow leak. Also, the aftermarket Slime is sensor friendly, unlike the Toyota stuff.

 

when you say bugs, do you mean ants? or cockaroaches!

 

Coming from Gen2, PiP has more punch in the acceleration.

 

My only issue in terms of bugs is entune is shit. the navigation sucks as well. Car drives and handels great. I am coming form an avalon. If you need a little more power the power mode works great. I do wish I got more range on batter.

 

acceleration with the PIP is just fine. I don't notice any difference in day to day driving than I did in my 2012. I'd be willing to bet that in a drag race between your 2011 and a PIP that it would come down to who has a topped off battery (higher SOC). They should be that close.

 

New to Prius and the Plug In. Glad to have the 10-12 mile EV range, it's fun. No complaints with my Prius. Not interested in any other current EV or hybrid on the market.

 

OP are we talking Roseville Virginia or Roseville California?
Assuming CA, HOV access is an important PiP incentive.

 

Congrats! And welcome!

The only complaint I have is when the temperature outside is below 40F, when I press the Auto button for heat, I do NOT want the A/C on. But that is minor.


iPad ? HD

 

I can't see Toyota dropping the PIP line, I can only see them improving it. It has to be the most versatile, fuel friendly car they've ever made.

 

Keep your fingers off of thoes buttons!

 

Toyota has always followed a rule of making the hybrid components smaller, lighter, more efficient. That in itself would make the future PIP have better acceleration and become more efficient. The problem with more battery range, most people will want a more powerful motor to go along with it, which will have a tendency to drain the battery at a faster rate. Then they'll scream for more battery range, then a more powerful motor in a never ending cycle. This is almost exactly what everybody is panning the RAV EV for. The old NiMH based RAV EV and the newer one have about the same range, but the facts that escape the detractors are the new RAV EV has MUCH better acceleration and a higher top speed.

So what would the next model PIP have? Probably a smaller battery pack with the about the same range (perhaps a little more range because of the smaller, lighter size) but a shorter recharge period or at least an option for a shorter recharge. If there is something I could give them as a suggestion, it would be to put in a more powerful motor, but limit the power output to the same as the current PIP unless you press the PWR button. This would be similar to having a turbo for a smaller engine - you want range or do you want power?

 

Even if it says the A/C is on, the compressor isn't necessarily running. So in other words, it has to be pretty warm for the A/C to actually turn on even though it is lit up.

 

The current 60kW electric motor's power is constrained by the power the battery can output which is about ~35kW, so a more powerful electric motor would not help EV only acceleration; a more powerful battery would. Also, the PWR button doesn't make much sense. Instead, replacing it with the EV City button that is in the Prius Plug-in in other countries would allow the driver to accelerate with max EV power without starting the ICE.

 

What is the size of the main electric motor in the regular Gen3? Is it also 80kW?

 

60kW. No.

 

So what is the reason for the ICE not being able to shut off at 62 mph on the regular Gen3 also?