Plugin Prius Longest STRAIGHT Trip

My longest trip with the PiP is usually down to my brother's place in Va, which is around 440 some odd miles. When I go down there, the car is packed with stuff to drop off and the last time, I got 55+mpg. On the way back, 57+mpg. That's real pencil & paper and not the Toyota optimeter and I'm usually running A/C.

Now, when I came back, I filled up on May 25th and I'm still running on that same tank. I've got 1053mi. on the odometer since and the readout says I've got about 40 miles to go on the last pip of gas. The optimeter says I'm getting 153mpg. That's not bad considering I did a 140 mile round trip highway ride last night.

 

I personally think long term we will see more and more free stations. It makes a ton of sense for businesses to offer them. The advantages go without saying.

 

I think they will only be free while there is an advantage, as soon as they are common place and you arent getting an increase in business you will need to recoup some how. Good thing is pricing should go in reverse, right now prices are high because they are seeking to capitalize on more 'helpless' EV's that dont have options, but as there are more in more places getting into the game competition will fix pricing.

 

This is for you Inferno. Full charge, full tank of gas. Obviously YMMV, but 601 miles is apparently not a problem according to my PiP guessometer.

 

The easiest way for malls to wire is to attach them to light poles. You could probably reach 6 spaces (3 in front and 3 in back) of each. But since a L2 charger is about $1000 each plus electrical work I could see this at $8-10K. If it were Costco where each visit is over $100 then it may be worthwhile. For a fast food place it would bring in more like $10 per visit so it's really not as worth while for them. Rest areas would be another good place since you may buy fuel as well as food and not stay for very long.

 

I think it would work well for a fast food place. While the per customer take would be lower, the frequency of cutomers would be higher. I mean, fast food is for fast customers. I would certainly go to a McDonalds or Starbucks for a free charge same as I would for free WIFI.

Chargers are heavily subsidized right now often to the point I free. I like your idea of retrofitting a light pole as well. My work is trying to get one installed for me since my work cannot have a subsidized charger installed for public use.