Toyota working on improved Prius Plug-in as part of the next generation Prius platform

And knock 50% off the cost?

 

After rebates, a PiP costs about $1k more than a similarly equipped Prius Hybrid...

 

i'm drooling.

 

Can toyota replace the current battery with bigger one, or can they update the vehicle software to use more of the reserve battery juice to extend the range?

“We have been listening very carefully to Prius PHV owners and are considering their requests for additional all-electric range. We have also heard from owners that they would like a more convenient charging operation,” Ogiso said.

 

of course not! how will they sell new cars?

 

My guess is they will include a larger battery and more powerful motor to extend range and allow more aggressive acceleration in EV Mode without the ICE kicking in. This would be closer to how the CMAX Energi and Honda Accord PHEV works.

 

LOL, I hope they can at least update the vehicle software to make current PIP drivers a little happier while we are waiting for the new PIP.
Thinking about trade-in when new PIP comes out, but that is $$$

 

i suppose if we're going to trade in for the gen IV, no sense worrying about current battery longevity. give me the whole 100% for use!

 

The current plug in is really just a retrofit of a gen 3. My guess is that with a car designed from the ground up to accommodate a plug in there will be better packaging as well as improved battery tech. Knowing Toyota is a conservative company my guess the one thin that we will not see is dipping into the battery reserve as it affects longevity.

 

Yeah, who cares about longevity. Give me 100% for use.

 

Begs the question...Are they reading Prius Chat?...did anyone here request the inductive charging option?

 

AFAIK, there are a small percentage of drivers that have asked for inductive charging. It is not a major hold up of plug-in sales.

More EV range seems to be a major request on all the plug ins but tesla, including the volt and leaf.

 

New exterior design, more interior room, greater electric range, wireless charging. I'm looking forward to it.

 

It's pretty obvious anyone who owns an EV wants a lot of range. That's a given. What's questionable is how that extra range will be made. Will it be more expensive? Will it be more aerodynamic than a liftback? Will storage be compromised? Will seats be deleted? There's not a magic wand. Something will have to happen for a dramatic range extension.

 

This is an article on greater range, lighter more powerful ICE and wireless charging. Oh yes greater EV range

Toyota says 2015 Prius hybrid will be lighter, more economical - Yahoo! News

 

I don't think anyone needs a magic wand. Toyota had claimed that people wanted short range with the prius phv prototype, that batteries were expensive. We now know that this is wrong. And we also know that the plans that japan would be the best market, was also wrong.

Now with a little more knowlege, toyota can tell that customers will trade more money for more range, and that batteries don't cost anywhere near the $1200/kwh. Its likely that during the run they will average $400/kwh or less. That means until the credits run out, phv buyers in the us are fully compensated for battery cost by the government.

That means that toyota still needs to trade off weight and volume with energy and power, but cost is thrown out of the equation. We don't know what the new platform looks like, but I would assume it has volume for at least 7kwh.

The size of the battery has nothing to do with aerodynamics. Tesla S seems to be able to get a cd of 0.24 versus the tiny battery prius with a cd of 0.25, the Sequoia has a cd of 0.36 and doesn't have any hybrid or plug-in battery at all.

 

In your market it does. In mine it costs significantly more even AFTER rebates.

Appears Toyota have a flexible pricing policy and thus that might be why they've sold hardly any here.

(yeah I am bitter. I had high hopes for the PIP here and it appears UK HQ didn't understand the concept of the car and way way over priced it. All models of the Leaf are cheaper than the PIP)

 

588 in UK from june 2012 through march 2013
versus
16,964 US through june 2013.

I don't think keeping the battery small really helps UK sales
In texas they sell leafs, Toyota doesn't sell plug-ins, you need to buy them from out of state.

I hope the next gen, they price it better for UK sales, make it better for US sales, and sell it in all the states.