2015 PIP - Ten Mile Electric Range

Those in the second statement will still make the calculations, and they will still see print.

A dedicated PHV line might be Toyota's plan. Perhaps they will quietly release it to the rest of the country while trumpeting the arrival of their FCEV to dealer lots in Southern California.

 

A dedicated plug-in doesn't make sense to Toyota. They'd want to share the Prius platform so they can lower cost/maximize profit.

 

They just need to hold the course steady and land the plane right on the numbers with Prius and PiP and nothing else can touch it, unless Honda were to put out an Insight III w/ Sport Hybrid drive that's executed really well. No word on that, but I'll bet bring Insight III in a few years.

 

The new Fit w/ sport hybrid is out in Japan. Honda might do better bringing that over.

 

Maybe customise it country by country, but I don't understand why toyota wouldn't base it on the average commute distance. This keeps price and space optimised. It is also the first calculation a potential customer will do ie: "that's enough to get me to work"

 

Problem is, there's no such thing as average. Real-World numbers are all over the place. That's why combining plug-in capacity with such a clean & efficient engine is a wise first offering for the masses.

 

All EV doesn't seem to apply to PiP: I don't see Toyota making PiP EV on highway in 4th gen. Not worth it, let gas engine handle that. PiP 'raises the EV ceiling' and as battery technology improves, MPGs will too.

PiP just seems to be a 'super Prius' with wall charge. Then becomes like regular Prius with bigger battery. It's a smart approach that make the best of current battery capability.

 

I do not know Fit's more niche chassis. I'd like to see H go for the throat, dupe next Prius body.

btw, does Fit / Sport Hybrid use one electric motor?? Heard the smaller Sport Hybrids get one motor. If so, how could the car move on electric only?? Wouldn't one motor be used for regen, charge battery and start gas engine?

 

Until recently, the Fit was a real popular model for its segment in the US. The redesign is on sale now in Japan, and will arrive here for 2015, and will be built in NA. The new Fit beat out the Prius and Aqua in October sales. I couldn't find a break out of the hybrid model, but a Honda press release pegged the expected hybrid ratio at 70%. The hybrid does best the rest on Japan's fuel economy test.

It doesn't look like we will getting the Fit hybrid, but a sedan and a crossover based on it are planned. The Insight and CRZ aren't doing well, and their cancellation announced has been in some markets. In hindsight, Honda should have just brought hybrid fit over instead making a Prius clone based on it.
Honda Fit Tops Prius in Japan Sales for First Time Since 2011 - Bloomberg
http://www.autonews.com/article/20130718/OEM04/130719845/honda-wagers-on-new-fit-hybrid-variants-for-united-states#axzz2kRYZk3lr

Honda Insight, CR-Z hybrids facing European axing: report | CarAdvice

It is one motor, and is an evolution of the IMA. There is now a clutch between the ICE and motor, and between the motor and transmission. So electric only becomes easier without having to spin the ICE at the same time. Without a second motor, a series mode isn't possible. Electric assist, and any EV mode are limited by the charge in the battery. The one motor does it all, which means it all can't be done at the same time.

Honda has also dropped the CVT. These new hybrids use a 7 speed double clutch transmission. I'm sure there is also improvements to the ICE. So those play a part in the fuel efficiency of the new model too.

 

I agree. Toyotas line of evolution is clearly the THS (Toyota Hybrid System) and the Prius as the main line of evolution. Parts of THS are (re)usable on FCV:s as well as pure EV:s according to Toyota. They aim for being in line with the market without raising the price tag to much or decrease total range of the vehicle. Of course we wish for extended EV range on the PIP but a large increase is not likely in next gen either. If numbers mentioned here are accurate the EV range would increase by 67 percent and thus extend from 25 km to roughly 40 km. That would be enough for my daily commuting.