Been Looking for a PIP

wow, that's sweet, congrats! can you break down the pricing for us on both vehicles please?

 

must be out driving his volt.

 

Good if you want more EV miles. Didn't realized the competition is getting that desperate.

 

honestly, they must have come WAY down.

 

Or it is one of those post meant to redirect attention to Volt and OP leaving us to talk among ourselves.

 

It came down to a used 2012 Volt and a used 2012 PIP, which i finally bought. The 7-hour charging time was too long for me, the lack of middle rear seat, and the poor post-EV MPG nixed the Volt for me. Even without EV, I'm averaging about 62 MPG in my PIP; that's double the Volt....

 

so, your net net is 25k?

 

From the above Volt videos, it is clear that the Volt is an EV, with the ICE being there only to turn a generator which powers the electric motor once the traction battery is depleted (kind of like a diesel locomotive), with the exception that above 70mph, the ICE provides power directly to the wheels. OTOH, the PiP is an enhanced hybrid which mixes ICE and electric power, trying to use the most efficient mix in a given situation. The Power Split Device in the Prius seems a lot simpler mechanically (just a planetary gear with no clutches and such), depending on sophisticated control software instead.

I don't intend to be critical of the Volt; I am just trying to understand the differences between the two designs.

 

i think you've got it nailed. it really comes down to what type of driving you do and car size needed as vern stated. the only other concern is longevity, so far it's holding up well. if they are going to start selling them for 25k, i expect them to have a pretty good year in '14.

 

Toyota has yet to start offering the PiP nationwide. They are tough to find in some locations although there are dealers outside of the 'official' areas that have them.

If the 35-45 EV range meets your needs and you don't need the 5th seat, the Volt is a wonderful option.

It is all a matter of the right tool for the right job.

 

You just gotta luv a Volt/Hummer combo! That breaks all the stereotype rules.

 

so is this $25,000. deal common, or did you get something special.

 

The 70 mph is an arbitrary example. I hear it can lock on as low as 35 mph.

As I understand it, the volt has 4 internal driving modes, depending on conditions:

1) single motor EV, used at slow speeds and for acceleration. (much like many BEVs)
2) dual motor EV, efficiency mode used for steady speeds at probably 35+
3) series hybrid, used at slow speeds and for acceleration (much like a diesel train)
4) parallel hybrid, efficiency mode used for steady speeds at probably 35+ (electric motor is still the primary source of power; the engine alone can't drive the wheels, only assist).

Differences from a pip would be that the volt can stay in #1 or #2 so long as the battery isn't depleted (with a few exceptions for maintenance and temperature extremes). There's no maximum speed at which the volt needs to start the engine. I can't imagine it'd last very long, but you could technically drive at 100 mph in EV only till the battery depletes.

Even after the battery had been depleted, it may switch back to one of the first two modes if it gains enough juice again (such as due to regeneration). And of course, it may turn the engine off if the power draws are low enough, such as at a stoplight.

In the parallel hybrid mode, the electric motor is the primary source of power - the engine alone can't drive the wheels. It can assist with bringing down the motor's RPMs though. The engine also can't provide as much power as the volt is capable of using for acceleration/what not - any additional power needed comes from the buffer it keeps in the battery. In the pip, additional power needed comes from the engine/starts it if necessary. This difference probably stems from the volt being primarily/firstly an EV and the pip primarily being a hybrid. The planetary gearset is arranged/used differently.

 

very nice, all the best!