Prius Plug-in and Volt Pros and Cons

Just found some very interesting information at MPG Comparison: 2012 Volt vs. 2010 Prius vs. 2013 Prius Plug-in which as it name suggests is actually a Volt-lovers site, but the article is a very fair and detailed one. Apologies to those who will already know this, but I hadn't picked up on it at all.

The argument has always been that the Volt is better for lots of journeys in the mid-mileage range, where it is still EV and the PiP is partially HV. Correspondingly when the Volt also drops to HV it is less efficient, primarily because of the extra effort to push the heavy batteries along.

However, in doing my own comparison, I had assumed that when both were EV they were comparable. The figures here suggest that (contrary to the similar MPGe figures from the EPA, which assume a 6 mile EV range for the PiP) the PiP is about 15% cheaper on EV only; again presumably because the Volt has to push those heavy batteries around .

As Bill keeps reminding us, electricity costs money. So it is only for journeys between 16 and 75 miles that the Volt is better than the PiP. If that is where your journeys all cluster, great, the Volt is the car for you. But I suspect a lot of people have patterns of many under-16 mile journeys for local errands, and then a fair number of much longer ones for holidays, business trips etc.

 

It doesn't take account of the fuel production. It takes 2x more energy to generate, transmit and distribute a gallon equivalent electricity.

That information is the final piece of the puzzle that Toyota included when they designed PiP. GM probably didn't and assumed all electricity came from renewable and always better to use it than gas.

 

The MPGe number on EPA label is 'Wall to Wheels', which takes account of charging loss, and perhaps also the kWh used for pre-conditioning.

 

I'd put my money it's not GM.

 

Using the battery exclusively during times of high-demand, rather than starting up the engine for assistance, is a good way to accelerate aging.

 

Based on what? Corporate reputation?

Remember, the Volt's got the most comprehensive battery thermal management of the current field.

 

BMW i3 uses freon to heat and cool their battery pack, 125kw=170HP, 285ft-lb torque and 22kwh battery pack. Mine will be here in about 6 weeks and I agree pure silent power in a 2900 lb car. 0 to 62 MPH in 7.0 seconds in the BEV,
0-62 MPH in 7.9 sec with the range extender.

 

If by "comprehensive" you mean technically complex, I stand by my bet. Comprehensive means lots of failure points, no?

And let's face it: GM doesn't have a stellar record for quality, long lasting vehicles. I know, the Volt is different. How different and isolated from lesser GM products remains to be seen.

Tell you what: Let's see which group - Volt or PiP users report the first LiIon battery failures. You know which I'm betting it will be.

 

I am getting the Rex range extender, I live in rural Ohio 45 miles from Columbus. I have heard from the people in the UK that it gets around 40 US-MPG, the range extender is a 2 cylinder BMW motorcycle engine. Going to keep the Prius plug-in, it belongs to my wife and we both like using it on long trips, so keeping it. The wife would murder me if I sold her Prius.
Anyway I wanted more EV range and I love driving EV, no noise and acceleration is awesome. What else can I say, I ordered mine 6 weeks ago. I got all the bells and whistles in the Terra model. Can't wait, got rid of my 2010 Lexus GS 350. I am kind of a tree hunger I guess, but not adamate about it.

I will be able to do about 80 miles on $2.70 worth of electricity.

 

Probably won't be one this winter if the El Niño hits as hard as they say.

 

No too worried about it, I watched videos of the i3 BEV driving around in the snow axle deep. The i3 with the range extender is even better because the range extender is mounted between the rear wheels. Plus I am retired and I don't have to go anywhere. Ill drive my 4 wheel drive SUV if need be, if it really gets that bad. Plus Bridgestone makes the Blizzak tire in the correct configuration for the i3.

I haven't found the need to buy winter tires on any of my cars for years. I don't subscribe to all the doom and gloom predictions anyway. I don't think we get the kind of snow storms you get in Kansas. Ohio state highway dept. is really anal about keeping the roads clean and salted here. I hate it, way to much salt is used, cities and county crews are just as anal about it as the state.

 

I think I read on a i3 forum that you can, would not say im 100% sure though. I am signed up for 2 more test drives before mine arrives. It is so addictive to drive.

 

That's what we all cut our teeth on... be it wet roads, snow, etc.. back in the day.
My first vehicle as a 17yo kid was a 1972 Ford F100 Pickup. Could you think of any better vehicle to learn the correct way of driving on slippery surfaces? All you had to do was look at a corner and she's start fishtailing...
It's these young punks that can't drive RWD cars

 

I drove a BMW 328i for 13 years on all-season tires.

Even in 1997 BMW equipped the car with good traction control. Nowadays with stability control and an ICE over the rear axle I imagine the i3 will be fine in the snow.