2016 Prius 20% improvement in MPG?

The base charges are a pain but make sense to help cover making the infrastructure available to deliver electricity to you whenever you want. That cost is still there to the provider even if you use none.

 

Yeah, I think they're a mix. The descriptions are anything but informative. And "regional transit levy", that sounds like "we have a captive audience we can ding with impunity".

 

What many people don't realize is that that is about half of the cost to utilities of delivering electricity to your house. It includes the distribution network as well as the ancillary services needed to keep the grid working. The cost of the electricity itself is usually half or even less than half of the total cost at a residential meter.

 

Both my electricity and natural gas are like that. My home is energy efficient. Actual gas charge year-round average is about $20 per month. But the bill averages $100. Ditto for electricity. If you don't pay for the infrastructure you can end up like some utilities in the US. They are in big trouble with crumbling infrastructure.

I have no use for the 400 Watt "block heater". I didn't see any benefit on Pearl. In Alberta, you HAVE to buy it. But Pearl S, purchased in Alberta, came from Courtney B.C. I asked the dealer to not put in the block heater. They complied. Saved $150 on something I would never use.

A -proper- block heater is an immersion type, rated in the 700-1000 Watt range. The one Toyota supplies has problems with overheating. Not interested!

 

There seems to be an inverse relation between climate and interest in the block heater, lol. Doug (ex member here) was from Alberta, same mind-set.

I've had a Honda block heater on more than one occasion. They're immersed in the coolant. All were 400 watt. Didn't skip a beat going to the Prius style, which (as you say) is not immersed, just adjacent to the coolant mass.

So far no overheating problems, and if it's not happening with our usage, don't know what it'd take.

 

But you are using a timer. The issue may arise with those that plug the car in as soon as they get home, and leave it on all night.

 

That's happened inadvertently, once. It was ok, but it had me worried. The coolant temp stabilizes, but I'm concerned the wiring or plug may be problematic. Especially if you do it repeatedly.

 

a short answer;
It is not 50kg difference, but 110kg.

a long answer;
The JP JC08 testing load of the dynamometer is not linear.
The 1360kg load is applied to a vehicle between 1196kg and 1310kg.
The 1470kg load is applied to a vehicle between 1311kg and 1420kg.

Therefore, the load is increased 110kg even the vehicle weight is 1311kg.

Ken@Japan

 

Shouldn't 1360kg load be applied to a vehicle between 1311kg and 1420kg?

1470kg load between 1420kg and 1530kg(?).

 

A nice point!
You're right those numbers look strange, but they are correct.

The testing weight has another 110kg for two passengers.
Another words...
The 1360kg load is applied to the testing weight between 1306kg and 1420kg.
The 1470kg load is applied to the testing weight between 1421kg and 1530kg.

The next load category is...
The 1590kg load is applied to a vehicle between 1421kg and 1530kg.
The 1590kg load is applied to the testing weight between 1531kg and 1640kg.

source: http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000163736.pdf#page=5 (Japanese only)
edit add
source: http://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/kijyun/saimokubetten/saibet_042_00.pdf#page=2 (Japanese only)

Ken@Japan