4 days in a gen 4 Taxi

Very nice.

That converts to 58.8 US mpg.

Hybrid ownership certainly removes a lot of stress from traffic jams.

 

That's 70mpg imperial Right?
That's an astounding 4L/100km then!

 

wow, congrats and thanks for the write up. looking forward to ongoing reports!

 

I just noticed that Toyota mirror images the "gear selector" pattern for RHD!

I would have had an easier time shifting our rental Citröen if they had done that for their five speed.

 

How do passengers fit in the back seat of a Prius Taxi?? Do you slide both front seats forward? It is very small back there.

Impossible in my car.

 

Smallish passengers.

 

Congratulations, lots of Prius TAXIs here.

I've wondered a few times too - when I thought it would go to EV with a near full battery - but the manual suggests that the hybrid system knows what it's doing and won't always use EV when we think it should.

Could it be the ClimateControl intervening? Yesterday morning, was 15 deg, I had climate on 21 from the day before, I suspect it was using the ICE to heat the car - when I turned the fan off, then it soon jumped into EV mode.

It also doesn't seem as inclined to go into EV using Dynamic RADAR Cruise Control than driving it myself with a bit of pulse&glide action (which I'm still working on).

 

When the battery is full, the system knows what to do - stop fretting about it.
It will use ICE engine braking or whatever else it is up the sleeves of the HSD. Just drive it.

 

I did

I quit the taxi game about 4 years ago now, though I understand my old Prius is a taxi elsewhere. The Prius is an ideal taxi, though not sure about the new one as it's a bit low in the back. The Auris Wagon HSD is popular as a cab round these parts now, and there are a lot of gen3's as taxi's about.

I also had a 1.6hdi Peugeot as a taxi before and going from that to a smooth hybrid was a pleasure. I wish the OP well. They've chosen well and the car will last them and the dealer and Toyota should look after them like they looked after me. Just ensure the correct oils are used (is that still an issue in the gen4?) and lrr A or B rated tyres too, otherwise you will kill the economy.

Other than an inverter, steering rack and egr issue (known issues with early gen3's), the Prius was a hardy vehicle and lasted well. Small things like door hinges and check straps last, as did the rear suspension and bushes. All important stuff in the UK taxi world with pot holes and innumerable speed bumps. Oh, I found using Shell V-Power helped - not with any performance, but purely in keeping the egr and injectors clean. The on off on off of a hybrid in slow UK traffic clogged mine up using Asda petrol, but no issues with the V-Power. The extra cost barely made a dent due the economy. (note to OP - the US have different ocane grades).

The UK will be trying to kill off diesel cars so the OP has chosen well. Good luck and many many happy miles ahead.

 

That's very interesting to read about the Shell V-Power recommendation.

 

I'm sure any good quality branded petrol will be fine, but I chose the V-Power because, well because there's a Shell station about a mile away and the car ran smoother on it. I ended up with a £500 repair (plus time off the road) because of gummed up egr valve n pipes using cheap petrol. As you know, taxi work hammers a car emissions system (diesel and petrol) and the on off on off nature of the hybrid didn't help. There were never any issues after the use of V-Power. Coincidence? Who knows, but the slight price increase was good insurance and peace of mind to me.

I'm sure those who use their hybrids on longer runs won't have any issues on any old petrol, but heavy town taxi use is a different kettle of fish.