Prius Prime Plus in my hands

So we have both a 2017 Prius Prime and 2014 BMW i3-REx . . . which one to drive today:

• BMW i3-REx - best urban car, a pocket rocket with a high seating and excellent view. The power to weight ratio means point and scoot and the short wheel base parks easy. It has acceptable cross-country capability but stay near interstates especially at night as it is 80 miles per segment and carry a 1 gallon spare can.
• Prius Prime Plus - best cross country car, smooth, excellent suspension and outstanding highway MPG. Visibility is much improved over our Gen-3 and the dynamic cruise control is great. Around town, know your charging locations and shop at nearby stores. The traction battery charges ~40% or 10 miles per hour and has no fast charging. In town, it drives like a tuned-up Prius, more than adequate.

Bob Wilson

 

First visit to Toyota Service Center and I'm taking printed copies of:

• RM1::ZOBY - Hybrid Transaxle Fluid Replacement - along with a sample bottle and plastic bag and instructions for a full sample.
• RM1::10216 - Engine Oil and Filter - along with a sample bottleand a plastic bag and a second bag for the used oil filter.
• RM1::Z1LV - Front Wheel Alignment - with stickies to write down the values measured and any correction.
  
• RM1::Z1LW - Rear Wheel Alignment - with stickies to write down the values measured and any correction.

I will ask them to NOT rotate the tires this time, just check the alignment. I'll take my own tread depth measurements. I won't tell them about the fully inflated tires but will check and correct them soon as I'm 'out of view' and reset the tire pressure monitoring system.

Bob Wilson

ps. "::" is IPv6 notation for a whole bunch of zeros.

 

Got the engine and transmission oil samples today and they look moderately used. The real proof comes from the R&G Labs analysis. I also got the filter element and will ask R&G if they also have an analysis of them too.

Bob Wilson

 

I bought a month of TIS access to answer some basic questions:

• the one-way clutch is on the engine side of the flywheel
• the EGR tap is between two, three-way catalytic converters
• both front and rear toe adjustable, front camber adjustable

I'll be investigating other features. If someone has a specific question, let me know.

Bob Wilson

 

Rather than risk violating copyright, here is a side view of the one-way, clutch:


Bob Wilson

 

. . . the spreadsheet model:

• ~122 MPG @21-22 mph - Level 2 ECO
• ~115 MPG @20 mph - Prius Prime
  • 105.5 MPG @28 mph for 10.5 miles
  • 55.7 MPG @60-65 mph for 1,200 miles
• ~105 MPG @25 mph - Gen-3 Prius
  • 99 MPG @25 mph, limit of vehicle meter

Finally got in the standard day temperature range, more data points:

	mph	MPG
1	28	105.5
2	35	88.5
3	55	69.8
4	75	48.2

These are outstanding numbers.

Bob Wilson

 

Correct, the raw numbers and order driven:

	mph	miles	MPG	notes
1	35	10.7	88.5	A local business loop at 3 AM non-stop same start and stop point.
2	55	7.8	56.0	Gallons consumed each way were
3	55	7.5	87.2	summed along with miles each way.
4	55	7.6	61.3	Then the MPG calculated from the sums.
5	55	7.8	86.2	Rideout Road / Research Blvd route
6	75	12.2	51.7	Gallons and distance summed for each pass
7	75	12.5	45.1	used for MPG calculation. I-565 route.

• 2100 miles on car
• engine oil and transmission oil changed at 2000 miles
• tires fully inflated, 44 psi, 1800 miles
• driver, two dogs, and half a tank of gas
• no surface winds, temps 59-62F, dry pavement
• 3 AM - 5 AM to avoid traffic
• does NOT include deceleration or acceleration
• warm-up: 7.2 miles EV for transmission followed by ~6 miles ICE to 35 mph loop
• not part of test, total EV miles on trip meter, 28 mi, over two days

Bob Wilson

 

Ok,

It looks like my 35 mph benchmark was not throughly warmed up. I'll have to replicate it. In the meanwhile, here is the drag-power based, mph vs MPG curve and data points:

An ad hoc, 35 mph test came out 93-97 MPG today. I'll update the chart but we nailed it. Unlike our Gen-3, I get the impression the SOC variances can be higher in the prime.

Bob Wilson