Should the PIP have a heat pump?

PiP prototype actually had the heat pump. I forgot the reason given to drop it from the production version.

 

My trips around town, 'til now 100% on electricity, are starting to use the ICE as the weather gets colder. Very discouraging to see those 999s come down to 50s. On the plus side, I've actually seen the electric range display increase while the ICE is creating warmth but almost no push.

Don't know what the best engineering solution to this is. Maybe a small resistance heating element in just the driver's air vent which, along with the heated seat, will keep the driver warm without heating the whole vehicle. When there are passengers or when it's really cold, just turn off the resistance element and use the engine as is done at present.

 

i think they killed the heat pump due to cost/value. an optional electric heater, as efficient as possible would be welcome, especially as battery range increases.

 

There was some strange noise under the hood when it was running, as I recall.

 

Imagine complaints from the speed at which it would consume EV capacity.

There's the issue of added cost too.

 

Ever open your freezer during the defrost cycle and get a face full of fog/steam? OK not likely to happen in your car but.... calling Mr.Bean.

The solenoid valves used to reroute hot gas for defrosting on commercial equipment cost more than the compressors. They have short life spans of 2 or 3 years and generally not made in the small size needed for the Prius.

 

This was heard from outside. I think the noise was from the heat pump operating. From the cabin, I didn't hear that noise. Just regular air blowing by a fan type of sound.

 

Is that true for portable residential heat pumps (the kind that fit in a window)? I thought that they were pretty much just standard A/C units with valves that reverse which coil is the evaporator (cold) and condenser (hot).

 

So if cost was not an issue, is it more efficient to get heat from ice? Our very limited EV miles would have probably taken even a bigger dump compared to using gas and I would rather use .01 gallons of gas than loose EV miles. Curious if it would have used more wattage to heat than it does to use a/c?

They seem to have removed alot a things from the production model such as the electric heater, tire pressure monitor, front side electric door, I wonder if LKA was in the prototype? I'm sure there are reasons but hopefully cost wasnt it becase a $40k car isnt cheap.

 

Thanks for clarifying that information. I'm sure they did what they did to keep cost down and to make it as efficient as possible which I'm sure is why they removed the heat pump. As far as the TPMS, I could have sworn I saw a video showing the tire pressure readout on the Nav screen. You have a selection next to the Fuel Prices that shows individual tire pressure. I believe the Camary still has that option on the screen. That's the option that was removed. Did your pre-production model have that option if it was the advanced version?

 

our 08 hycam does not have this. you get a tire icon if one is low and you have to guess which one is low.

 

Another chapter in the unending puzzle of why manufacturers are so reluctant to provide information to drivers. There's a separate sensor for each tire, so presumably the pressure from each is transmitted to the system. Why not display that extremely useful info which is already present? My base PiP manual also showed that the info was available, but I couldn't find it and the dealer told me that, in effect, the manual was wrong.

Richard

 

yes, the manual is wrong, but some toyotas/lexuses obviously show individual readouts.
yes, it is more efficient to generate heat from combustion than an electric coil.
LKA was certainly eliminated due to cost, don't forget the APS as well.

 

i wonder if it is more efficient to run the engine just to provide heat, or have a larger battery?