Get me a bigger tank

yes add a fuel cell in the trunk.
aftermarket automotives do it all the time. from street performance to race cars.

it can be an addition to your existing gas tank to a complete stand alone for replacing your factory.

Fuel Cells at SummitRacing.com: Jaz, RCI, RJS, Summit Racing, Howe Racing, Aeromotive, Pit Pal, Pit Posse Motorsports & more

 

The gas tank in the Prius C is too small. However, you can drive 540 miles with one stop. There would be a lot of work and expense in replacing or adding an additional fuel tank (consider safety as well).

 

What kind of computer/sensor problems would you run into if you added a second tank? Seems like the way they integrate all the Prius components you'd have to do some spoofing to prevent error codes and malfunctions? Has anyone ever done this successfully?

 

upgrade to a prius, i used to go 600+ miles on a regular basis in my 08.

 

Did I miss something? I think we're all Prius owners here? And 600 miles to a tank is a bit of an exageration... I mean if you too often risk running out of gas and you drive exclusively between 32 and 53mph without ever stopping that might be possible, but....

UPDATE: Oh, I guess your meant to write "Prius Plugin"

 

no, they didn't make a plug in in 08. i can't detail my driving style, although i do try to get as much as i can out of it. 60 mpg average was pretty easy. i don't drive faster than the speed limit. plenty of people get this kind of mileage and better.

 

How fast are you driving?

 

Like maybe once, LOL?

 

Prius range is about normal. You would have to do one fillup with just about any vehicle.

That said, your mileage of 43 seems way low. I drive normally, just made a 900 mile run, in winter, over mountains, on snows, going 75 mph for long stretches with average including many stops of 69 mph with 45 mpg average.

but even with that, you'd have to stop once as you do now.

 

Baffles normally occupy close to zero volume. There is a couple of gallons of trapped air space in the top of the tank, but that's a safety volume for fuel expansion and some other things. You shouldn't try to use that.

 

this is true. even if you sophisticate the system with liquid level sensors in the fuel cell and some automated solenoid or switch between the pumps, there will still be a snowball of problems. I would imagine besides error codes, your gas tank level indicator and your MPG gauge is no longer accurate.

there will probably be a great amount of tech sacrifice to make this upgrade.

 

Only way to take the components out of the inside of the tank is ripping it open with metal sheers, which means the tank won't hold gas anymore.You could look into installing a European version of the gas tank that has no bladder inside. But no guarantee the US computers are going to accept that more simple design. The lack of bladder components will probably light your dashboard up like a Christmas tree.

 

What did Shakespeare say? Much ado about nothing?

 

The OP has a Prius c, which does not have a bladder.

 

540 miles one way? you should do it on 2.5 tanks return home. 43mpg isn't much, slow down a little, you'll end up saving time by not fuelling up as often. AND, you'll save money too.

 

Toyota Prius C | Hybrid Hatchback

If you bought a 8 gallon fuel cell, and used it to fill the 9.5 gallon main tank when the low fuel indicator said you were nearly out, how would that differ to the computers from the normal refill you do now?

Economy Fuel Cells
RCI Fuel Cells - JCWhitney

Jaz Bottom Sump Fuel Cell, 8 Gallon - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop

3/8" Electric Solenoid Valve 12-VDC Air, Gas, Fuel Normally Closed: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific