Hypothetical question - PiP Potential 90% Hwy Commute

pip is probably more efficient due to larger lithium battery, and definitely more comfortable!

 

Longer vehicles tend to have an aerodynamic advantage over shorter ones when driving at high speeds.

 

PiP is rated 49 MPG on the highway. It is not a typo. A regular Prius is rated 48 MPG.

Prius c is rated 46 MPG on the highway.

 

I seem to remember a thread that figured out the regular Prius was rated 48 MPG because one of the models (packages) had the larger 17" wheels so all of them had to get the 48 MPG rating while the 15" wheel models would have been rated 49 MPG, same as the PiP with 15" wheels.

Did someone discover something different ?

 

That was my conjecture. I also thought a regular Prius with sun roof and 15" will also get 48 MPG.

 

It seems like the C might be defying it's ratings and beating the Prius everywhere. Some say the EPA doesn't correct for vehicle weight accurately and the C has a big weight advantage that shows in real life. That being said I'd like to a see a speed vs mpg all the way up to 80 or 85mph and see which one nose dives harder in the real world at highspeeds, with my 400 series highway commute 70mph is about the minimum I could maintain.

I would prefer to get the bigger Prius for the more functional back seat and better highway manners.

 

I can see weight advantage in city driving with a lot of stop and go. On the highway, aerodynamic and gear ratio is more important. PiP (and Prius hatchback) has taller gear ratio due to more torque from larger displacement.

Comparing my Gen2 (1.5L) and PiP (1.8L), the difference I see at around 55 mph is 1,200 vs 1,000 rpm. The below graph also show 350 rpm lower at the same power output.

 

Those graphs are pure gold...
Is the 1.5L C motor unchanged from the Gen2? or does it see better BSFC similar to the newer 1.8L motor?

 

1.5L is pretty much the same. They de-tuned it a bit from Gen2 (76 hp -> 73 hp) by lowering the redline from 5,000 -> 4,800 rpm.

Majority of the changes/improvements for Prius c, are in the hybrid transaxle. It is 29 kg lighter than Gen2 or 8 kg less than Gen3.

Another improvement - Prius c transaxle P510 reduced mechanical loss by 7% (over Gen3 Prius transaxle P410) at 62 mph. However, mechanical loss is a small percentage compared to efficiency difference in engine BSFC.

 

For highway driving, I can't imagine c being better, simply due to the fact that it's going to be running at higher RPM. This is borne out by the numbers USB provided above.

 

How long is "longer" and is it flat, hilly up and down the whole way, or primarily sloping downhill/uphill?

I can travel 17 - 18 miles per charge on pure EV on the freeway, but I have to keep it around 55 - 60 mph. I follow slow trucks to avoid getting people too irritated at me. Other than minor ups and downs, that range is rolling on a very gentle, but downhill slope. Even if your commute was 50 miles each way, and you could match my mileage, the PiP would get 60 mpg for the trip while the Prius c would get 48 mpg.

 

I think I'm going to split the difference and get a Prius with the touring package (that means LED headlights, nav and 17's here in Canada).
Should return better highway than the C and dealer is willing to let a 2012 go for the same price a base 2013.

Will probably go PIP next time around in 3 years once I can get at least 35 to 45 miles in EV. Also I'd have to wait months for a PIP to be ordered.

Nexus 7 ? HD

 

My commute is about 65miles each way with a lot of high speed divided multi lane highway, not much in the way of hills here in southern Ontario. I do get stuck on city streets during the day a bunch though.

Nexus 7 ? HD

 

Absolutely. If I can average 80 mpg with charge at both ends and a LONGER round trip commute in cold winter temps. I'm sure you can as well.

 

No, there's no carpool on 680 there. Instead, I commute up 880 past the Bay Bridge onto 80 until I hit Hilltop. As the name suggests, that's where my fuel economy gets hit hard. I also get better fuel economy coming home instead of going, 75 mpg vs 85 mpg.

 

49 MPG on 1,300 ft climb is incredible. Sure you used 2 EV miles in the beginning. 47 MPG is still very impressive.

On your trip home, you can hit triple digits. Just control the speed and stretch those EV miles out.

You used 1 gallon to work and 0.5 gallon to home. Combined is 65 MPG -- awesome with one charge.

 

Love this post. My commute has a large elevation profile as well. Heading up I drive 10 miles to and on the freeway, then drive surface streets straight up the rest of the commute. Heading up my EV range is quite limited. I tend to maximize EV by accelerating with HV then switching to EV to maintain speed. Trip up I get anywhere from 60-80 mpg. Return trip I get about 150-180 mpg. Sometimes I charge on the way home, grab some Mexican food, then continue home. If I do this, I get about 400 mpg.

 

I've got a 21.5mile (each way) commute that's 90% highway and with full EV charge I'm getting 124mpg if I can find a slow truck to hang behind, 94mpg if I want to keep from being flipped off. Way home is another story since I can't charge it at work - getting 65mpg. Insane part is that I'm 'disappointed' in the 65mpg, even though MDX I traded in was only getting me 18mpg! Going over 100mpg is incredibly soothing way to start the day