Who has gone from a Gen III Prius to a PIP?

2010 went to SO, SO's 2004 went to child.

Yes. I'm 80% EV and 55+ mpg on gas. Free charging at work and a 6 mile (one way) commute.

No...she got an upgrade...but doesn't like the center console.

Mike

 

ChargePoint...240 volt.

Last week: 110 miles, no gas. Most weeks it seems I have to drive one or two places that exceed my EV range, but not last week. When I've kept track I've gone as few as 100 EV miles in a week and as much as 144. HV is usually 0-30 or 40, but a few ~100 miles and one 500+. Another 5-8 miles per charge would almost eliminate all gas except the 100 miles/week trips and above.

Mike

 

I came from a Civic to the PiP. Old car had to be "musical chaired" to my FIL. His 91 Forerunner broke down and it made more sense to toss it than repair.

Got the PiP for solo HOV access. Despite the short EV range one of the reasons I chose the PiP over the Volt because it gets better fuel economy if your commute is greater than the Volt's EV range. The Volt is more fuel efficient only over the 15 - 70 mile distance band. At distances greater than 70 miles, PiP wins and sadly my round trip commute exceeds 70 miles. HOV access comes in real handy.

I love being an extra hour home everyday. SF Bay Area freeways are as brutal as they come. Despite all the complaints about short EV range, I've averaged 82 mpg over 12000 miles despite driving 50+ mile trips per charge. I forgot to charge one morning and got 65 mpg so the PiP is giving me an additional ~15mpg over a standard Prius.

SO approval was mandatory in order to purchase a $25k car. She doesn't care for the car but she loves having hubby home more often.

 

I live in the SF Bay Area and I paid full price for mine Too But thanks to this Forum (I didn't find it until after I bought the car) I know all is OK with the car, I didn't and still don't believe the dealer's answer to most of my questions ​

 

Part I - Yes, I traded my 2010 Prius II for a Base PiP. I got on the waiting list and everything; I couldn't wait.​

Part II- Why? To get commuter lane access. For the past six years, I drive over 80 miles a day through the heavily congested 880-237 corridor. But I also love the way cooler technology.​

Part III- Happy? The whole ​

family is happy! Now I can get home at reasonable times.​

Part IV - Did you get grief from your SO (significant other)? Not at all. She's very happy that I get home earlier. ​

​

 

I bought a Gen III to a PiP within 5 days.

How/Why? I, like many others thought of the PiP as a pure EV, so for me it didn't make sense to even research it. I needed range for my 100mi commute. On the 5th day, I finally picked up my dealer's call, and he asked how things were going. By then, I learned that the PiP is an EV/Hybrid, and was pretty interested in it. I half-joked that I was going to see him again in a year or so to trade up. He reminded me that his dealership honors the cooling off guarantee. Because I had a Gen III with the Solar Roof, I calculated about a thousand dollar difference in cost after I receive tax credits for the PiP. So I upgraded. I do miss the moonroof, and the spare tire though. Overall, I'm happy with the trade up, particularly being able to really drive in golf cart mode. My wife didn't mind - this was really my decision.

 

Whoa, 880-237 is just terrible. Even though I can get a sticker, I'm not in a rush since 280 is pretty free flowing. If I did get it, I would attempt 101.

 

Why does the pip obtain better mpg in gasoline operation that the normal prius in the same model year? The
pip I believe weighs more and should perhaps get less mpg. Is it because of the larger battery capacity or is it due to the battery being made of lithium which is perhaps more effiecent?

 

I went from 2010 Prius II to base PIP. We traded in 2006 Prius and my wife got 2010.

Why? I only have a 9 mile commute and wanted flexible vehicle that I could commute in EV as well as use for occasional 600 mile trips to visit family. With 3500 TFS discount, cost after additional tax break was comparable to a Prius III – too good a deal to pass up.

Part III- are you happy you did? Yes, with ability to charge free at work, my commute is all EV, except for several harshest days of winter (< 15 degrees) and occasional pulling out quickly in traffic. Battery is perfect size for me as I generally have 3 miles range left so hopefully not doing as deep of discharge cycles will help offset charging twice a day. Currently at 600mpg (last 300 miles on .5 gallon) - what's not to be happy about?

Part IV (optional for extra credit) Did you get grief from your SO (significant other)? My wife was experiencing too much rattle in 2006 and was glad to move up to 2010.

I have not experienced better gas mileage with PIP on 600 mile interstate drives. Slightly worse so appears to be a myth so far. Of course, I only have 5000 miles on PIP and only half of that in HV mode so engine is not fully broken in yet. Not really sure oil change is necessary at 2500 miles on ICE, but it’s free so just got changed.

 

A couple of reasons, IMO:

The primary one is that since you do not make as many short trips, that get low mpg, your average is higher.
But driving 100 miles on gas only in both my PIP and 2010 I don't see a big difference, if any. Sure, if the terrain included a long downhill the PIP would be able to capture an extra mile of EV range, perhaps. But on a 100 mile trip that is only 1%. How many times are you going to collect that much extra?

Mike

 

With 6200+ miles so far on my Pip I have noticed better fuel economy then my previous 2010 Gen3. I have seen on average 6-8mpg better. Seems to do a better job of blending EV throughout my commute. I averaged 48-52mpg in my gen3 and I now average 54-60mpg This is with EV completely depleted so equal circumstances as far as my drive. Just in case some where wondering, Yes I drive conservatively (ECO mode/gradual acceleration etc).

 

I have seen similar results driving in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Uphill you get about the same mpg but downhill you win with battery charge for that next flat area. For a 228 mi Sacramento area round trip to Lake Tahoe: 56 mpg in my Prius Three, 63 mpg in my Prius Plug-in Base.

 

CB- You just reminded me of something I neglected to point out! In my Gen3 on a downhill you could easily gather momentum faster (assumed great wheel bearings) then a typical gas powered vehicle while still building up charge. In the PiP I've noticed that it does NOT build up speed as easily on the same downhills but does build up charge considerably faster.

 

I gave my 2010 V black Prius to my son in San Diego. For my wife I purchased a certified used 2010 V blizzard pearl dealer loaner car from Chicago area. I purchased a new loaded blue PIP 2012 from a dealer in San Diego to replace my black 2010. None in NV at the time. We have solar installed on the house and put in the 220 charger. NV energy has time of use discount for electric vehicles, so from 10 PM to 6 AM everything using electricity in house is discounted a few cents an KWH. So I typically charge 10 PM to 11:30 PM. I have a 16 mile drive one way to work. I'm able to use almost use little or no gas on the trip in. No plug in at work so ECO mode home. I do drive around the county a lot inspecting health care facilities but I'm reimbursed for mileage. So I'm doing great with the PIP generating our own electricity for it at home and reimbursed for the mileage. I drive about 200 miles per week. With my Ford Explorer I was getting 15 MPG and filling up with 12 gallons a week. My 2003 Corolla about 35 MPG filling up with 7 gallons/week My 2010 Prius at 45-48 MPG about 4.5 gallons a week. My 2012 PIP around 80-85 MPG about 2.5 gallons per week. My PIP MPG depends upon the time of year/temp strong winds, and traffic. But yes, I'm very glad I purchased a PIP. CEO is happy too with her 2010. My son is happy with his 2010. CEO drives the PIP on weekends and typically uses no gas. We both love the HUD in it too.

 

Yep, went from one of those to one of these.

They were both company owned cars and the lease was up on my previous Prius so I replaced it with a PiP. I get a fixed amount for my fuel from my employers, based on a previous company vehicle (a 320bhp Subaru, since you ask...) so the PiP's fuel economy puts me at a significant financial advantage every month. I'm a clear 20 mpg better off from the Prius to the PiP, too, so all's good.

In the UK, company car tax is calculated based on list and emissions, so the Prius is a good call, and the PiP even better!

Yes, very happy with my choices in both cases, thanks.

 

So true. EV range takes care of most, if not all of my short trips.

Awesome. That's like cutting gasoline consumption in about half with every upgrade.

 

We went from a 2011 Prius/2009 Yaris to (2) 2013 PIP Plugin's

Made the change because I wanted the newer battery technology (lithium)

So happy with the upgrade. 80 mpg's with charging at work. Any questions? 120 mile round trip daily commute.

My spouse is ecstatic because I bought her one also.

 

I traded my 2011 with solar roof for a 2013 PIP ..No i'm not a happy camper ..cause my 2011 was a great car and I'm sorry I upgraded I feel for the extra cost Involved I should of kept the 2011.. I was buying it and only had $12,000 left to pay it off ..Made the mistake of leasing the PIP so two years from now I'll have nothing