Ford Finds 60 Percent of Plug-in Vehicle Trips Are Gas-Free

doesn't surprise me, but keep in mind, people considering phev's take the potential ev usage as part of the decision process.

 

90MPG is 2.6L/100km. I average 3.6L/100km commuting locally in my Prius C. That's 1L/100km, or about $300 a year with 20,000km driven, assuming no long trips.

 

but a much smaller car, so tough to compare. now, if there were a prius c plug in...

 

Plug In Supply has a conversion kit for the c.

 

but nobody's ever done one. if they di, there'd be no payback ever.

 

I can't see anyone really wanting to do a prius c conversion, when you can do a conversion of a used gen II prius, and not worry as much about voiding your waranty. With the discounts and tax credits on prius phv, energis, volts, and leafs, I don't think there is much of a reason for a prius c plug-in.

 

well, there's a reason, but it doesn't justify the cost. especially with a system that's hit or miss at best.

 

At least you estimated. Lots of people instantly dismiss, without giving a moment of consideration.

I recharge at the office. 46 miles of driving today. The result was 112 MPG.

How many people would has estimated that as the outcome?

 

42 miles x 250 working days = 10500 miles. At 90 MPG, that's 116 gallon. If a Prius gets 51 MPG, that's 206 gallon. At $4/gallon, that's $360 differences.

In John's case, 46 miles x 250 working days = 11500 miles. At 112 MPG, that's 102 gallon. At $4/gallon, that's $416 differences.

That's assume the Prius can't achieve higher MPG, which it certainly can.

A plugin is much quieter and more smooth than a Prius. I think it makes perfect sense for some people to get it. I am just not sure it makes financial sense without taxpayer subsidies even for extreme cases like yours.

 

My commute is only 6 miles each way. (2 days per week a couple of miles more to the gym). I charge at work. I wouldn't call this extreme. If I lived ~6 miles further away I could still drive in EV only all week, by charging at home and at work.

After one year I am at 9400 miles, ~60% is EV. I consider extreme, people who drive 20K or 25K miles per year. Historically, the Prius has appealed to those who drive lots of miles, because the high mpg gives lots of savings. But the average miles per year is 12-15K. So for every driver who goes 20K miles, there is one who drives only 8K - 10K.

Mike

 

An interesting note in the comments. Ford includes electric miles NOT powered by the plug in their 60%. Using this method, the regular Prius might achieve ~60% as well. Using the same method, the Volt fleet would be ~99%.

The article's headline is also a bit misleading. Ford is reporting 60% of miles driven are electric, NOT that 60% of trips don't engage the gasoline engine.

 

IMHO milage percentage not trip percentage is a better measure, but.... These miles should not include miles recharged by the ice not the plug. I don't know if there is a way to determine this in the cars software, which makes it misleading.

 

I agree but the trip percentage is useful, as well as the % days EV is useful. If we come to realize that 350 days out of 365 can be accomplished without using gasoline the demand for EVs will surge. 15 days a year can be covered with a ZipCar, the new Enterprise CarShare (Enterprise CarShare - Explore our Car Sharing Programs ), or trading with a neighbor or family member.