In cold temps, ICE turns on at the begining of a trip when I have plenty EV. Why?

thank you!

 

Reading comprehension. Yes, it will be for drivers who take many short trips.

For longer trips or temp that need more heat, use gas.

I have 44% of my miles (many short trips) on EV with Leaf beating 132 MPGe fuel economy.

The other 56% is on gas with the regular Prius beating 56 MPG.

That's plugin hybrid done right!

 

Possible, but highly improbable, I would say!

 

All it said was that PiP would benefit more for those with many short trips as it could be a city EV for those frequent trips.

In another word, If you have a 100 miles daily commute, a regular Prius is a better choice.

 

it's nice to get close

 

It could be called selective reading, since being an option doesn't mean that's what it specializes. That other plug-in attempts to deliver EV at all costs... which has yet to prove to be a good choice for the masses.

Delivering a well balanced design, with several desirable modes of operation, is what PLUG-IN HYBRID represents.

 

In all fairness, you'd likely have "Leaf beating" fuel economy in a leaf also.

 

I kind of agree that a trip of 1 mile would be a waste to fire up the ice, 7 one to three mile trips a day is a little unusual I gues I would go EV also, but to be in the car 15 minutes in sub freezing weather without heat is a little anal to me.

 

That's my typical day - 2-5 trips of that duration, and that's why the PiP is so ideal for us. Small city, little kids, means lots of running around.

Fortunately the seats heat so fast in this car that I actually feel warmer in this car than I do in our other cars where the seat heaters take longer and the ICE never warms up!

 

I am sure as well.

Leaf is rated 129 MPGe in the City and 102 MPGe on Highway. If you only drive it in the City conservatively, then you'll likely 132 MPGe (with 15% charging loss added).

The point was, my PiP was used for both the City and Highway driving conditions. I chose to use each fuel per their specialty, achieving synergy.

I don't need a L2 charger and finish my charge in <3 hours with L1. The 1,000+ miles trip to Canada would not be possible with the Leaf.

My gas mileage (56 MPG) is high considering the sheer number of short trips (80+% guesstimate) I did. The only reason it is that high is because 12-13 miles EV range took them out of the equation.

I have full cargo space and do not have to use premium gas. Gas mileage doesn't suffer either (like Ford Energi).

ICE may start if the Lithium battery cannot handle very cold temp, request cabin heat or accelerate aggressively. The way I look at it, it is one of those necessary evil to achieve greater goal. My result speaks for itself and I am very satisfied!

 

your comparing apples and oranges. The Prius Kitty system works for him in the Pip. If anybody knows of a large utility that will heat my house free, let me know.. Kitty: what is this BP/Sony thing you referred to?

 

If I only lived in my house 5-8 minutes at a time for less than an hour a day I would keep it at 40!

 

the BP/Sony thing is I got a Capitol One Sony Card (Visa) By answering the bonus question online at Wheel Of Fortune and entering DVD/Blu-Ray codes at Sony Rewards I accumulate points towards at BP gift card. Also using this website gives me the answer to the bonus question/DVD/Blu-Ray codes. SonyRewards/Wheel of Fortune/Jeopardy&#33; points - bargainshare.com

 

With the incentives reducing the the cost premium of a PiP over a standard Prius to practically zero, why is it ever better to get a standard Prius? Particularly with the higher efficiencies for regeneration and ability to run with the ICE off at higher speed that lead to about a 10% increase in mileage in HV mode. Or so people on this forum have reported.

 

Yep. You are right. Love those heated seats especially on high. Almost didn't notice the temperature was 15 out this morning for my typical 4 minute sprint into work. Drove my wife's Venza the other morning and didn't start getting any heat until I hit the parking lot. Fortunately her car has heated seats as well, but the PiP seats heat up much faster.

 

You are right with heavy discount from Toyota. Other than for spare tire, there is no reason to get a regular Prius if the bottom line price is the same.

 

This is one of the best threads in a while. Anyone really deciding between a PiP and a regular Prius should read this thread (or other EV's for that matter).

 

Yesterday, the Prius sat outside unused for a little over 9 hours. Capacity remaining was estimated at enough electricity remaining to travel 6.7 miles. It was 9:30 in the evening when I left. The condition outside was a blustery 18°F. Since I was dressed well and was out in the garage working before having left, all that would be needed was the seat-heater set to high.

The drive consisted of several blocks of 30 mph travel (roughly 1 miles), then a turn onto a 50 mph road. That became a long 45 mph stretch with several stoplights, a few which caught be with red. 5 miles into the journey, that electricity had all been used up.

At no time while driving those 5 miles did the engine start, despite the cold. That leaves me scratching my head wondering why some owners state their experience is quite different. Their engine starting even with the heater off and EV still available. The only thought that comes to mind is the battery-pack has a short opportunity to warm up prior to needing a faster speed. (Note that I have the entire lower section of the grille blocked, the top is entirely open.)

 

I had a fully charged battery this morning with 12 miles displayed at 45F. Took off in EV for one mile at 25 mph and turned onto a 45 mph road. No traffic and accelerated slowly to 45 for about 2 miles. I was slowing for a stop sign and saw the ICE fire up. No heat on except the seat heaters. After the ICE warmed up, it shut off and stayed off for the remainder of the trip. We stopped at a Home Depot and a Petco. Came home and the ICE still stayed off until I ran out of EV range about 2 miles from home. It warmed up in that 2 miles and shut off right before I pulled into the driveway. MFD displayed 110 mpg for the trip. I was talking when I got to Home Depot and forgot to see what that trip managed.

That's the first time I remember the ICE coming on for no apparent reason. It wasn't the 124 mile requisite startup as it was on a couple of days ago. Gremlins, methinks.

 

I agree that driving at slower speeds (<30 MPH) warms up the battery. I tested that theory out when I went to my local Sam's Club that's 3 miles away. The first 2 miles I took side streets (at <25 mph) then entered the main street at 35 mph. But I disagree about installing any type of grille blocking because the battery is located inside the trunk section of the PIP so the ambient temperature would be as cold as the whole car. Wind blowing on the lower section of the front grille (imho) would not lower or raise the battery temperature to a point where the battery would benefit from such grille blocking. Of course in my situation ICE is never on to warm the battery thus making grille blocking irrelevant.