How often do you charge your Plug-in Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Eug, Mar 10, 2015.

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How often do you charge your Plug-in Prius?

  1. A few times a day

    14 vote(s)
    38.9%

  2. Every day

    17 vote(s)
    47.2%

  3. A few times a week

    4 vote(s)
    11.1%

  4. A few times a month

    1 vote(s)
    2.8%

  5. A few times a year or less

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
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  1. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I still have yet to find a use for remote AC. I think I activated it once. I say I think because from the time I activated to the time it took me to walk to the car was under 10 seconds and the car was still steaming hot inside. I'd rather have a remote all window down button.

    Anyway, I take a 20 ft extension cord with me to work. There are only 3 spots accessible to the single plug at my work. I started coming in earlier and earlier to work to guarantee that spot until I was regularly coming in 2 hours earlier to work. Luckily, my job is flexible. I find leaving work at 3 pm very refreshing as I drive out with a full parking lot. There's also a lot less traffic on the way home.
     
    #21 mmmodem, Mar 12, 2015
    rxlawdude likes this.
  2. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    True. Unless it's raining or you're in a sketchy area or something, what would be nice is window rolldown for 30 seconds and then AC start. However, in my case the AC on button may come in handy, since my car is parked outside, and the car is visible from my kitchen window.

    I can sit there finishing my lunch or whatever, activate the AC, and then come out 5 mins later.

    What I would prefer though would be heating, including front and back windshield defrost. I hate scraping the things, and it's a visibility issue, not just comfort.
     
    #22 Eug, Mar 12, 2015
  3. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

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    Heating requires the ICE, unfortunately. Having a remote that might cause the ICE to run in an enclosed area (garage), depending on the ambient temp and climate control set point, potentially creates a carbon monoxide hazard.
     
    #23 rxlawdude, Mar 12, 2015
  4. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    I know. However, what I was suggesting is that say for a future model they can put in an electric heater, like they have in other cars. It would be a perfect fit for a plug-in hybrid.
     
    #24 Eug, Mar 12, 2015
  5. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

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    Electric heat is a great idea, especially on cold mornings when it's plugged in charging (or post-charging but still plugged in) in the garage. I doubt heat would use a lot more power than the AC compressor, and we know we can run the AC remotely for up to 10 minutes. :)
     
    #25 rxlawdude, Mar 12, 2015
  6. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    An AC is already a heat pump. Just design the existing AC to run in reverse and you should have heating efficiency above 200% without having to add much cost. Seems a simple engineering exercise.
     
    #26 Redpoint5, Mar 12, 2015
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    They did have it in the Prius PHV prototypes. I can't remember why they took it out (but I do remember their expression when I asked how cold that heater will be effective and they asked how cold does it get where I was living)
     
    #27 Tideland Prius, Mar 13, 2015
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