Suggested Improvements for Gen-5 Prius

	change	est. cost	est. benefit
1	electric oil pump engine	same as electric water pump	~2% thermal efficiency gain over engine driven
2	electric oil pump transaxle	same as above	~1% thermal efficiency gain over engine driven
3	spin-on oil filter engine	cheaper than current spin plug	save $20-30 labor per oil change
4	spin-on oil filter transaxle	adds threaded nipple $5-10	removes manufacturing debris extends life
5	dealer option wheels/tires	~$5000 per dealer and $50 labor	upper grade Prius achieve ECO MPG
6	auto free-wheel mode	one-time $50000 labor	add 2-5 MPG
7	soft cruise control	one-time $50000 labor	Adjust PID to allow 2-5 MPG speed changes for hilly country with slower up-grade speed and slightly faster down-grade. Something like 'Ford ECO cruise.'
8	1.5kW inverter	$350 per car and $100 labor	Prius becomes highly efficient safe emergency power source
9	plug-in lite preheat and summer cool and voltage topping	one time $100000 and $100 parts	solving cold-start +5-20 MPG makes plug-in redundant
10	receiver hitch	$350 at dealer or port	avoid Curt hitch
11	engine tune for E85/E100	one time $5000	opens Brazil and USA Midwest
12	sell traction battery modules	$200 pair	supports 3d party rebuilders and kills $4-5000 battery replacement rumors
13	owner beep adjustment	one-time $10000	some way to the owner can change settings without a service call
14	external backup beep	$15 in light assembly	reduces pedestrian claims for walking behind backing Prius
15	external turn signal beep	$15 in light assembly	reduces pedestrian claims for walking in front of turning Prius
16	lockup high speed	one time $200000 and $100 parts	provide engine counter torque w/o MG1
17	VVTL valve duration and phase	one time $500000 and $300 parts	optimizes intake valve for more efficiency
18	engine compartment thermal management	$200000 and $300 parts	improves cold and hot weather temperature management including transaxle
19	exhaust heat absorption cooler	$100000 and $200 parts	adds 3-5 MPG
20	split glove compartment	$50000 and $10 parts	separate cop papers from Owner's Manual and 'sensitive' stuff (aka. crash underwear)
21	open source info-tainment	one time $50000 and change parts	after-market companies provide value-added cabin options
22	add a 12V power plug	one time $10000 and $10 parts	returns 3d party power for dash cams and 100W AC power inverters
23
24	vertical wiper rest	one-time $50000 labor	cool factor
25	moon caps	$250 at dealer	just cool

Well someone as to start the list. <GRINS>

Now to add some of the practical suggestions that we should discuss. But these proposals have to be realistic, precise, and accurately described (i.e., "feathered accelerator" fails.) By the same token, I'm OK with discussions and debate about my suggestions.

Bob Wilson

 

In your case, no reverse so you can put it in neutral and push the car back. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

Bob Wilson

• disagree on induction motor: http://www.controleng.com/single-article/permanent-magnet-motors-outperform-induction-motors-in-many-applications/413305407b2989675983a5babac0ac6d.html
• Ok although adding 'lock-up' but would feel better with more data
• Ok, VVTL, no problem but cost is an issue
• Ok but changed to engine compartment to include transaxle and address both cold and hot climates
• will add to plug-in lite for the traction battery management
• reject - hide unibody exhaust pipe add significant weight and thermal problems in warm climate

I'm open to discussion but this is my first take.

Bob Wilson

It makes sense to cover the different, efficient vehicle architectures, strengths and weaknesses:

• EV-only
• EV range extended
• Prius

If you want an EV, buy one but it won't be a Prius.

EV range extended both the Volt and i3-REX suffer from a problem of inefficient engines. The claim is EV mode masks the inefficient engines. But the problem is it is either/or, they do not hand off or 'share' the load in normal operation. Because they have to be plugged-in that rules out a large percentage of the USA population. Not that it can't work, it just takes a different infrastructure.

Prius uses an efficient engine that swaps the vehicle load with a limited EV mode. When the engine takes the load, it runs at a higher power setting, very efficiently and banks the extra power in the traction battery. When it can, the Prius turns off the engine and uses the recently banked, efficiently generated energy.

The only problem is the cold-start and the power plants that make electricity for EVs and Plug-ins have the same problem. Starting them from a cold start, even changing their power output is inefficient. So they tend to run constantly and offer very low rates at night. The Prius suffers the same, inefficiency window.

So what I'd like to see is a co-generation option and flex fuel to use natural gas. When we get our car home in the evening, it continues to run on natural gas and generates heat and power for the house. Using absorption cycle, cooling.

I'll come back to this to do an end-to-end efficiency study with metrics:

• ~44% efficiency - plug-in power source
  • ~47% efficiency - largest steam power plant
  • ~94% efficient - USA grid, power distribution
• ~40% efficiency - 2016 Prius engine
  
• ~95% efficiency - power controller and motor/generator efficiency

Bob Wilson

 

Perhaps to justify use of an inefficient engine and drive system.

I would be interested in the source but it still uses an inefficient, hobbled engine. Is there an EU version that works as you describe? Since outside of CARB, there is no advantage, perhaps a non-CARB version might be available someday. The irony is the Precept used a similar architecture.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this. The REX engine is too inefficient. As for natural gas, dual-fuel, it is not that hard or expensive having recently replaced a gas furnace with a high efficiency unit.

I've been thinking of a smart curb that plugs itself in . . . in effect a Prius docking station.

From what early reports I've read, it sounds like the Chevy Malibu hybrid may be the first GM attempt to replicate the Prius. But let's wait for the production models to show up.

Bob Wilson