Featured Toyota Prius sales have tanked, 4 reasons why

From topic, "Why Prius sales tanking..." to "the Butt wipe man"!!?? Slightly off topic! And you wonder why we have Distracted Driving!!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

Not to disappoint anyone, but it's more like this.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

And the second white car to pass by is a Prius v, or whatever it's called in Japan.

 

I still have one...probably bought it in 1978 as a young adult and it tags along our house moves I guess

 

I believe in Japan it's called a bus

 

https://goo.gl/images/aA852i

 

They were compatible with hot ashes fresh from the open fire, ie: non flammable. Can't do that with my newer plastic bin!

 

And there we have it, new 2.0 liter hybrid system:
2.0-liter Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) | TOYOTA Global Newsroom

As it looks it's similar to 2.5 dynamic force engine, it also achives 41% efficiency.

There is also a bunch of new powertrain options including new version of E-Four:
Toyota Announces New Powertrain Units Based on TNGA | CORPORATE | TOYOTA Global Newsroom

 

So, looks like it's A20A-FXS instead of 3ZR-FXE. Still, the rumors had the displacement right?

 

It sounds like they are moving away from the slow-poke acceleration, at last. I didn't see the one-way clutch on the flywheel which as a plugin hybrid owner is important.

Bob Wilson

 

I thought that would be a plugin only feature due to the additional battery size required. They could still put the one-way clutch on any plugins based off this hybrid system.

 

It augments the launch by increasing launch torque, an EV multiplier. It is the peak power that improves launch performance. Once ICE efficient, velocity is reached, transition to the the ICE even if there seems to be a slight power dip.

Bob Wilson

 

The one-way clutch without the bigger battery is, quite frankly, useless - with only about 27 kW power output from a stock Prius battery, MG2 can more than handle that on its own.

 

I'm not sure this announcement brings truly new hybrid info other than applying it to the 2.0 engine. Doesn't the 2018 Camry use the THS II system with it's 2.5 engine? They use the same wording ("applies the same technologies used in the fourth generation Prius") as they did when introducing the new Camry.

In various sizes, It will be new to each new model such as the upcoming next gen RAV4 and RAV4 Prime. Oh, wait a minute, they haven't announced a RAV4 Prime.

 

It isn't the battery aHr capacity but power, amps, that gives the car the needed, acceleration boost. The pack capacity just defines how quickly it is depleted and even the stock pack can easily handle acceleration to 60+ mph. Once the car reaches cruise speed, then bring in the engine, even cold. At speed, even warming the engine is fuel efficient, must more than when starting and acceleration.

Since I have two plugin hybrids and instrumentation, I may be able to run the experiments showing the effect:

• Prius Prime
  1. In HV mode and drive 8-10 miles to warmup engine.
  2. Park on shoulder of 75 mph posted Interstate and start camera recording SOC and MPG
  3. Reset MPG to zero
  4. Restart car which defaults to EV mode
  5. Maximum acceleration to 75 mph
  6. Change to HV mode
  7. Drive 5 miles and pull off
• BMW i3-REx
  1. Add an OBD that reports MPG from the REx (I have several candidates.)
  2. Drive in EV mode until REx can be started and long enough to finish warmup.
  3. Park on shoulder of 75 mph posted Interstate and start camera recording SOC and MPG
  4. Reset OBD meter to zero MPG
  5. Restart car which defaults to EV mode
  6. Maximum acceleration to 75 mph
  7. Enable REx charge sustain mode
  8. Drive 5 miles and pull off

We'll use the SOC change and EPA rated battery capacity to calculate the Ahr for the acceleration. Then use the ~5 mile stretch to calculate the MPG. If the change in SOC is too small, repeat the protocol until the sum of SOC changes is greater than 10%.

My interest is to quantify that the acceleration to 75 mph is well within the energy capacity of the stock Prius hybrid. We can also used the vehicle weights and change in velocity to calculate the change in kinetic energy and convert this into Ahr. Finally, we see if there is anyone willing to take their Prius:

1. Normal SOC of Prius and warm-up.
2. Disable the fuel pump looking for a connector to pump.
3. READY car and see how fast a maximum accelerator can reach (other control laws may step in.)

So what do you think about the protocol? Suggested improvements?

 

And that's why I said 27 kW power output - the highest I've seen is 132 A from the battery with a Scangauge. Granted, that isn't in a disabled fuel pump test.

 

Does this mean there might be an AWD Prius in the future?

Admittedly, I don't understand most of this, but it sounds like the technologies announced mean cleaner, more powerful engines, faster pickup with improved drive trains and better batteries.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I thought there was already one teased for some countries when Gen 4 war introduced.

Toyota Global Site | Electrical 4WD System (E-Four)[HV]

 

Yeah, there's already an AWD Prius for Japan.

This E-Four unit appears to be much larger, though, for crossovers.

 

I appreciate the current limit but just relating the Prius Prime gets a significant MPG boost because of double the voltage and improved control laws.

Having the one-way clutch on all Prius, plugin or not, eliminates the 42-46 mph limit on engine operation. It also allows more power to handle electric acceleration. However, I agree that doubling the battery voltage would be a good thing as well as improved batteries with higher amp ratings.

Bob Wilson