But this is a "turbo car", sort of. The Ev system's performance doesn't change with altitude so the real-world loss of total power with altitude is more similar to that of a turbo car than it is to a naturally aspirated car.
Yeah but HV is still using ICE, which hates 6000 ft altitude, not to mention fuel pumps (much experience here!!), which love to cavitate at high altitudes, especially if it's hot! .
The loss at 6,000 feet is only 16% or so, and that's only a portion of the total output. Perhaps 30kW of the total is coming from the electric system. That's around half meaning you only lose 8% on such a run being at 6,000 feet versus sea level. If a turbo car has, say, 8psi of boost, it would have 22.7psi at sea level and 20.8psi at 6,000 feet - a loss of about 8%.
Well it's still slower at altitude, and since we're hearing all this nonsense about how terribly slow the Prime is, I'll take every percent that I can get! Nitrous anyone??!! .
In the real-world, the Prime is not slow at all. First of all, especially in Ev, it's VERY responsive. In fact, something I didn't mention in the comparison post above is that these plots are generated by fitting the response down to zero speed, and in fact the timings are as well. But in Hv mode, the response to pedal depression is slower in Hv than Ev so the result is likely closer that it appears from the numbers if you measure from when you hit the pedal instead of when the car starts accelerating. Also, most people in the real world don't accelerate hard as a natural part of their driving. I've not once had a problem jumping in front of someone when I have needed to. In fact, in Ev it's so responsive at low speeds, it can shock a passenger who isn't expecting sudden acceleration. Finally, I had much high-speed passing to do on my most recent trip. While the Prime isn't impressive in this regard, I made every pass I wanted to make safely. Stuck behind a flat-bed semi going 60 in a 75 zone, I noted that I was at 86 when I got to his front bumper during a pass. Not bad at all.
You've found the same thing I have, the car is very quick, especially during surface street driving. I too have never had ANY problem getting on, or passing on the freeway. The Prime just doesn't have the "follow through, deep push" that you get with a high horsepower car. I get defensive when I hear fools saying the car has inadequate horsepower to get on the freeway!! They're probably running Eco mode, and braking at the same time, with no electric charge left! Just get me one of those buffoons in the passenger seat and they'll become religious and/or wet!! .
I think they're just morons and/or have never driven one. I have several really, really difficult merges on some of my regular routes. Only one is an occasional struggle (it's a left turn, across highway traffic, onto a heavily congested one-lane highway, climbing a 5% grade) and I've made that every time without anyone getting right on my tail.
I do use ECO mode and for me the Prime has plenty power for fwy merge ... but I don't use my brakes when merging, should I try that?
When people stop at the end of an acceleration lane, I think the best approach is to come up behind then with a truck-mounted two-stage snow thrower and grind them up and spit them onto the side of the road.
Oh I totally didn’t read that you’re at 6k elevation. I wonder what it is at sea level then. Also, is there any difference with battery SOC?
Can I get that for my Prime!!?? I frequently pine that I no longer have the front and rear-mounted rocket launchers on my Prime Advanced for driving in heavy traffic, or surrounded by tailgaters at 85mph!! This option should be restored on Primes, especially the Advanced; maybe the 2018's!!?? .
We tested the acceleration, also, in both EV mode and hybrid mode. Here's our video of the results: It feels so fast in EV mode, yet the results show it's actually faster in hybrid. I guess it's just psychological, with the quiet EV mode giving one the impression that it's not working hard? Other ideas on why it feels so fast in EV?
The initial EV acceleration has more torque than hybrid mode. That gives the brief but accurate feeling of acceleration. Bob Wilson
I'm gonna let it slide that you posted this 3 times cause you're a newbie (it's unnecessary to revive 3 threads and it's not proper etiquette) Anyway, thanks for your videos. EV mode feels peppier because of the instant torque so it feels like you're accelerating at near max acceleration immediately from a standstill. In HV mode, the engine has to rev up, so there's a delay in reach max acceleration rate.