2022 Prius Prime verses Prius...things I might be overlooking?

prime can use regular tires, same size wheel

 

Well, you most likely will not get your car recalled due to tail light software like GM's hummer - tail light software - who knew such a thing existed?

 

That's pretty much the flip side of what most of us Priuschat members are hoping for in the next gen Prime. Somewhere inbetween 50 and 100 would be nice. That is if there is a next gen Prime in the works. We'll see !

 

My level 2 charger installed in my garage never takes longer than 1 hour and 50 minutes. Plus 61 percent of my driving is in electric mode. This results in considerably less mileage on the gas engine. We all know that gas engines require more maintenance than an electric motor. While 25 to 30 miles in electric is not ideal for my commutes it is much better than having no electric at all. The car runs much smoother in electric. I hate it when the gas engines kicks on. The drag of the gas engine is a real let down. If I had 60 miles of electric, that would be ideal, but..... until they come out with solid state batteries, I am happy with the engineering that went into this vehicle.

 

And keeping track of how much it costs to charge the cars batteries, for those of us who don't have "free" solar electricity yet. So far with the Primes 8.8 - 8.9 kWh pack, it's pretty hard to notice a diff on the electric bill, cept for Ms.Bisco I've read. @bisco - how many times a day do you charge your PiPlugin normally?

There is a wealth of infomation here about fixing older batteries and a few very experienced battery recon ditioners here willing to share what usually works best in most situations for the least about of $'s out. Some even willing to do all the grunt work for small to medium costs. Plus you can share DrPrius - HybridAssitant - Torque results here which always helps others learning howto.

 

i would say twice before covid, and once now. mrs.b did not notice the reduction in use, probably because the electric rates keep increasing. but at $4.50/g, we must be ahead of the game.

 

Thanks Daisy,

One more thing I did not mention, is that if you do not use the EV capability of the Prime, it can be considered a waste of the raw materials to have the extra battery capacity that would be unused. That did figure into our decision process.

One other thing that is kind of off the wall, but something I considered and will share with you, just because.

I entertained the idea of getting some LiFeP04 batteries that we could charge at home, and at work, she could use these with an inverter to recharge the EV battery while parked at work, so she could drive the 25 miles back home on EV. I figured I might be able to get an off grid system to charge the batteries, so that it would be "free" energy, and the energy losses in an extra charge and the inverter would not be so much of a hit. I have enough other projects right now that I tabled this before even looking into how much battery capacity I would need.

And just to be clear, I was thinking of charging the LiFeP04 battery, and then using an inverter and the L1 cord to charge the Prius just as it would be done from a home outlet. They do make 240 v inverters, and I would have looked into that as well, for self charging while stopped on shopping trips or what not.

I don't know how that would help you any, but just thought I would mention it, since other people were mentioning that a 50 mile capacity would be what they need, and it was my thought on one way to get it.

Also, I am less optimistic about the future availability of working, economical charging stations than your mechanic. I am as hopeful as anyone, but my personal crystal ball is more cloudy than rosy on that topic. When I see it, I will believe it, and won't bet on it before then.

If we get a PHEV or an EV in the near future, it will be a Tesla, for their network of chargers, unless we get it with the sole idea of charging it at home. My gf would get very short tempered going around and looking for charging stations and finding them few and far between that were available and working, and I feel it would be sold shortly after she needed a charge and could not get one in a reasonable time or with minimal inconvenience.

 

One reason we still have our 1997 Tercel. Among other things, it is what we drive to go get parts for our other vehicles...

 

As a general rule, if Continental makes a tire in the size we need, that is what we use. And usually it is a variety of the Procontact.

 

Tail lights failing through software is better than the hybrid system doing so.

 

I have done that 5 times now... 2000, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2017... without ever regret.

 

Yes. That was year-of-purchase, not model-year. Each was among early deliveries.