100+ MPG Prius in 2009 w/ price cut by 20-30%

The Japanese city cycle resulted in ~ 85 mp(US)g for the Prius II, equivalent to 60 mpg EPA city cycle.

So the target (if true) for Prius 2009 is 113/85*60, or ~ 80 mp(US)g, or a 33% increase in city FE.

Between this rumor, and the one saying a 9 mile electric range, I am salivating

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Apr 19 2006, 02:56 PM) [snapback]241966[/snapback]</div>

The Japanese 10-15 mode test result is 35.5 km/L for the current Prius II.
Their target was written as 40 km/L for the next Prius III, so the increase is 12.7%.

Ken@Japan

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusguy04 @ Apr 14 2006, 05:27 PM) [snapback]239895[/snapback]</div>

It looks like 9 miles was deliberately chosen to make it useless to most people to use exclusively - the average commute is 29 miles/day, 20 miles too short. Since the EV1 went 150 miles at up to 80 mph, the limit is obviously artificially selected, and really stupid, I might add. However as we all know, something is better than nothing.

 

On European models the EV cuts out at 31mph, sometimes.....in practice its more like 30.
I certainly wouldn't last long on my 22 mile round trip commute on EV at 30mph......

If the drivetrain and ICE remain the same (but I imagine with some minor efficiency improvements) I'm thinking that the biggest single enhancement has to be the battery and its performance.

In which case, let's hope its retrofitable ...

 

100 miles per US gallon (2.5 Km per litre) I think is possible by using the hybrid system and a plug in booster battery.
I live up a 250 metre high hill. When I leave home and travel down to the valley floor the battery gets really charged up.
As I travel around the flat in urban traffic up to 50 km/h and on the motorway up to 100 Km/h, the first 10 or so Kms are around 2.5 km/100 litres. When the battery goes blue it goes back up to around 4.5 km/100l.

I have often thought what sort of mileage I would get if my full 45km commute was on a fully charged up battery. The only way I could see this happening would be with an extra plug in battery that kept the drive battery topped up.

My overall economy is around 5k / 100l, I lose all the downhill gains (then some) getting back up the hill home.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cx88 @ Nov 19 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]351800[/snapback]</div>

So... your first post was an attempt to create a conspiracy, eh? Well, give it up and do the math instead.

It's basically a matter of economics. Toyota has always placed competitive-pricing near the top of the priority. That's why the Classic model was sold at a loss originally, yet later became profitable at the same price.

Choosing a marketable configuration is a bigger deal than just simply trying to squeeze out the highest possible MPG, especially when third-party suppliers are involved. That means considering what the competition offers is absolutely essential. And as we all know, Toyota is already quite a few years ahead of everyone else. Greater EV range will eventually be offered. Patience.

Also, don't forget the reality of EPA estimates. There is no system currently in place to deal with such a design. That most definitely does complicate an already confusing situation.

 

Toyota could make the next Prius lithium-ion, plug-in and cheaper, the three aren't exclusive.

See it this way, if they replace the expensive NiMH pack with the same weight of next generation lithium-ion batteries that can cycle all the way from 10% to 90%, then the problem is solved.

Since the existing NiMH is only 45 Wh/kg, and the next gen LiIon about 110 Wh/kg, they could replace the existing 1.3 kWh pack with a 3.1 kWh LiIon pack, at no extra space or weight. The other hybrid components are now smaller and cheaper, so overall it would still be cheaper if the LiIon is of a similar price (many think it is now cheaper than NiMH).

Using 80% of the available 3.1 kWh (for longevity) would yield 2.5 useable kilowatt-hours of energy.

It would be trivial to add a charger and plug to top this small battery off, but it would still be useful as 2.5 kWh would provide enough range for 10 miles in EV mode, or 20 miles of electric assist at 100 mpg on the highway.

So, just making the switch to a better battery enables all three things to happen and it doesn't have to take up any space or weight or cost much more.

 

All I can say is WTH? You guys are a bunch of comedians! There is some great material here. What is the EV button & where is it? Sounds like in the 80's we were all searching for the "G spot" I have had my Prius for almost one yr and average 52mpg. The best I have ever done is 56 I pissed awhole lot of people off doing it but then oh well. I have a 2K' descent and a 40 mile drive to work & obviously the opposite on the way home. Does anyone else have a similar descent, ascent as I that gets better than 52mpg? If so KLOO me in San diego is nothing but hills, & I have been to Japan it is not exactly flat either.

 

Ok, I'm not sure how you got 55 to be 44% of 99, but that's not even remotely close. 55 is almost 56% of 99.

Anyways, knew about the Japanese "EPA tests" and that they are a joke.

 

9 miles on EV. does that take into consideration Regen breaking or just 9 miles sustained? also what speed?
heck. if this were the case I would never need gas to get to work or run errands.
What will the oil companies do????

Any electric car can go 50 to 80 miles on one charge. Some even more. This is not new news. Of course the faster you go the faster the battery runs out. Thats on the old Lead acid batteries. So a plug in range EV mode of 9 miles is very possible.

Oh how I cant wait for the day when there are PHEV cars wtih a supplemental solar roof.
Days when people will fight to part at the top of parking garages. Days when if you only live a few miles from work your transport fuel cost basically is free.

But think about it folks. It is not gonna happen or be available to everyone. How the heck are we going to pay to maintain the roads and nice smooth surfaces so our cars can travel efficiently on them.

Too big of a change to change the tax base when fuel tax pays for a lot of it. Could be a reason why CAFE standards have not gone up.
Its just not in the best interests of the Oil and energy companies, and not in the interest of the government either.
A plug in Electric car that recharges by solar, wind or what ever is a scary concept if it caught on and you need money to run your company/government etc. Those people are gonna watch there own jobs and want to put food on the table...or just live in excess.