2010 Plug-in Prius will have 12.4mile EV range

Toyota could claim "the most affordable mass produced electric car". It will likely cost under $25k (with $2.5k tax credit).

PHEV Prius is an electric car if you stay under 25 MPH with the EV button. Toyota could raise this EV speed to 60 MPH in the PHEV version as seen in the 09 PHEV test cars. We can debate this like the Volt claiming to be an electric car instead of series hybrid. Volt is an electric car if you don't drive more than 40 miles range. PHEV Prius is an electric car if you don't go above certain speed or range. Anyway, just a thought...

If we can use the PHEV pack in the charge depletion mode (with gas engine assist), we should be able to get 100+ MPG for 40 miles range. Hymotion 5kwh PHEV upgrade pack gets 100+ MPG for 40 miles range. For example, someone with 20 miles range may average 200 MPG but 30 miles range may average 100 MPG and 40 miles range may average 75 MPG. My assumption is that more people live within 10 miles range than within 40 miles range. Ex, 70% of the commute for 10 miles but only 10% for 40 miles. Overall, it should average well over 100 MPG.

In summary, potential for this PHEV Prius is to operate in full electric for 12.5 miles OR double the mileage (50 MPG -> 100 MPG) for the rest who drives further.

 

That is speeds up to 52 MPH, and several accelerations up to 45 or so. This is taking the energy used to charge the Hymotion battery divided by the miles driven. The first time I calculated this I had driven in EV mode until the Hymotion battery turned off and then charged the Hymotion back to full. The pack took about 4.8 kWh to charge and I had driven 16 miles. That gives you 300 watts per mile. I presume there is some energy lost during the charging process as I don't think the 5 kWh Hymotion battery would ever take itself down to .2 kWh. You also have to remember the Hymotion pack adds 180 pounds or so to the car and this test was done in relatively cool conditions - maybe lows 50s. I tracked a 5 miles jaunt over the weekend and came up with 260 kWh for that trip.

 

I can understand the desire of E Fusco and other individuals to have an EV only existence, but I'll take a national fuel economy of 100 mpg over that option any day.

Put another way, the national fuel economy will be a blended average for a long time; let's not retard progress with niche cars. I think Toyota is spot on. Political action to place chargers at the workplace is the next step.

 

thx for the website
googe translate makes the bloks readable.

i think 4kwh is a little on the low side
ik think the pack will be bigger to use the same smaller SOC range like with the Nimh packs.

IF there not going to use nimh again.

 

5Kw-hr should provide about 10miles

 

12.4 miles? huh. What's the strategy for a 14 mile round trip commute then?

I wonder if that number is based on some statistical assessment of commuting distances or it just happened to be what they fit into the existing battery volumn when using the new chemistry.

 

I believe 12.4 miles is 20 kilometers - sounds like a nice even number to me.

 

MOst driver miles are in a range of 150 - 300 Wh/mile, depending on speed etc.

 

Blended petrol/EV use.

 

so 4 will not provide the 12+ miles

 

Didn't I answer this question already?

 

looks like posts from Twitter dont quite make it this far. but i am hoping that the usable range is the 12.4 miles with controls to insure (unlike my EV now) that the user does not do things that will shorten the battery life. at least, i would be very (astounded really) surprised if Toyota did not do that....

what we really needs is SPECS!!

 

Not sure if this is something obvious that I missed... but will the plug-in be an upgrade-able option or only a new model from the 2010 platform?

 

on my Zenn, the only thing i can track is the power going in from the wall using Kill-a-watt, which i hope is accurate. but i am averaging 4-5 miles per KWH which would be 200-250 watts which is on par with numbers here...BUT

i am probably using technology that is much much less efficient which is good for Pri
(good boosts potential for EV range on Pri, bad well, ya know...)

i am driving a car that weighs 1200 lbs which is bad for Pri

Power conversion losses are not part of my equation, so actual performance for Pri could be better which is possibly good for Pri?

speed kills. the faster you go, the faster you accelerate, the more power you use. so i HAVE to assume that street speeds will give you better range, so i would HAVE to know, what driving conditions is the 20 km expected under... if optimum, then expect less...if higher than 35 mph, expect more and expect me to wait until its out to buy... so long 2010 Pri... i will miss you (especially since in my heart we have already journeyed several times together!!)

which would make me think that if Toyota programmed a pre heated system that uses electricity to insure the gas engine ran efficiently even if only for short periods of time, so like hypermilers, you use the ICE to accelerate to your cruising speed then shutdown to EV mode for constant cruising, what would the range be then??. i would have to assume that, like hypermilers we could nearly double the range... SO THERE!!! range problems solved!!!...well, sort of...

as for me. 7 miles one way. plug in spot at work...I'm GOOD!!

 

not an upgradeable option for upcoming 2010 and that is directly from Chief Engineers mouth...

 

Any idea when the plug-in Prius will be available to the general public? Are we talking one year or more like two or three?
Thanks.

 

spring to fall 2011 depending on trials with corporate fleets. however, its my hope, especially with a multitude of announced EV's coming next year that Toyota will move this date up since trials are to be starting up in next several weeks

 

The question answered was for a 15 mile one-way commute. the strategy may be different for two 7 mile drives.

But it is all hypothetical: i'll just have to get a 2012 and try it...

 

One question not answered: WIll the extra-capacity battery be recharged through regeneration like the existing, or will it be a separate battery pack for house-recharge only?