2016 Prius Eco

^ Big effects are all being used already, what remain are only small effects.

 

One further difference between NiMH and lithium-ion is power output ability. Today's power-oriented hybrid Lithium batteries may be able to put out (or accept during regen) more kW.

Today's NiMH pack limits the regular Prius to about 27 kW. The Prius Plugin, which has a pack designed to balance both energy capacity and power capacity, can do up to 38 kW. A hybrid-specific Lithium pack about the same 1.3 kWh energy capacity as the regular Prius NiMH may be able to do mid-30 kW. That gives the hybrid controller more flexibility to optimize the gas engine rpms and torque and it allows more regen during braking.

The 2016 Malibu hybrid is probably using a Lithium-ion cell design based on power-centric cells from Hitachi Automotive that are theoretically rated for up to 60 kW in its 1.7 kWh pack. Scaled to 1.3 kWh that would be around 45 kW. In reality, they may be limiting it somewhat to conserve battery life.

 

Right, and it will take several of those small effects to make the Eco Prius get ~60 mpg versus ~55 mpg for the regular 4th generation car. It seems to me like they would need to pull every trick in the playbook.

 

Plus probably wider usable SOC window.

 

The exhaust pipe is going around what appears to be the gas tank.

 

Thanks for that pic. That is a different muffler configuration, for sure. That protrudance could be protecting exhaust as well, but I'd put money on it being rear jacking point.

 

Looks like some adjustment possible?

 

Agreed with Giora and Jeff N.

The "Eco" trim for the Chevy Cruze, as well as the Civic HF, Ford Focus SFE, etc. have things like automatic grille shutters (yay!), more solid wheel covers, deletion of spare tire to save weight (boo!), and improved aerodynamic touches to contribute to increased fuel economy. We may see the same here.

 

Question:
Didn't the bottom of the Prius seen descending to the stage at the Vegas debut appear a lot less cluttered?

 

Ahhhh!

 

"Toyota plans a slightly less expensive version of the new Prius, the Eco model, which is expected to use the third generation's powertrain."

Fourth-gen Prius: A new billboard for Toyota

 

Yeah, IRS means much more emphasis on maintaining proper alignment, and a slightly more complicated 4 wheel alignment.

 

I doubt the SiC inverter for Gen IV...
Toyota gave out some preliminary test results with SiC Prototype Car during 2015 JSAE Annual Congress (Spring) in PACIFICO YOKOHAMA, and said,

 

Count me in the more optimistic ~20% MPG improvement crowd.

Between increased engine thermal efficiency, decreased frontal cross section, boat-end reduction in drag turbulence, increased efficiency of power transfers, and weight loss, I say we can get there on these alone. Suspect there is more in the formula, though.

 

Civic Hybrid had some interesting tricks:

1. Two spark plugs, with staggered triggering.
2. Low and high lift cam lobes: the valve stems would normally be under the low lift lobes, hydraulic pressure would shift the high lift lobe over, under heavy loading.