Are they expanding the PIP availability?

The Volt is available in all 50 states.
Run the numbers comparing a PiP and a Volt.
And consider where your dollars go at purchase and when fueling.

 

And consider each automaker's need for business-sustaining profit.

And consider the financial dependency upon government subsidies.

 

Remember this graph?

Extremely independent on your average commute length.

 

PIP has the lowest cost per mile. That's all I need to know.

 

For your commute...different for everybody.

 

I now read "Volt" and think "dead kids from defective $5 switch." Sure it wasn't the Volt, but it's GM.

 

Like the old Arabic saying goes: "...all roads lead to Mecca, but they (the roads) aren't all the same..."

 

I think you meant "Extremely dependent on your average commute length." Right?

 

Even with the incentives the NJ dealers were giving to sell PiPs, I still only see them once in a while.

 

Hey John1701a, I have been avoiding Prius Chat . . . feels snooty . . . TMI . . . maybe I will change my mind. Did not like the idea of "junior" member and other titles. Always appreciated your info in all the Prius yahoo groups and your web site. Thinking about upgrading to a plug-in. So . . . to get your 73 MPG lifetime mileage in Minnesota do your garage your car in the winter? How much electricity from the grid do you use to attain the 73 MPG? When will the Prius V be available in plug-in?

John -2010 Prius II previous 2001 classic and 2004 (level 5 ? ) Over 600,000 Prius miles driven and lovin' it more than ever!

 

there is no talk of a plug in V.

 

And Toyota was recently fined a record $1.2 billion for concealing safety defects. So what's the point?

 

The point is that "buy American" may generally be a good idea, but there's a reason that the US auto industry lost major sales to the Japanese - and now the Koreans: their cars are usually better and often safer. Looking at what the two manufacturers did with their respective safety issues, I still find GM's actions more reprehensible. As people here will attest, however, I'm not a fan of Toyota either. I just think that some of their cars are outstanding. With the possible exception of the Volt, I can't say the same for GM.

 

'...Oh, how the mighty fall blunder...'

 

It has been pointed out to you before, yet you continue to spread this. It is a catchy line and I know you like the attention.

A fraction of electricity used to refine gasoline comes from the grid. Majority is from the petroleum byproduct. All of those has been taken accounted in the 17% loss during refinery and transportation to gas stations. Gasoline is 83% efficient to produce from the well to the pump.

On the other hand, electricity from coal and NG (makes 67%) is only 30% efficient. So, an EV should get ~140 MPGe to be equivalent to a 50 MPG gas. Of course, the other 33% of the electricity is from nuclear and renewable (solar, wind, hydro, etc).

US grid is ever changing. The carbon mix in the grid has to be considered and balanced with carbon in the gasoline. As the grid gets cleaner, expect PiP in more states and the future gen to get more EV biased.

 

Japanese cars may be better from a quality/reliability perspective, but safety no.

 

This is a very misleading graph. The curves are highly dependent on the cost of power, what rate plan you're in, and the price of gasoline.

Edit: also, the dashed line for the regular Prius should be slightly below the line for the PIP on the flat part of the curve as the PIP gets 1 mpg less than the standard Prius because of the extra weight of the battery, according to Consumer Reports. YMMV

 

I know that I have saved at least $300 over the first year by owning a PiP. And yes, I am factoring in the cost of electricity. Could be much higher for others, especially if they get to plug in at work.

 

Very true statement, BUT neither electricity nor gasoline prices are likely to go down & stay there in the future, they inevitably will be HIGHER, not lower.