Cost of electricity with plug-in Prius

Keep in mind that, at the moment, electricity is much cheaper than gasoline. At USA average elec rate (~12 cents/kWhr) gasoline costs about 3x (Prius maybe even 4x) more to go the same EV distance. This is not because less energy is being used for EV, but rather because electricity is a cheap energy source right now, compared to gaso. Now then, the Californians here will have to help you re: local costs. You are trading off cheap electricity with an expensive battery.

 

And that's why I think electricity should always be charged using TOU and why I don't like PEVs with AER lower than normal daily usage.

 

The effect of temperature and A/C use is interesting. In the North-east the A/C use is much lower so you see a 2nd peak in the evening.

 

The LEAF can be set to charge from or charge to a given time.

I haven't read any mention of a timer. One of its selling points is not needing a special charger. You can get a timer that plugs into a socket easily enough: less than $20 for one that allows you to use a different setting at weekends if off-peak is always off-peak. Of course, it's less convenient than being able to control it remotely.

 

Its a compromise, some electric range is better than none.
You can always buy a Leaf, Ford Focus EV, or a Tesla Model S (when those last 2 are eventually availble), of course you give up the range of a PHEV, like the Prius, or Plug in Prius/Volt

There is no perfect solution yet, unless you can wait until the end of 2012, have $90K+ and get in line for a 300 mile range Tesla Model S.