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EV and EV auto commute

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by martydallas, May 9, 2017.

  1. martydallas

    martydallas Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
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    Location:
    Dallas, tx
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    My commute to and from work is just over 30 miles. Also it's along the Dallas North Tollway which is not a energy/fuel friendly road. There are a number of ups and downs. Even though it's only 15 miles to work, when I pull in my garage I only have 9.5 miles left on battery. The commute home, when I'm still 5 to 6 miles from home sometimes as much a 7 depending on traffic, is when the battery is discharged to the point that the engine takes over.

    So my question is:

    Should I leave it in all electric until such time power is discharge and the gasoline engine takes over or should I allow it to run in auto mode and let the gasoline engine run and pick up the hills and acceleration were needed. When I have done that, I will have pulled into the garage at home at the end of my workday and though be 1 - 3 miles left on the battery.

    Looking for thoughts and conversation
     
    #1 martydallas, May 9, 2017
    priuscatprimeguy likes this.
  2. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2011
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    Location:
    Easley, South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I would use EV auto until you get to the last 1-3 miles to your final destination and switch to EV mode to utilize what is left in the battery.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
    #2 dalcon95, May 9, 2017
    martydallas and priuscatprimeguy like this.
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,660
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    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    It really depends upon your cost per mile of electricity and gas. If electricity is cheaper per mile, us it all. If gas is cheaper, use electricity to accelerate and support engine warm-up and then use gas. For example:
    • ~$0.025/mile - electricity using $0.10/kWh
    • ~$0.042/mile - gasoline today using $1.98/gal.
    So it makes sense to maximize electricity. Given I can get a significant amount of free electricity, it makes even more sense. However, there are areas of the country with expensive electricity, $0.18/kWh yet affordable gas.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #3 bwilson4web, May 9, 2017
    martydallas, tanner9868, priuscatprimeguy and 1 other person like this.
  4. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
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    Location:
    Toms River, NJ USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    What I did was try different scenarios, recording my daily mpg and see which scenario gives me the best commute mpg.
     
    #4 Prius from Dad, May 9, 2017
    dalcon95 likes this.
  5. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
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    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    If the purpose is to maximize EV use, continue to do what you've been doing. Warming up the engine is wasteful so I'd only want the ICE to fire up once a day either to work or from work. That means full EV to work and partial EV at the end of the day. There's a thread on here someone did that you burn a cup of gasoline During the warmup cycle.

    Also to a lesser degree, consider parasitic losses from leaving a semi charged battery all day at work. The more you use up on the morning commute, the less you will lose.
     
    #5 mmmodem, May 9, 2017
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