Featured From Prius to bZ4X

My journey started in late 1999, when I came across a newspaper article mentioning a new approach to reduced emissions and improved efficiency. It was my introduction to Prius. I was intrigued. By April 2000, seeing an import of the Gen-0 model only available in Japan, I became obsessed. I had learned there were 20 of them which had been distributed to families across the United States to collect feedback from real-world driving. That feedback was used for the Gen-1 upgrade to be rolled out here that Fall. I put my deposit down when online ordering began, they started the agonizing wait.

First test-drive opportunity came in early August, upon which I ended up coining the term "Stealth Mode" from experiencing the Prius electric-only drive (up to 42 mph, back then). That following month, I took delivery of my 2001 Prius. The online battles started then. There was intense pushback from diesel supporters, which ultimately contributed to dieselgate. Hybrids were clearly a threat to the status quo. So much so, posts on the "Up To The Chore" thread on Edmunds resulted in the term of "hypermiling" being coined, a reply to me in a series of long attacks trying to prove Prius wasn't. Our beloved hybrid triumphed though. It was. It ended up evolving into a plug-in too. As luck would have it, the group of 50 supporters who traveled to Detroit for a special debut of the Gen-3 Prius, included an activity to suggest names for identifying new & old Prius. My written submission was "Prius Prime". This was back in November 2009. The idea had seemingly been a dud... until 2016, when we learned that "Prius Prime" was the name Toyota had filed a trademark for. Whoa!

Other contributions was sharing owner experiences, like so many here. Those curious about Prius, those wanting to learn more following purchase, and those simply uncertain about hybrids have benefited greatly from that sharing. Personally, I was able to upgrade several times, continuing with those knowledge exchanges with friends here. My 2001 (Classic) Gen-1 got replaced by a 2004 (Iconic) Gen-2, then a 2010 Gen-3, then a 2012 PHV, then a 2017 Prime. That legacy came to an end though. Yesterday, I purchased a bZ4X.

22 years, 6 months, and 20 days of hybrid ownership... but it's not truly over. Driving the 4X, that feel of Prius in those early days is alive & well. It feels like going back in time, living a pioneer experience all over again. Sharing the new quasi-HUD with Gen-5 Prius is a nice tie into new history too. Meanwhile, my wife is still driving her 2017 Prius Prime. So, this is really just the next chapter beginning. Stay tuned for updates.

 

That's a tough one. The definition included the word profitable. We're still seeing up front investments, combined with unclear objectives, impede that progress. Ironically, it will be much like Prius... slower than everyone hoped.

 

A little more than an hour after getting home from the dealer, I rushed off to an EV event clear on the other side of the Twin Cities.

That meant a variety of driving and some decent distance. The temperature was 30°F for the drive there. On the way back, it dropped to 21°F. I had the heat-pump set to 65°F, with the seat & steering-wheel warmers going, as well as the radiant-heater. Even without a jacket on, it was quite comfortable.

None of my driving was in ECO mode. There were a number of to-the-floor accelerations. My drive home included swinging by a friends house and my sister's to show the 4X. Overall, I drove 112 miles. There was at least 30 minutes of sitting in the vehicle with the heater running while configuring the vehicle and setting up my phone interface.

It took 38.47 kWh to restore charge-level to full, including charging losses. That calculates to an overall efficiency (including charging losses) of 2.91 mi/kWh.

 

Strange how it doesn't seem decades ago.

 

They would be available in extremely limited numbers in non-carb states. That meant getting in line, then waiting. A little over a year later... mine was delivered to Burnsville Toyota. Like other dealers in the region (including Rochester), they get one initially.

 

2 of those dealers purchased inventory from the coast and had them shipped here. That's why a vehicle with only 12 miles on it is listed as used. For me, that worked out nice, since it provided the opportunity to check one out firsthand while waiting for mine.

 

We literally got hit by a blizzard. What a way to start a weekend. I drove home in that mess, getting to experience the AWD right away. That was quite a surprise. It didn't disappoint.

That next morning brought a decision of whether or not to drive clear across to the other side of the Twin Cities, for my wife's band practice... the last weekend to get together before their big concert. Being able to get out of the drive, despite so much wet & heavy snow wasn't a big deal having the electric snow-blower. Getting over the mess others left behind wouldn't be a big deal either, with the 8-inch ground clearance and AWD... new found advantage over my Prius Prime.

On the highway... which had about an inch of that thick-packed snow which had turned to ice... limited us to 35 mph. Odds were good it would melt prior to the return trip, so that one-way effort didn't seem too crazy. We got there just fine, taking a little over an hour. I found myself in a winter-wonderland, with 2 hours to find locations to take photos of my 4X. Sweet!

I didn't even care about efficiency at that point. I never shut the 4X off that entire time. 2 hours of running the heat-pump, following a long drive up. We decided to meet with some friends for lunch, then do a little shopping afterward. It had warmed up to 40°F for the trip home. I was intrigued. No, I would turn to efficiency. I kept it hidden though, instead choosing to watch how ECO mode made the AWD system favor the front motor as much as possible.

When I powered down after arriving home, I checked results. I got a rating of "Excellent" despite 2 fast accelerations. 27 miles. 38 miles. I was pleased to see 3.3 mi/kWh. That's with current display software, which reflects charging-losses. I can't wait to find out what happens once warm weather finally arrives, especially now having cooled seats.