Gen 5 Prius (possible in 2021) will we possibly see 60mpg?

I think TOYOTA don't do too bad mostly - some glaring things though - like no HillHolder in reverse.

But Android/Apple Auto weren't released till just before PRIUS Gen 4 was signed off on in 2015 - almost no cars had it at that stage.

That said - TOYOTA seem to be in a "rut" - with their attitude to updates during model cycles. If it's not on the first Gen 4, good chance it won't arrive till Gen 5. Other manufacturers add stuff on an ongoing basis.

 

Maybe an air-aluminum battery?

 

That would certainly make the battery less attractive to thieves.

 

Air-aluminium battery, that would be nice a non-rechargeable battery in a hybrid or EV... Not.

 

Yes, my thoughts too.

I think they're hoping to develop them as rechargeables eventually. But not "just" Al - but Sn as well last I read, along with traces of Co I think. The aluminium was self destructing in pure Al form.

Last I read it sounded like 2021 would be impossible.

 

From what I know, the reciprocating ICE has almost reached its theoretical efficiency limits in the thermodynamics-, combustion- and mechanical departments. Therefore if you insist on converting energy from chemical into thermal into mechanical, you will have to bang your head on the law of diminishing returns.

The overall efficiency of a hybrid should be improved by increasing the battery capacity to more fully capture the energy of deceleration and driving downhill, and to allow the ICE to stay within its favorite RPM range (or off) for longer. Still better, how about giving all Gen 5's a 240V plug and enough electric range to run about town and/or to do the proverbial "average" US commute of 40-50 mi/day. Even betterer, make the traction battery modular so folks can order the capacity they need for their driving patterns, as a rough equivalent of the engine choice in pure ICE vehicles.

For Gen 6 or 5.5, in about 5 years, I'd like to look at a Prius Prime with 120 mi BEV range and a LPG SOFC range extender, if I may be so bold.

 

Back when I skied a lot, I didn't have AWD and drove accordingly. At the end of the day, the snowplow went around the edges of the parking lot and pulled out all the AWD vehicles that found 'A GREAT PARKING SPOT'

 

I hope we see a full EV Prius like the Ioniq.
And a plug in that follows the RAV4 Prime formula by having a higher capacity MG1 to accept what would be +80hp from the gen4 Prius prime battery.

 

Toyota will really go mainstream with a BEV Corolla.

 

I'd like to see double the battery capacity of the Prime and half the size of the engine. I'd like to see 100 hp from the battery/electric motor. Then put in a 2-cyl Achates power opposed piston engine with 50% BTE for the remaining 60 hp.

moto g power ?

 

Achates are leaning toward being diesel

that might get you closer to a real 100mpg
But many might not like having diesel power

 

Makes me think if Toyota (with its Mazda partner) could slap a Wankel rotary on the power synergy drive. My best rationale is that the 4-banger engines we have show a high degree of endurance because of the less stress they get under putting power through the road. Or at least, I expect Lexus to pull something like that off.

 

I probably wouldn't mind it. Likely the cleanest diesel engine on the road.

moto g power ?

 

I think Toyota are still very much looking for thermal efficiency gains on the ICE. The current Dynamic Force engines are at 41%. The latest engine tech paper I can see from Toyota is "Engine Technologies for Achieving 45% Thermal Efficiency of S.I. Engine" published in SAE International April 2016. In this paper they describe a modified Dynamic Force engine with longer stoke, lean boost, high tumble rate, cooled EGR and turbocharging and show it can achieve over 45% thermal efficiency.

That was 6 years ago and so I hope they use the GEN 5 Prius as the lead for this new engine, just they way they released Dynamic Force in the Gen 4.

 

I still wish the US would get off it’s silly diesel hating opinion and make a real hybrid. A 1.8 diesel with the Prius battery system could easily hit 70-100 mpg.

 

But the US government is not an automobile manufacturer. Is there any impedance, to the actual car makers, say regs, or for whatever reason, it’s not viable?

 

I hear what your saying but I think the government has scared car makers away from even trying which is a shame.

 

VW killed the diesel in the US. In their settlement, they had to build the ElectriFY America BEV charging network.