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Great news today - 2012 Toyota Prius PHV to get selectable EV mode, full battery regeneration

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by freedom45, Jun 15, 2011.

  1. freedom45

    freedom45 New Member

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    3 people like this.
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Shwwweeeat !!
     
  3. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    great news
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    perfect.
     
  5. k9frog

    k9frog New Member

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    there moving in the right direction, now if toyota can make the car affordable thatll be a plus
     
  6. nwprius

    nwprius Member

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    That just made the difference for me. I just signed up for the Pre-Registration. Even though I just bought a 2011 five with ATP.
    The previous iteration left me uninterested because it did not allow charging the lithium ion battery while driving. Now they have my attention.
     
  7. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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  8. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Wow that was good news to hear. I bet that car will get huge mileage figures with the complete battery capacity able to use regen charging. The wireless Gen III will become the gas guzzler Prius version now ;) I sure hope they offer it as a Prius Five PHV with all the bells & whistles of a Five. As long as it is under $40k, it is fine.

    Mike
     
  9. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Does this mean you don't have to brake like a Grandma in a PHV?
     
  10. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    They really listened. When I was test driving the PHEV in green drive expo in SF, the Toyota rep asked me if there's any improvements Toyota could make to make the Prius PHEV better. I told them that regen into the PHEV pack would be great because without that ability, all the regen would goto waste once the main pack is full.
    How does a grandma brake in a PHEV?
     
  11. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    Now throw in a 10-way adjustable power drivers seat, a longer travel in the telescoping steering wheel (with better placement of the spokes), and some ride enhancements (like those dampers from the Lexus CT 200h or the enhancements they did for the v wagon), and it'll be ready to go!
     
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  12. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Great news.

    The weird thing, if I ever get to drive one, will be sitting behind the wheel of a Prius without pulsing and gliding.
     
  13. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    So what you're asking for is a Plug-in CT200h? ;)
     
  14. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Good question. Presumably, a Grandma would still brake like a Grandma (slowly and early) in a PHV.

    But I assume, since my question was mostly rhetorical, that you can now stop in about half less distance in a PHV and still recapture all the energy from motion, as compared to a regular Prius.

    It's a nice feature if you are sensitive to causing people in cars behind to get annoyed when you brake early for the purpose of not using friction brakes.
     
  15. ksstathead

    ksstathead Active Member

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    Hard braking will still bring in friction brakes, just not as soon or as much.

    Braking will still be a loser compared to gliding, even with 100% regen (no friction), since regen process is only 1/3 to 1/2 efficient.

    B mode will be detrimental except from the highest mountain passes that can fill the combined pack.

    On a typical highway trip, I can run EV from my home, switch to HV a mile before the freeway to allow initial warmup at lower power demand and while already moving, then switch to EV on the off ramp and use the rest of my wall juice in local driving at my destination. Sweet.
     
  16. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    ^^ I think SipNfuel was wondering if mac current rate into the batterie(s) will be higher than in the plugless Prius. We'll see, but I kind of expect one battery to fill up, and then the next battery opened to receive charge. If that is the case then the answer is nope.
     
  17. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Thanks for your reply. My assumption was there is a red light ahead, someone is behind you impatiently waiting to get into the right turn lane that opens up ahead. You maintain speed so the person behind you can make their turn, but on the other hand you have to brake forcefully because you coasted up to the stop at a faster speed, rather than braking early.

    The thought was in a PHV that you can still brake more forcefully and still not hit the current limit.

    Yes, this is what I meant. I assume(d) the current limit is/will be higher. But the way you put it, perhaps it is filled in series and not in parallel. 100 amps into the battery is the current limit in the regular Gen III Prius and Gen II Prius.
     
  18. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    I wonder how much the FE stats/rating will increase.
     
  19. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Depends on many things.
    But the basic FE rating in an EV depleted mode will be the same.
    If you only drive 10 miles a day you'll have infinite MPG since you won't use any gas. But the basic 'guts' of the Prius, other than the extra capacity battery, are essentially the same.
     
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  20. JJay

    JJay New Member

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    Personally, I've been looking at replacing my Prius with the Lexus CT for 2 reasons: 1) no-nonsense plain sun/moonroof 2) great handling in Eco and Sport modes. (Seats are really nice too!)

    We test drove the Lexus 2 weeks ago.

    The Prius Plug-in with 1 battery pack for all modes is a game changer. I registered for the Plug-In yesterday.