I found the missing 4" (vertical) in the trunk. It is below the battery.

I strongly suspect this is just a poor packaging job done quickly because of the desire to double the range for the US market, and that they could do a much better job if they spent the time to do it.

This revelation really bothers me. I've posted that I don't need more cargo volume, but a flat cargo area makes it much easier to get larger things in an out like my ladder and my model airplanes. I've considered building a foam wedge set to go over the folded rear seats just to make the area flat. The fact that they had the space to make it flat and didn't use it is just wrong.

 

This could be true too. Now more than ever, it is very clear that Toyota rushed to get this thing into production. I’m disappointed that they told the auto journalists that the reduced space was due to having a bigger battery when the real reason is because of poor engineering.

 

This is really puzzling: the first time I saw the hatch open on the Prime I thought oh no, that looks slipshod, rushed to market. I'm sure that was a common reaction, and it seems strange for Toyota to simply be cavalier about something so in-your-face.

 

Is there a gap above the battery also? Or is it flush to the bottom of the trunk area?

It would be interesting if someone had a bunch of thermal sensors to determine hot spots on and around the battery. Also, a GoPro camera, LED lamp plus streamers to indicate air flow while the vehicle is under load (EV and charging).

PS: Yes, I know that's a crazy idea.

 

nobody cared, until o/p posted.

 

I would guess nobody looked until the OP posted.

 

i meant about the raised floor.

 

Looking now at the picture more carefully, I think I see what's going on. The depression we're looking at is for the spare tire - a round depression. But the battery is rectangular. They literally couldn't fit a square peg into a round hole, and there's probably some legitimate reason why the bottom pan couldn't be altered to fit the rectangular battery (i.e. stiff in the way, need a whole new die and welding system just for the Prime, etc.). In other words, it looks to me like the OP's statement that nothing is impeding lowering the battery isn't entirely correct because the forward corners of the battery are almost directly on the pan.

 

So, if you want a spare tire just remove the battery.

 

that space says two things, keep the price down, and let's get this thing to market.

 

Batteries don’t only come as one size fit all. They could have designed a battery that fit if they wanted to.

 

That's a whole lot harder than it sounds.

 

agreed, it almost have to be like they designed the car to be a phev, instead of trying to shoehorn a battery into a hybrid.

 

I know but Hyundai managed to do it. I just think Toyota was more interested in keeping the price down while still wanting to make a buck. Hyundai can make more dramatic decisions as they are a less regarded company.

 

I guess that's why I keep thinking of the 2012~2015 Plug-In as the third gen PIP, it's basically a third gen with plug-in mod.

 

But what about that Beer can?

 

absolutely it is, a gen 3 with a shoehorned battery and mediocre software control laws.
now we have similar in gen 4, with more range and better control laws.
when you think about it, raising the gen 3 pip deck to ad more battery would make it a gen 4, or prime.

 

Keep in mind the body of the Gen4 Prius is designed for the following options:
(1) Spare Tire option
(2) 4WD Japan option
(3) Solar roof option (non-USA)
(4) Putting hybrid battery under rear seat

What we are all hoping for is a plug-in designed only for max'ing space by hiding 8 kwhr HV Batt.
Not what we got yet, as we know. We had it for PiP but we (and CARB) said it was a "no go" at 4 kwhr.

 

It does pose an interesting question about an after-market kit for SEMA 2018:

• 2710 or 18650 configured for spare tire well
• power electronics in center with spiral cell strings, 2-3PnS
• motor integrated wheels with cooling radiators
• J1772/CCS

Working like a blended hybrid, it offloads the engine at every opportunity. In effect the stock gasser/diesel feels like it is always going 'down hill.' Touch the brakes and the electric road becomes flat. Accelerate and the down grade becomes steeper.

Bob Wilson