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Just bought 2011 Prius last month

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by PRIUS NUBE, Feb 21, 2011.

  1. PRIUS NUBE

    PRIUS NUBE New Member

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    So,my wife and I bought a new 2011 Prius from Fort Myers(FL) Toyota. She loves it. She drives 70 miles back and forth to work, and has cut her gas bills by 2/3rd. Shes getting 58 to 62 MPG.....some city and some travel at 45MPH. She works hard at getting the best MPG. I drove it 200 miles round trip to the east coast of FL with the A/C on at 60MPH and we averaged 52 MPG. I like the car...I'm 5'10" and 260lbs and I fit ok. At 26000 miles a year, she will save a lot of cash....and that stuff is hard to come by............By the way, does any one know just how the AC compressor is powered....there are no belts, so is it a direct drive off the motor or is it 12Volt electric driven? Thanks....great site!
     
    #1 PRIUS NUBE, Feb 21, 2011
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats and:welcome: !!
     
    #2 bisco, Feb 21, 2011
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  3. homegameroom

    homegameroom New Member

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    There are no accessory drive belts in your car for anything, so you can enjoy the A/C even when the ICE is not running (stop lights, etc).
    Enjoy!!!
     
    #3 homegameroom, Feb 21, 2011
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  4. PRIUS NUBE

    PRIUS NUBE New Member

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    I know about the lack of drive belts...my question is what powers the compressor? Is it driven off of the engine with some sort of gear/shaft drive or is it electric driven from the 12v system????
     
    #4 PRIUS NUBE, Feb 21, 2011
  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Electric from the traction battery.
     
    #5 Paradox, Feb 21, 2011
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  6. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    It's electric.

    A thread (http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...atures-use-12v-battery-hv-battery-engine.html) has information on what powers what. That's about the 2nd gen Prius, but it's mostly the same, I believe.

    dogfriend's post in that thread says the main HV battery runs the A/C compressor while the other, low-power parts of the A/C system draw power from the 12V battery. Although of course the energy all comes originally from the engine.
     
    #6 ItsNotAboutTheMoney, Feb 21, 2011
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