Prius PHV Plug-In Updates?

In Dianne's thread, she states that the PHEV Priority Registration closes on August 22, 2011. Ok, that is 4 months from April 21, 2011. Last, I read, was about 29,000 sign-ins for the chance to order.

Hopefully, in 30 days after that or after unveiling the PHV in California in September, I would expect a timeline/announcement for the priority Ordering of the PHV to begin.

 

Bloomberg reports...
Toyota Targets at Least 16,000 U.S. Plug-In Prius Sales - Bloomberg

 

I would like a plug out plugin.
Now, Toyota offers Prius hybrid that runs household electrical appliances

 

The Prius already has an inverter for 500V or 650V AC in it. Does the article mean it has another inverter for 120V?

 

"Toyota expects the plug-in Prius to sell for $3,000 to $5,000 more than a standard version, which starts at $23,520, said Jana Hartline, a company spokeswoman. The car should qualify for a federal tax credit of at least $2,500, Hartline said."

Does it mean it'll have 4kWh PHV option? The prototype had 5.2 kWh so will there be 5kWh and 6kWh options later?

 

I think the 3hr/1.5hr recharge battery is good for marketing, lower cost, less weight and in last night podcast, "what drives us", guys discussed Inductive charging, just like cellphone charging, is very, very, very cool and exciting. I think the next Prius should be equipped with this!

 

It's less efficient than charging by wire so no, it shouldn't. I find it odd that people are excited about the efficiency of electric and then want to use an unnecessarily expensive method of charging and throw some of the efficiency away.

(Charging a cellphone by wire is only an issue because there isn't a standard plug. Those mats need space and somewhere to plug in. You could achieve the same thing with a charger with cables and use less power.)

 

You are right about less efficient, about 10% loss and 90% efficient right now. They are working to improve it as much as possible.

 

Toyota probably won't use induction charging. They have been working with WiTricity and their magnetic resonance wireless charging that is up to 95% efficient.

Green Car Congress: Toyota and WiTricity form wireless charging alliance

 

As far as cell phones are concerned using the mat is convenience, every phone comes with an inexpensive USB cable, but you can't plug a car and drive it at the same time.

You can argue that if the efficiency is only 90%, don't continue to improve it but I would disagree with that just as much as I had disagreements with people 35 years ago when the cell phone was as big as a brick with a few minutes of talk time and drop calls.

 

Well, I know they are working with WiTricity, but I did not know it is up to 95%, Wow, Awesome. The fact is anytime you use energy, you lose a little bit, e.g. evaporation/opening a gas cap, even electricity thru long wiring.

Is MR wireless charging system different from the one in the video?

 

It should work the same way. This is what they listed as advantage:

WiTricity’s patented energy transfer system does not require the source and capture resonator pairs to be perfectly aligned in order to achieve efficient energy transfer. In addition, our strongly coupled magnetic resonance energy transfer provides products which are 4x smaller, 2x lighter, and more efficient than solutions based on traditional magnetic induction.​

http://www.witricity.com/pages/ev-charging-system.html

 

One of the benefits of WiTricity energy transfer system maybe that the battery will not have to be big if you can charge as you drive.

 

I don't really see putting induction chargers of any ilk into roadways, its just too big of an infrastructure just to accomodate a very small segment of the driving population (although I think it would be awesome if they did).

I am wondering if instead of a custom charging system there is some way to incorporate the need for long distance power lines directly into the roadway (to eliminate high tension powerlines) and then leech off of that flowing current to charge EVs as an incidental benefit. Would only be practical in new development situations rather than retrofitting existing roadways.

 

Full size slot cars? Awesome!

 

I agree that roadways, interstates would be too big of an infrastructure, but having a couple of designated charging spaces just like the handicap blue line space in parking lots can be done with tax incentives very quickly.

 

It is great to see the widespread use of the "cordless Prius" term that I coined.

 

I like the term and I use it to confuse friends and others. They can't quite understand why it is cordless since other ordinary cars don't have a cord.

 

Wow he said dated? I guess Toyota has to have a HUD as an option.