Prius PHV to end production this month of June 2015?

Those values really don't tell the whole story. It's like acceleration rates. At times, it could make a difference, but in practice not really.

I've had large loads inside. Just drop the seats and slide stuff in. If the cargo is taller, it gets placed in the higher area.

 

No denying it, that hybrids & plug-ins now have largeer versions available - to accommodate all the folks who forgot how expensive gas can get. RAV4 EV is a great choice, for all those who believe sitting up higher is safer. We do carry long and Tall stuff on occasion so we went with the plug-in minivan.


Between hybrid, & EV modes, we're getting around 61 MPG at the 4500 mile mark - tho the last snapshot was a couple thousand miles ago.

No denying that it's nice to switch between plywood or drywall hauler - then 7 seat passenger hauler. Especially as manufacturers skuttle midsize & smaller cars.
.

 

my drywall days are over

 

is the 5 cubic ft just from the 3" battery height?

 

All Gen 4 have the same battery height. They changed the level of the cargo area floor when there is a spare tire. The spare does not take up 5 cubic feet but I think the add extra foam under the floor too.

 

we're talking about prime loss of hatch space

 

My math challenged self used the wrong comparison.

 

Adopt the Tesla 2170 or 18650 cells into 'strings' that can conform with the spare tire, wheel well specs. Use a non-conductive, non-combustive coolant with a reasonable heat capacity and the problem is solved.

Bob Wilson

 

The battery is taking up the entire floor area of the cargo space. The spare tire well takes up just a portion of that area.

They need to be willing to spend for the liquid cooling. Ford(Escape PHEV) and I think customers are willing to do so. But does Toyota?

 

they would if their customers would. so, no.

how many ford escape phev's are selling? let's be real here.

toyota can barely sell 2,000 a month at the current pricing. i don't think a fancy battery cooling system to increase hatch space at a higher price is going to change things much.

 

That's highly misleading. Toyota has clearly been delaying both promotion & rollout until the mid-cycle. Toyota has also done all it could to avoid getting caught up in GM's fallout.

 

clearly. still, why not reply to the battery question?

 

None--it's a 2020 model that hasn't been released yet....

ETA: Ford's website says it will go on sale Spring 2020.

 

exactly

 

The Escape and Aviator PHEV aren't available yet. The hybrid Escape and Explorer will be out sooner. Ford is even using liquid cooling for the hybrid batteries. It allows for a smaller battery pack overall, and I'm guessing there is some cost savings in using the same system in the hybrid and PHEV, as opposed to air in one, and liquid in another.

You don't think replacing the very noticable battery in the Prime with something smaller and mostly tucked out of the way will help with sales? The car's price is already low enough that incentives mean people that don't plug in are buying it over the Prius. Now, I don't see going to a liquid cooling system being down before the next generation.

 

i'm guessing not, but it's just an opinion based on nothing, even though i am the biggest whiner about the hatch space.
also, i have no idea how much cost we are talking, and we won't know until fords vaporware comes out.

i applaud them prematurely, but let's see what the future brings. until toyota decides they want to actually sell as many primes as possible, instead of garnering carb credits, it is difficult to judge much.

 

It was a wise business move waiting until mid-cycle before rolling out beyond the reach of CARB, especially considering how different those markets are.

 

possibly. i can't predict the future

if it has a flat hatch bottom, they might have one more sale at 15k off msrp