Are such additions to the Prius popular in US?

dontcheff · 05-19-2005, 03:48 PM

The first two pictures show them, are they popular in the States?

rewinder · 05-19-2005, 03:53 PM

What are they?? Power outlets of some kind?

dontcheff · 05-19-2005, 04:03 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rewinder\";p=\"90939)</div>

Quote:

What are they?? Power outlets of some kind?[/b]

Yes. The front one warms the engine. The second one is for an internal heater. In winter, it warms the car from inside (at night), so when I enter the car, I don't have to freeze during the first 5 minutes :-)

jeromep · 05-19-2005, 07:26 PM

I've never seen anything like it in US models.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 05-20-2005, 01:05 PM

If I had something like picture #1 on the front of my car and someone asked where I plug it in, I'd point and say, "there."

Tadashi · 05-20-2005, 01:29 PM

Boy I bet the guys in Alaska and some of the northern states would like this.

bruceha_2000 · 05-21-2005, 10:58 PM

I believe the block heaters are standard in Canada. There was a discussion awhile back. The question on whether to add one comes down to:[list]Our residential rates are 12.9 cents/KWH. I think Frank determined he needed a 3 hour warm-up period so that would cost me 38.7 cents. Based on my last $1.969 fill up, I would have to save 0.2 gallons of gas in the first five minutes to break even with the electric cost alone. At winter's worst, my first 5 minutes were around 18 MPG so I'd have to get 21.6 MPG. Most of the winter my first five ran about 25 so I'd have to get 30.

Of course, without doing it, I don't really know how much it will improve those first minutes.

dontcheff · 05-22-2005, 01:59 AM

In North Europe, almost every new car has a block heater. The electricity it consumes is really minimal and you don't need (never) a 3h warm-up period. One or max two depending on the outside temperature. It affects the first 5 min MPG but it is more the emsiisons that are lower because of the preheating.

Frank Hudon · 05-22-2005, 12:54 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dontcheff\";p=\"91647)</div>

Quote:

In North Europe, almost every new car has a block heater. The electricity it consumes is really minimal and you don't need (never) a 3h warm-up period. One or max two depending on the outside temperature. It affects the first 5 min MPG but it is more the emsiisons that are lower because of the preheating.
[/b]

2 1/2 hour on a timer is optimum for me. The Prius block heater is a 400 watt unit and we pay .0618 cent's Canadian a KW hr. so it costs me a little over 6 cents a day to use it to heat the ICE to a temp of 37-40C depending on OAT. And I want one of the plug covers like you have on your car!

hdrygas · 05-22-2005, 01:01 PM

Are these two heaters something you could order and have installed? If so where? I would not mind a warm cabin in the winter even if our climate here is not that severe. Having Bell all warmed up and ready to go would not be bad either!

05-19-2005, 03:53 PM	#2
rewinder Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 20 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Are such additions to the Prius popular in US? What are they?? Power outlets of some kind?

05-19-2005, 07:26 PM	#4
jeromep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 821 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Are such additions to the Prius popular in US? I've never seen anything like it in US models.

05-21-2005, 10:58 PM	#7
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,127 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I believe the block heaters are standard in Canada. There was a discussion awhile back. The question on whether to add one comes down to:[list]Our residential rates are 12.9 cents/KWH. I think Frank determined he needed a 3 hour warm-up period so that would cost me 38.7 cents. Based on my last $1.969 fill up, I would have to save 0.2 gallons of gas in the first five minutes to break even with the electric cost alone. At winter's worst, my first 5 minutes were around 18 MPG so I'd have to get 21.6 MPG. Most of the winter my first five ran about 25 so I'd have to get 30. Of course, without doing it, I don't really know how much it will improve those first minutes. __________________ Bruce Mine: Driftwood '04 BC 24 Sept 2004 - added: mudflaps, door edge guards, side panel mouldings, Coastal Tech EV switch, Goodyear TripleTred tires WeatherTech window deflectors. Last tank - 14 July '08: 258.2 miles - computer MPG:52.3 Actuals Lifetime: 71197.5 miles, 48.40 MPG. Wife's: Barcelona '06 #7 May 2006 - added: front mudflaps, Coastal Tech EV switch. Last tank - 18 July '08: 444.7 miles - computer MPG: 51.0 Actuals Lifetime: 24,389.9 miles, 45.58 MPG.

05-22-2005, 01:01 PM	#10
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Are such additions to the Prius popular in US? Are these two heaters something you could order and have installed? If so where? I would not mind a warm cabin in the winter even if our climate here is not that severe. Having Bell all warmed up and ready to go would not be bad either!

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05-19-2005, 03:48 PM	#1
dontcheff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Helsinki Posts: 68 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Are such additions to the Prius popular in US? The first two pictures show them, are they popular in the States?

05-20-2005, 01:05 PM	#5
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 7,618 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 13	If I had something like picture #1 on the front of my car and someone asked where I plug it in, I'd point and say, "there."

05-20-2005, 01:29 PM	#6
Tadashi Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fort Hood, TX Posts: 794 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Boy I bet the guys in Alaska and some of the northern states would like this.

05-22-2005, 01:59 AM	#8
dontcheff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Helsinki Posts: 68 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	In North Europe, almost every new car has a block heater. The electricity it consumes is really minimal and you don't need (never) a 3h warm-up period. One or max two depending on the outside temperature. It affects the first 5 min MPG but it is more the emsiisons that are lower because of the preheating.