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Low Speed Electric Acceleration in Hybrid Mode - How is it?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by cycledrum, Mar 23, 2012.

  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Hello all you PiPers :)

    Just curious, is the low speed electric acceleration in *hybrid mode* generally, seat of the pants, noticeably more robust than that of the 'regular', 3rd gen Prius? By low speed, I mean starting off from stop lights in normal driving.

    Why do I ask? In 3rd gen Prius, electric acceleration lasts only a few seconds from a stop, maybe up to about 15 MPG roughly with light acceleration. With heavy throttle, gas engine comes on about right away.

    How does the PiP behave under moderate acceleration from stop in hybrid mode? Could we say PiP accelerates on electric drive in HV about 6 MPH per second +/-x up to 25 MPH +/- x on level ground, etc....?
     
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  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Did you see Tracksyde's 0-40mph videos?
     
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I saw a couple of his videos, but I think they were in EV mode. I'm curious about after the EV range is gone. Or does it go away? I heard it can be added on to in HV.
     
  4. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    Whenever you accelerate any car your wasting energy, in a PIP or a Gen 3,2,1 this is totally contrary to the whole concept of the car. If you want ultimate acceleration force, buy a Tesla...................and pay. Since you are a seasoned poster, I am not sure I get your question?
     
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  5. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    I think you meant "excessive" acceleration as acceleration has to be performed by any vehicle to reach any speed above 0mph! :D

    I missed the "HV" part of the original question and was thinking EV only acceleration. I think the OP wants to know if the PIP has more "grunt". Not a good measure of low end but here are some 0-60mph times I found and posted in another thread:

    2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid 0-60 mph 9.7
    2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid 0-60 mph 10.9
    2012 Toyota Prius V 0-60 mph 10.2

    hope this helps
     
  6. HillCountryEVer

    HillCountryEVer New Member

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    Cycledrum's question has been one of mine as well (although I've actually been more interested in the EV only performance). I think the question is valid only to understand if the PiP can now accelerate at the same rate as other traffice WHILE maintaining high MPG performance (e.g. >= 100? MPG).

    But andyprius' point brings up another aspect of this question which is how much energy is wasted with the PiP during rapid acceleration (however you define rapid) versus slow acceleration (again, however you define slow). Clearly if the ICE is involved in the acceleration then I would expect a typical ICE loss hit for rapid acceleration but I would also expect a much smaller hit for rapid acceleration under EV only mode.

    I'd love for someone who has a PiP and the proper configuration to perform some simple SOC tests doing a variety of acceleration (both EV and HV) to see how much of a hit you take for rapid acceleration. I don't believe the EV range is appropriate for measuring the hit but the SOC would be...I think. In doing the HV tests, one would also have to take into account the fuel consumption for both rapid and slow acceleration which might require more fuel gauge accuracy than is available with the MFD. Also, I believe it would be advantageous to perform each of the tests multiple times and average the results.

    Thoughts about this? Should I create a new thread for something this?

    Thanks for posting and I look forward to reading everyone's comments -
     
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  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I'm not interested in heavy acceleration.

    If I may ask .. about what speed does the ICE usually kick on with moderate acceleration from stop in hybrid mode? ...

    15 MPH? 20, 25 MPH, 30? Level ground.

    Or, in hybrid mode, is the PiP electric performance 'more robust' than 3rd gen? I would think answer is yes because PiP has more capable traction battery.

    Maybe I should rent one of hop a joy ride at a demo event. My demo drive didn't go so well after an hour wait in Oct. 2010 :( The ICE kicked on twice with light acceleration. It was the PiP demo and there was about 1.x showing on EV range. Been curious ever since.
     
  8. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    Wasn't the max speed on the Pip posted on the original description as 62mph in EV? So, I am to presume that any moderate speed increase obtained would be 100 % EV. Unless one tromped a bit harder on the go-pedal, then one would be moving into HV mode. Actually, probably HV/EV share! OH! HSD :D Edit: Since the immediate torque obtained is greater with a electric motor than a gasoline engine I should think that the acceleration would be better.
     
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  9. ryogajyc

    ryogajyc Active Member

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    Initially, I thought it was it pretty easy to engage the ICE. After a day of driving it, I think it takes getting use to the feel of a Prius Plug-in. I'm use to a Gen 2 Prius, where optimal acceleration had the ICE running with all power going to the wheels. The Gen 2 Prius engine is very smooth compared to an ICE only car, but I had gotten use to associating the feel of optimal acceleration to light ICE vibration. In a Prius Plug-in driving in EV, there is no ICE vibration, so I don't feel like I'm accelerating that fast, much like you don't feel acceleration/speed in a luxury car b/c the ICE vibration is so dampened. It isn't until I check the speedometer that I realized I had actually accelerated quickly up and over the speed limit (I normally drive at the speed limit).

    I believe the HSI indicator gives a good idea of the acceleration. In HV mode, it starts on the engine midway between CHG and PWR on the indicator. In EV mode you can accelerate so long as you aren't in the PWR range. I haven't really driven the Gen 3 Liftback, but maybe someone who has can comment if HV mode in the Prius Plug-in is like the Liftback.
     
  10. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    It depends how moderate you accelerate. :)
    I test drive the PiP, and it behaves same as regular Prius in HV mode.

    Ken@Japan
     
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  11. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    There is a vertical line in middle of HSI between chrg and pwr zones. Once bars crosses the line, ICE kicks on. Same as PiP but with a line.
     
  12. ryogajyc

    ryogajyc Active Member

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    I meant if the Liftback and Plug-in HV mode acceleration are comparable. I know the HSI is the same.
     
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  13. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I guess this would be a more interesting question ...

    Is it kind of a bummer when the EV party is over in PiP and you're in hybrid mode in the city? or....

    Are owners finding they want even more EV?

    Maybe there should be a recovery group - EV-holics anonymous ... or not. ;)
     
  14. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Honestly, who wouldn't want more range, but at what cost? If it means getting 37 mpg on a road trip and being able to only fit 4 people and not 5, I'll take the 13.7 EV range my car is now reading and getting after charging.
     
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  15. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I hear ya. I'm getting a little addicted to the idea of more EV. Patience is needed as battery/fuel cell/drivetrain engineers and scientists do their work.
     
  16. HillCountryEVer

    HillCountryEVer New Member

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    I agree, it should be better... :)
     
  17. drinnovation

    drinnovation EREV for EVER!

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    Really all you need is $$. Various choices already exists in range vs power. A pure EV like the leaf or FFE if you can handel the range limits, or a Model S if you need bigger range and have bigger wallet. The Volt removes the absolute range limit,with a lower pure EV range. And now the Pip with an even shorter range and better long-range gas economy. And there are soon to be more. Interesting times .

    Nice chart from EVnow..
     
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  18. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    It kind of reminds me of when I used to just love driving my 2005 Prius on it's very limited 'EV' range. How I always wished I could have it last just a 1/2 mile or two more...Well, now (in my PiP) it is a whole lot more...yet, again, I still want more!

    (But I need my middle back seat for my 2-year old daughter's care seat and I must get good 300 mile road trip mileage, too. The PiP was an easy choice for me). :)