1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Standard Hybrid vs. Plug-in

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cmachanic, Oct 15, 2014.

  1. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Not realistic either. Living in Minnesota, where & when to travel is carefully considered in the winter. Getting a flat is very low on the concern list.

    Last winter, we did actually experience the "what if" scenario though. In the heavy snow... at midnight... on the way home from the hospital emergency room... I witnessed my girlfriend hit a pothole. She found a safe place to park and would have called for help had I not been following her at the time, since there was no point in putting the spare on. That impact killed *BOTH* tires on that side. We just dealt with it the next morning by tossing both flats into the Prius and heading over to the tire shop.
     
  2. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    1,391
    543
    0
    Location:
    Santa Monica, Ca. 90405
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    I had a tire busting flat in the first 1000 miles on my then new Prius, they happen, of course it's easier in a urban setting ....most of the time, and tow trucks triple A or the Toyota variety never show up within a short time.
     
  3. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Plug-in owners have no "drive to the gas station" concerns. When I pull into my driveway, I plug in. If I forget, it's no big deal.
     
  4. hybridbear

    hybridbear Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2013
    267
    69
    0
    Location:
    Minneapolis
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    You may want to look at another plug-in hybrid with a greater all electric range. A Ford Energi model or a Chevy Volt would allow you to be gas free for most of your driving. The PIP can't accelerate properly on EV only power so it's of minimal value as a plug-in.
     
  5. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    That doesn't actually address the question, which is about the difference. It's a bit misleading too, since PIP is a plug-in hybrid not an EV.

    Drives to mom's house (12 miles round-trip with a top speed of 50 mph) are with just electricity during the non-winter months. It's no big deal, but doesn't recognize the purpose.

    Even if the engine fires up for hard acceleration, you still get great efficiency... MPG well above what the regular model can deliver.
     
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    For the uses listed I would say the Plug-In is an excellent option. The base model with rebates/incentives makes a lot of sense versus the Model 3. For short trips around town you will have much greater fuel efficiency than a regular Prius.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    not sure who we're talking to anymore, but here goes: pip is better than lift back in every way except spare tyre and smaller gas tank. i carry a spacesaver in the hatch and fill up 4 or 5 times a year. ymmv.(y)
     
    PointCounterPt and F8L like this.
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Show off. :p
     
    PointCounterPt likes this.
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    think what i could do with a volt!:)
     
    F8L likes this.
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    A Volt would just be an EV in your hands. lol
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yeah, except those 90 miles to my fathers once a week. plus all the fun i'm missing on volt chat!:p
     
    F8L likes this.
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    There is fun at VoltChat? lol

    There is no real sense of community at GM-Volt. Not like PC. ;)

    For you're needs the PIP is perfect.
     
    usbseawolf2000 likes this.
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i know, but i miss our little reparte'
     
    F8L likes this.
  14. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I have no problem with EV power going over GWB and back through Harlem River Dr. For local urban drives, it has plenty of power.

    If you accelerate a regular Prius around 3,000 rpm (50 hp), which gets pretty loud, then PiP can do with EV.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    mine accelerates just fine, you musta got a baddie.(n)
     
    F8L likes this.
  16. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2009
    905
    339
    0
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    IIRC, you also lose most of the underfloor storage space.

    Do you have some way of securing the spacesaver so that it can't fly around in an accident?
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    correct. yes, it comes with tie down straps and hitch points on the deck. but the best defense against an accident and the tyre flying around is to drive slowly and carefully. solves two problems at the same time.:)
     
    PointCounterPt likes this.
  18. psi20

    psi20 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2014
    5
    1
    0
    And how about the plugin convertion? Is it any good?
     
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Nope. Converted plugins will only have about 15hp to accelerate in EV, no matter how big battery you put in.

    Factory PiP has 50 hp EV power. A lot of misinformation you read on the internet are those have never driven a PiP or assumed it works the same as a converted version.
     
  20. psi20

    psi20 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2014
    5
    1
    0
    Thanks, It really was a good quote, and put my head in order :)
    Indeed online we get the ideia that the conversion is great, but the lack of power blow it up.