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Is a plug-in hybrid really the best of both driving worlds?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Feb 27, 2015.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes. and if they made a plug in hycam with a decent trunk, my wife would have one. 15 miles would take care of 50-75% of her driving, as it does mine.
     
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  3. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Not if you don't have a garage / place to plug in at.

    Bigger batteries / Better mpg with a reg. hybrid has my vote.....


    But IF I could plug in, and IF the PIP was sold in PA, I would def. Strongly consider one....... Along with a volt.
     
    #3 Blizzard_Persona, Feb 27, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2015
  4. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    It all depends upon your driving patterns and your ability to charge at home.
     
  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I think plug ins are ideal if you CAN'T charge at home. You have the petrol engine and normal hybird running with the option of plugging in at work or a public charger when available.

    Add fast charging like with the Outlander PHEV and you can get a good 20-30 mile top up in 10-15 minutes. If you can't get charged up, who cares? Just carry on driving as normal. None of the anxiety or panic you get with a BEV if the charger isn't working or already in use.

    The benefits of both and probably why over here the Outlander PHEV is outselling the PIP by a factor of about 50-1! Though none of this would apply to those lucky enough to own a 300 mile range BEV.
     
  6. -1-

    -1- Don

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    :)Based on my two year, 2012 Prius Plug In ownership, I'd pass on another low mileage plug in. My real EV mileage is about ten miles and is too restrictive and too much effort. I would recommend a regular Prius, which is more care free to drive and more fun. I would recommend a real EV with as much range as you can afford. I plan to keep my PIP for the next several years to compliment my 100% BEV.
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Fusion plugin trunk looks pretty roomy -

    [​IMG]

    21 EV miles supposedly. And - supposedly 40mpg-ish in charge sustain mode, IIRC. I tried one out when they 1st became available, and the only drawback was anyone sitting in the rear, when my 6'-5" carcass is driving better be legless, because the front seats go WAY back.
    .
     
    #7 hill, Feb 28, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2015
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  8. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    Grumpy, do you have a source? I've read Mitsubishi goes very well, and leading current sales, but got no recent data for plug-in mix... :(
     
  9. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    I agree, it would be neat charging at work if available...


    It's just a shame how most major American Cities are behind the curve with public charging stations.

    I work in Philly and can maybe think of a couple "public charging stations", and those are in VERY overpriced center city parking garages.

    So EV w/o a plug at home is not feasible around here.


    Cali (coastal) is prob not a problem, Europe is on the ball too right?
     
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    That makes sense, if you are plugging-in over night, might as well get more miles. Maybe that's why Toyota is coming out with an induction charger on the next version. However, the PiP suits the case where you can plug-in if you feel like it, and not plug-in when you don't (eg; now when gaso prices are lower). In other words, my kinda plug-in. If driving all electric is important to you, you can skip the PiP assuming you can get enough room in another plug-in.

    Blizzard in PA. you can't be too far away from a PiP sale in Turnersville NJ (my old hang-out).
     
  11. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Not far from Turnersville at all..

    Thing is a PIP is pointless for me as I have no where to plug in at home or at work...

    Maybe in a few yrs that might change..
     
  12. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I can't find it. It was a Norwegian website link in English and gives the monthly and yearly EV and plug in sales figures of the EU and individual countries. I think in the ten months the Outlander PHEV was for sale at that time it had sold 17k units, whereas the PIP sold about 248.

    Outlander PHEV Drives Up Mitsubishi Sales In Europe


    Update: Found some link and I had my figures wrong for the PIP. The PIP sold 860 cars in all of Europe compared to 19,204 Outlander PHEVs, but it still puts the PIP to shame when the Outlander is more expensive and wasn't available for the full 12 months of the year that the PIP was. It does have double the EV range and is Chademo fast charge compatible.

    EV Sales

    Toyota have dropped the ball. I mean, the BMW i8 almost beat PIP sales.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are looks deceiving? fusion = 16 ft, camry = 15 ft, hyfus = 12 ft, hycam = 13 ft, hyfus energy = 8 ft. h\
    hycam with 13 ft. is about as small as we can go for long trips. besides, she's on her fourth camry, and she'll never go back.:cool:
     
  14. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    Prius PHV was top plug-in hybrid seller in Europe back in 2013.
    In 2014 hybrid sales share of Auris, Yaris and Lexus increased to record sales, while Prius decreased. I believe the main reason is the 3Gen Prius outfit that shows its age, and many people like more the discrete design of the regular models - bringing down the PHV model also. :confused:
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no doubt, people are waiting on the gen IV.
     
  16. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    In fact, the PiP is a very efficient car, and very practical. Every magazine test agains competition shows that the Prius is a better car overall. One fine example is the i3REX and the Audi A3 etron comparison: they run faster, but both have items that can pose a problem - the bimmer can be dangerously sluggish in CS mode, the Audi loses boot and the real EV range is not that much different from the PiP, and CS mode MPG does disappoint. PiP is also cheaper, so no such price excuse.
    Or, still is, regarding Outlander PHEV sales performance...
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    of course it's better. it only falls behind with peeps who want more ev miles and a back up ice.
     
  18. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Works for me. :D
     
  19. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The point is you don't have to plug in the PiP and the regen braking can fill the entire larger battery. Does the PiP's larger battery, no spare tire, features (or lack thereof), and price make it more suitable than a regular hatchback? My guess is that for most people it does not.
     
  20. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Regen braking can fill the entire HV Battery on a PIP? I might be thinking wrong or misinterpreting what was said but how can regen replace plugging in all night.

    If what you meant was regen will charge the HV as a normal prius will I can agree to that. Don't see how regen can replace plugging in.