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Why Can't Other Plug-In Hybrids Copy Chevy Volt's All-Electric Running?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Mar 19, 2015.

  1. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Ahhhh - that's where you have to infer ... that workers' cars just sit there for 8+ hours. Our company, like many others, sometimes send their people to remote locations. You kiss off 30-40 miles just to get to work - then you have to head out in an hour 2 or 3 citys away... you better hope your workplace charger puts out 50kW's. 3 L1's combined for 8 hours will get you only 1/2 of what one QC will do in just an hour.
    .
     
  2. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    Fair enough.
    I drive a Volt, so it just means that I'll burn a little gasoline to do what needs to be done.
     
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Was just reading briefly on gmvolt forum how Volt owners get so into the EV experience. They don't want the ICE to start and get mildly bummed when it does. So, lemme ask the question:

    Does the ICE turning on in the Prius Plugin bother you (sometimes)?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    always. unless i know beforehand that i'll be driving beyond range. then i just go back to lift back mindset.
     
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  5. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    How many miles total on your Volt and how is the range holding up over time?

    Do you use your EV button sometimes or do you let the car do its thing?
     
    #485 cycledrum, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 21, 2015
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    You've cleverly pointed out the choices:
    • pure EV - the electrical grid to a greater or lessor extent.
    • EV with inefficient engine - grid and don't care about engine efficiency.
    • limited EV with efficient engine - the boundary shifts.
    • efficient hybrid - today's Prius.
    • ordinary cars - the other 98% of new car buyers.
    John1701a is an example of the 'gray market' of those who travel to CARB states to buy an efficient car. Happily, I am within Leaf driving range of Nissan in Nashville TN. So I have options people dozens of miles South don't have. Just my 2003 Prius is not broke and still give 52 MPG.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #486 bwilson4web, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2015
  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Read a comment on hybridcars in Volt 2 article. Dude test drove PiP and liftback, commented they are both a little .... ssllooww

    I gotta be brutally honest: I would really like some more pickup in my Prius. I'm seriously considering using a different onramp (besides Davis St westbound to 880 South ramp) due to a temporary concrete barrier. IF some driver want to be a total jerkwad and not yield, I could very well get run into that barrier on my passenger side. I'm not going to explains the particulars, but some difficult merges have me nervous. I do the best I can to get up to speed and get smoothly into the slow lane, and I'm a pretty darn good driver including 2 wheels (I could leave 95%+ others here in the dust on a sportbike on backroad).

    Hopefully the 4th gen power to weight will improve quite a bit. Or lemme just say, the Prius liftback NEEDS TO LOSE WEIGHT. Come on 4th gen.
     
    #487 cycledrum, Apr 18, 2015
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the car starts in ev. i only hit hv if i know i'm going beyond my expected range. then, i use ev up on side streets. for me it's basically an ev with range extendernothing to be embarrassed about if you find the prius too slow. there are tons of options out there. but you're going to have to give up some efficiency for acceleration imo.
     
    #488 bisco, Apr 18, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 21, 2015
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  9. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    21,000 miles, about 2,000 of those on gasoline.

    I've not seen any change in range.
     
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  10. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    An Accord hybrid or 2016 Malibu hybrid is only about 5% less efficient than a Prius but they both do 0-60 under 8 seconds vs 10.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    exactly, you have to give up some efficiency. and pony up more benjamins. and lose the hatch versatility.
     
    #491 bisco, Apr 18, 2015
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  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    #492 cycledrum, Apr 21, 2015
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  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    I read the article. It stated the obvious reason . . . folk that buy Volt do so with relatively shorter trips in mind, as their general rule. Good (or best) for them. And short trips can yield no gas. Longer trips give the advantage to the larger PiP. Even longer trips would give the advantage over the Volt to the standard Pri. It's all about the variables.
    .
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just shows to go ya, right job for the right tool.
     
  15. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    The key benefit that I see is the ability to go without a cold start for the bulk of my driving.

    Down to 15 degrees F with heat (albeit with range reduced to less than 30 miles in that case).

    I'll have to give my Volt its first oil change by mid-July as it hits the two year mark. The engine has 2,250 miles on it, mainly from a road trip last year.
     
  16. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    And road trips are easy on any engine and good for the oil as it gets up to a temp that totally burns off moisture.
    Every time the Volt engine does power up, it always go through a warm up cycle before it is asked to produce power. This can be seen on the Power Flow display. The Volt engine may have a long easy life because of this.

    I feel sorry for the PiP engine where it goes from ice cold to making power to accelerate the car when you have step on the go pedal on that busy entrance ramp to the interstate. It might be said that a PiP engine has a harder life than a normal Prius because of that kind of duty.
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't worry, we'll be fine. it's toyota.(y)
     
  18. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    1.5 years in NY and a year in NJ, I have never needed to floor it to accelerate.

    I have started the ICE during acceleration. PHV battery provided most of the power and ICE filling in some and then went back to the warmup cycle.

    One could choose to switch to HV mode to pre-warm the ICE, if their commute requires that daily.

    Even if the ICE started cold, combustion does not start until MG1 gets the ICE over 1,000 rpm. It is not hard on the engine. Emission would be higher due to cold catalytic converter but Prius ICE runs on Atkinson cycle. It may end up in lower emission than Volt with proper warmup.

    I would feel really sorry for a Volt owner forced to burn a full tank of stale gas.

    It'll use a lot of electricity. The ultimate measurement stick is the lifetime emission from manufacturing to recycling, taking account of all fuels used.

    The article stated there is an official SAE definition for E-REV.
     
    #498 usbseawolf2000, Apr 23, 2015
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  19. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    'Tis true. Now you understand our pain.
    You've been taking the Family Truckster on vacations and the Volt ends up being your round town car.
    And that tank of gas in the Volt is now, on average, 12 months old.
    And now the dang car is telling you it's going to light up the stinker and burn that fuel off. Dang ....

    Fortunately you only have to then add one gallon or so and you'll be good for another year!
    And you'll have a full-feature, 150 HP EV until the next "fuel event".... We don't like those fuel events....
     
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    That's why you use gas when it is well, useful -- like in acceleration and long distance trips.