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Increase battery mileage after charge PIP

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by kenp11, Jul 21, 2014.

  1. kenp11

    kenp11 Junior Member

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    After charging i noticed by battery level shows 17.2 miles in the battery charge icon. When i bought the car the max would be 14 miles available on the battery. Is this common during summer months?
     
  2. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Mine seems to vary with temperature also, but I think it's also a reflection on your recent driving patterns. The computer seems to be estimating how much distance you can squeeze out of a unit of charge, and during the summer months mileage is usually better.
     
    #2 GregP507, Jul 21, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2014
  3. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    That means your driving style and traffic condition are more efficient than the default value. PiP adjusts to it accordingly to provide the estimate.

    If you actually get 17.2 miles, you got 181 MPGe on EV miles.

    How about HV operation with gas?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    definitely goes up in the summer, down in the winter.
     
  5. kenp11

    kenp11 Junior Member

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    Slightly better 2-3 miles on HV
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i generally jump 10% in hv in good weather, then a small decline with a/c.
     
  7. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I wonder what the factory default shows in the winter and how far it goes down for people who buy the car in the winter up north.

    Is there a thread about charging in the winter, with temps below freezing for us prepers :)
     
  8. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    How about my starting EV estimate, the lowest was at 8.3 EV dead of winter. This summer highest 19.0 EV. Estimated..
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    winter charging is not an issue at any temp. you will see the ice come on more frequently though.
     
  10. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I'm not looking for miraculous ev gains in the winter months above what the normal ranges are in the cold weather, unless I can find an economical solution.
    But little gains would be nice, even a few extra ev miles by heating the cabin / pack / ICE before charging, charging just before starting the trip, grille blocking, etc.

    heating the cabin using 120/240v would be a nice selling point up north in the winter too. But not allowing the heater to be used by the pack until the packs have the capacity for it.
    A bit more expensive for atoyot but much more to my liking than the heated seats and steering wheels in some other models.
     
    #10 vvillovv, Jul 22, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2014
  11. trentofdestiny

    trentofdestiny Master Finagler

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    If you are using a coolant/block heater, then you could turn the car on accessory to get the blower fan and you might get some warm air without running the engine. I'm not really sure if you're supposed to circulate the coolant with the block heater plugged in. But if it's okay then do that for a couple minutes before you drive off, to heat the coolant more evenly
     
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  12. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Circulating block-heaters can warm up the entire engine if they are sufficiently rated. They require a bit more plumbing, and require 2 points of access, one near the top of the block and one near the bottom to work properly. This may be difficult to do with the Prius.

    Personally, I would never consider using a block-heater to minimize warm-up time. The 3-4 minute engine warm-up time is almost certainly more economical than plugging in for the length of time required to warm up the engine.

    This is an interesting idea: http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll154/arghx7/prius_coolant_tank.png
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    pre heating the cabin has been discussed ad nauseum, unfortunately, a viable solution has not been found.
     
  14. Mr.Electric

    Mr.Electric Member

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    I used a little space heater to preheat the cabin a few years ago. I set it to the low power setting for about 10 -15 minutes. I just wanted to test the idea. I don't have much cold weather but it seemed to work well.
    Doesn't Nissan leaf allow you to run the ac before unplugging?
     
  15. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    A space heater may work, but an in-car heater would be safer. They are made for the purpose.
     
  16. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    ACTUAL range will increase with warmer temperatures. The energy capacity is higher and the electrical resistance is lower. That's why those of you in the south report spectacular EV compared to those of us in the north.

    ESTIMATE range really doesn't mean much. It's just a calculated value based on a variety of data collected from recent driving. So, when it goes up and down, don't take it too literally. It may not match what you actually get for EV anyway.

    Right now is great for me, here in Minnesota. This was my commute to work yesterday... The estimate was 12.9 miles. The actual was 14.1 miles.

     
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  17. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I'll probably spring for a block heater and a ceramic heater for the winter to plug into another circuit along with the evse
    I got an extra, 5 winter mpg, out of the block heater and grille block with the old civic hyb.
    An ele blanket top and / or bottom of the pack and oil heat if I can manage it.
    All I'd need after that would be cat tracks to hyd roplane on top of the snow.

    I'm " still waiting" for that dare to be great / employed moment. :(
     
    #17 vvillovv, Jul 23, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2014
  18. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Of course a heated garage would alleviate the problem entirely.
     
  19. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Yes I agree, it would help a lot.
    except for traction / ICE, the extra wind - chilled, winter blend, ambient fuel temp, etc
     
  20. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

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    Actually, some of the ceramic space heaters are perfectly safe and not ignition sources.