Maybe Toyota will set the ECU's/computers different on each of the test cars. Maybe it will range in increments from 1 through 150. It would be interesting if two people who happen to live/work next to each other have the opposite ends of the range.

The article says: "The plug-in Prius is not expected to be built until 2011."

Does anyone on PriusChat know when Toyota plans to make the PHEV Prius available to the public (on dealer lots) ? What do we know about this?

No, no one knows. As in, there is absolutely zero information available about when Toyota will deliver a PHEV Prius to the public.

Oh, wait, I forgot... I know! <ducks>

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

PS. I will actually be in Japan next week learning all about our PHEV demonstration models... and more....

Hey, if you need any beta testers in Canada, let me know.

Doug,

I know the PHEV internals are probably pretty much set in stone, but ...

About a PHEV system...

Sure, it's going to charge the HV battery. But it could be so much more.

What if it had a built-in controller so you could also select OEM block
heater timing?

And while we're blue-skying it, there are small heating elements in the
air conditioning system. Why not add the ability to have preselected fan
and interior temps for a warm and toasty interior and pre-defrosted
front/rear glass on frosty mornings?

[Edit: Warming the interior would also warm the HV battery. IIRC, this
would lead to lower internal resistance in the battery and provide full,
more efficient EV mode sooner.]

Hey, I want one of these cars, and I want it to be da bomb!

Ya' gotta' reach some to stay at the leading edge. :cheer2:

Hey, that's a good idea. Far more useful in many climates than remote control for the cooling. Wiring in a humidity sensor shouldn't be all that difficult or expensive.

Sounds like your blowing smoke Doug, maybe someone really clever could find out but by saying no one knows you're hoping they wont look?

what happens to a PHEV when you run out the 20 mi range? Do you then go back to the 50 mpg the regular prius gets?

I don't see any reason why that would not be true. After all, once you unplug it, it's simply the exact same Prius as everyone else except with a larger battery pack.

However, if Toyota is thinking innovative (which they likely are), the PHEV will have greater regen, and therefore will store more energy/electricity from each stop, and will be able to remain on electric longer during acceleration before switching over to the engine. This would boost MPG. Of course, the current Prius could do the same thing if regen was increased.

since there's more power available now too, maybe they can at least let it be used more (think 3rd gen EV mode acceleration on all the time, and improved on top of that) in conventional hybrid mode. shouldn't be an issue since the car seems to have a good EV-mode, though performance on the electric motor only in this car remains to be seen

i wonder if you're going down a long hill in one of these if you can completely recharge the battery pack no more 8-bars?

OK. Can I get in the "Me, too!" line?

I have the perfect test-bed scenario: Half of my time I am running around town and doing my short commute (4+ miles, each way) where I can plug in. The rest of the time I'm on the road to client locations.

As I track my mileage, I'm almost exactly 50/50 in the urban/highway driving. Going by time in the car, however, I'm more like 70/30 urban/highway driving time.

Go ahead: Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

I hope nano solar paint will be invented by then, so maybe it can take a sun bath instead of plugin.

But doesn't Lithium battery only holds about 500 charge cycles?

If I remember correctly A123 batteries have been tested for over 9000 and still hold over 80% charge.

It will be interesting to know the reason why the plug location was changed.

My guess its beside the driver door is so people don't forget to unplug it.

Sorry for the pic, but I just had to! ok :focus:

But that's good lithiums can last that long; may be pretty interesting for taxis as well (at a taxi stand, they can plug-in and charge)