Will you switch to the plug-in when available?

Electricty producton doesn't have to use fossile fuel. Wind, Solar, other new technologies such as Fuel Cells on Natural Gas (Which does use some fossil fuel, just ellimiantes transmission losses). There is also plenty of "off-peak" electrity late at night availble to charge vehicle batteries, and other new technologes such as V2G (Vehicle to Grid) will alllow utilities to control the flow of charging power, in both directions... Someday with enough BEV connected to the grid, there will be a way to store power more easily as well...

 

Personally I would love a Plug-in-Prius, but the last I heard the price was supposed to be around $47,000.00. For that kind of money I may have to take a pass. If I'm lucky, by the time they make it to the showroom there may be a conversion for my TCH.

 

I was hanging out for the PHEV, but when the govt offered to pay a percentage of the cost if I bought it in this financial year - I couldn't resist.

Love my Prius

 

I own a gen2 with the 2kwh Enginer kit. It gives me about a 6-8% improvement in gas mileage. I voted No in the poll because I've already got a plug-in and the trade-offs are not worth it for me.

Now if I could get a BEV with a 50-60 mile range at a constant speed of 50 mph for a reasonable price ($20-25k max...don't need a ton of add-ons) I'd go for it. My daily commute is just under 40 miles round trip at speeds of 30-45 mph. Cost of electricity is 10-12 cents per Kwh for me.

 

Guys

Really interesting thread, especially the cost of electricity in the Pacific Seabord states, I will have to compare with my own electricity bill. I am pretty envious reading about the PHEV kits that are available in the US and may consider for the future if they become available at a reasonable cost in the UK. Back to the question - I would look to convert my Gen 2 rather than trade up as it would be likely to be more cost effective, my car has only done 20000 miles to date.

 

Well, those are disappointing pole results to me. Maybe one more option could have been included; Own a Gen III and will buy a different brand of plug-in when available.
Meanwhile, I still hve my deposit at the Toy dealer waiting for the first PHEV to hit the showroom floor, although I'm really not first in line...

 

I wanted a plug in when I bought the car, but ... The plug in version does seem really compromised, and I expect I would lose a great deal of money on the change over. I don't have the greatest faith in toyota right now, so I will pass.

Now I also don't have faith in gm, but the volt seems more on track with specs for me with the longer electric range and better accelleration. So plug in from someone else, or may modify my prius to be a plug in. I am not rushing out to give toyota more money for the beast they seem to be testing right now.

 

Missing one poll question. I have a Gen II Prius with the Hymotion update. Next car will be pure EV.

---Kent

 

Yeah bisco, that was my plan too but I just couldn't hold out any longer, so now I have a Gen III. I'll jump on it when they appear!

 

I have no where to plug it in.

 

The questions wording "when available" ... suggest .. meaning soon. I own a G3 that is new, performing up to (and exceeding) expectations .... no, I have no plans to buy a plug-in in the next 8-10 years.

By then, maybe the Prius "cold fusion" vehicle will be available to compete with the Ford Fusion.

 

Um, many counties permit a discounted rate / 2nd meter for solely for EV recharge ... significantly dropping the recharge cost. In addition, many EV'ers run solar, making their commute not only cleaner, but cheaper, in that the PV system 'pay-back' happens quicker.
Just a thought.

On the RAV4-EV board, many owners have over 100,000 miles on the same battery pack. Though they will have to replace soon, their maintenance expense is usually no more than wipers and tires. Factor in the cost of batteries like these every 10 years, and you're WAY ahead, compared to ICE maintenance.

I wouldn't be too quick with the gloomy outlook. Nissan is in the process of setting up fast charging stations in several states, making the low battery anxiety much less than previously.

If/when the 40 mile range Volt comes out, they're saying it'll maybe be $40K. Subtract the $7K fed credit for PHEV's of the largest battery capacity, and the price gets a bit more manageable.

.

 

bummer.

 

Umm... How can I vote "maybe, if the capacity/distance is cost-effective"?

My warm-weather driving will include a lot of very short-distance trips (a little over 2 miles, less than 5 miles round-trip), so it could be a good fit.

 

Put your faith in Honda.

 

I didn't vote, but hope to get some type of plug-in in the next year or so. I wouldn't mind if it would be smaller than than our '04 Prius for our second car.

Our solar panels will hopefully be installed this coming week. This 7.8 kWh system should produce about double what our family of four currently consumes, so it should be able to take care of our future plug-in as well.

PA P