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Toyota working on improved Prius Plug-in as part of the next generation Prius platform

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Electric Charge, Aug 28, 2013.

  1. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    Well, for those who thought the Plug-in was just another CARB car, it looks like Toyota might be more serious about the Plug-in than initially thought. Toyota posted a press release which included minor details, but does show they are serious about updating the Plug-in tech, including more range and wireless charging.

    Toyota | Toyota to Launch 'New Era' of High-MPG Hybrids, Expand Its Global Hybrid Rollout
     
  2. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    And knock 50% off the cost?
     
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  4. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    After rebates, a PiP costs about $1k more than a similarly equipped Prius Hybrid...
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm drooling. :p
     
  6. plchung

    plchung Junior Member

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    Can toyota replace the current battery with bigger one, or can they update the vehicle software to use more of the reserve battery juice to extend the range? :sneaky:

    “We have been listening very carefully to Prius PHV owners and are considering their requests for additional all-electric range. We have also heard from owners that they would like a more convenient charging operation,” Ogiso said.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    of course not! how will they sell new cars?:p
     
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    My guess is they will include a larger battery and more powerful motor to extend range and allow more aggressive acceleration in EV Mode without the ICE kicking in. This would be closer to how the CMAX Energi and Honda Accord PHEV works.
     
  9. plchung

    plchung Junior Member

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    LOL, I hope they can at least update the vehicle software to make current PIP drivers a little happier while we are waiting for the new PIP. :)
    Thinking about trade-in when new PIP comes out, but that is $$$

     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i suppose if we're going to trade in for the gen IV, no sense worrying about current battery longevity. give me the whole 100% for use!
     
  11. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    The current plug in is really just a retrofit of a gen 3. My guess is that with a car designed from the ground up to accommodate a plug in there will be better packaging as well as improved battery tech. Knowing Toyota is a conservative company my guess the one thin that we will not see is dipping into the battery reserve as it affects longevity.

     
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  12. plchung

    plchung Junior Member

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    Yeah, who cares about longevity. Give me 100% for use. :ROFLMAO:

     
  13. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Begs the question...Are they reading Prius Chat?...did anyone here request the inductive charging option?
     
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  14. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    AFAIK, there are a small percentage of drivers that have asked for inductive charging. It is not a major hold up of plug-in sales.

    More EV range seems to be a major request on all the plug ins but tesla, including the volt and leaf.
     
  15. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    New exterior design, more interior room, greater electric range, wireless charging. I'm looking forward to it.
     
  16. TheEnglishman

    TheEnglishman Member

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    It's pretty obvious anyone who owns an EV wants a lot of range. That's a given. What's questionable is how that extra range will be made. Will it be more expensive? Will it be more aerodynamic than a liftback? Will storage be compromised? Will seats be deleted? There's not a magic wand. Something will have to happen for a dramatic range extension.
     
  17. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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  18. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    I don't think anyone needs a magic wand. Toyota had claimed that people wanted short range with the prius phv prototype, that batteries were expensive. We now know that this is wrong. And we also know that the plans that japan would be the best market, was also wrong.

    Now with a little more knowlege, toyota can tell that customers will trade more money for more range, and that batteries don't cost anywhere near the $1200/kwh. Its likely that during the run they will average $400/kwh or less. That means until the credits run out, phv buyers in the us are fully compensated for battery cost by the government.

    That means that toyota still needs to trade off weight and volume with energy and power, but cost is thrown out of the equation. We don't know what the new platform looks like, but I would assume it has volume for at least 7kwh.

    The size of the battery has nothing to do with aerodynamics. Tesla S seems to be able to get a cd of 0.24 versus the tiny battery prius with a cd of 0.25, the Sequoia has a cd of 0.36 and doesn't have any hybrid or plug-in battery at all.
     
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  19. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    In your market it does. In mine it costs significantly more even AFTER rebates.

    Appears Toyota have a flexible pricing policy and thus that might be why they've sold hardly any here.

    (yeah I am bitter. I had high hopes for the PIP here and it appears UK HQ didn't understand the concept of the car and way way over priced it. All models of the Leaf are cheaper than the PIP)
     
  20. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    588 in UK from june 2012 through march 2013
    versus
    16,964 US through june 2013.

    I don't think keeping the battery small really helps UK sales:(
    In texas they sell leafs, Toyota doesn't sell plug-ins, you need to buy them from out of state.

    I hope the next gen, they price it better for UK sales, make it better for US sales, and sell it in all the states.