Prius Plug-in and Volt Pros and Cons

I was being purely mercenary...!

Although my current commute would suit a Volt better, next year I expect to be doing either short local trips or much longer trips. I knew the PiP was cheaper for the latter, hadn't realised it also was for the former.

 

If both are driven in the pre-2008 EPA cycle, you can see how much PiP is more efficient in EV mode.

2013 Plug-in Prius : 189 MPGe City / 174 MPGe Highway
2013 Chevy Volt : 129 MPGe / 120 MPGe

Source: My PiP - After One Year (Stats) | Page 4 | PriusChat

City cycle:


Highway:

 

The current EPA test includes a more aggressive acceleration and higher speed cycle (US06).

 

I checked MG1 torque and rpm at around 55 mph in EV mode. Most of the time torque is 0, meaning zero power consuming, just friction loss at around 6,500 rpm.

Sometimes, it would show 1 lbs-ft. In a rare occasion (sudden speed change), it would show 3 lbs-ft momentarily.

Maintain ICE at 0 rpm does require some power but it is very little. If your speed does not change much, it is near zero.

BTW, plugin conversions cannot get more than 10kW for propulsion even with the bigger battery. PiP has 38 kW for EV propulsion. It is a huge difference, not "some more".

ICE warmup cycle was optimized differently as well. Toyota adjusted to speed up for plugin application. If I recall, they cut down 20 seconds.

B gear is another one. In EV mode (any speed), you drop it into B, ICE won't come on with PiP. For plugin conversions, I think speed above 25 mph would trigger the ICE.

 

The system delivers over 100 MPG when traveling at 65 MPH.

So even when not in EV, you're still benefiting from plug-supplied electricity.

 

I clearly stated the source...

The system delivers over 100 MPG when traveling at 65 MPH.

So even when not in EV, you're still benefiting from plug-supplied electricity.

 

If a regular Prius gets 50 MPG at 65 mph, PiP cuts the gas by half and replaces the other half with electricity. That's what we call blended benefit.

EV and HV are not just black and white. There are many shades of grays in between. That's only possible with blending.

 

Next Gen **won't** be like your volt. Next Gen might be a *little* like the next gen lower volt.

Supposedly Chevy is creating a cheaper volt. If you get 40 miles now EV (on average) - cheaper version may be 25. It's also wedge shape from spyshots so it should probably get 40+mpg (maybe 45? I doubt 50)

Next Gen PiP should get 54 mpg, and if people on average get 11 miles EV (which I hear some get 15) the next gen should at least get 15 miles EV (and I won't be surprised if some people get 20).

Price, probably no change. Volt next gen higher end I think could get 50 miles EV (but still not 5 seater). Cheaper version should have 5 seats. Volt and Prius next gen should go head-to-head with Prius released first and Volt later next year.

 

Nope, we see the clear effort at play to undermine. You don't like how capable the system in Prius is, so you do whatever it takes to dismiss the data.

Prius is efficient, flexible, affordable... whether you agree with that or not.

 

Well Prius gen 2 started have plugin kits touting over 100mpg etc...EVs were just around the corner.

I think like Toyota, GM was hedging their bets by not fully committing due to the price of Li-Ions (Leaf was so much more, now it's affordable but still range anxiety).

At the same time GM wanted to cater toward the EV crowd, hence long EV and not really efficient motor. But no worries, next gen will be efficient, should surpass Ford (who also took the plugin hybrid route).

I think Toyota would persuade me if I could do 20 miles EV real-world...

 

The classic downplay response.

 

Yep. Reliability be damned.

 

Sorry I had to laugh at your response, have you ever been to Phoenix in the Summertime? Your tires sink into the asphalt. That's like me saying I know what cold temps are like, I live in LA.

 

You told us a few posts earlier, #134, that "Electrons are cheap", so it didn't matter that your Volt used a whole load more of them driving that massive battery pack around...