POLL: Which of these fuel-efficiency improvements do you expect to see in the Gen IV?

Other = "More Cowbell"

 

Those who feel they need a spare can purchase one an take on a trip with them when needed. On the Leaf owner site (Leaf comes without spare) there is several threads on what fits and where to buy, for example.
Most owners will be ok without spare - not many would know how to replace it in anyway - that's a reality these days

- Alex

 

agreed, thats why there's one in my hatch. i can live with that, if there's good reason.

 

Narrow and large diameter tires as in BMW i3 ??? Would improve highway mileage IMHO. Would look better, too at least from the side

- Alex

 

agreed, it's not for everybody. still, i would be happier if they put a spare back in the next pip.

 

What happened?
- Fixa flat didn't work?
- Roadside service took hours?
- No phone reception to call?
????

 

What I was saying is you dont have to limit your vehicle choice to ones with spare only...if you can purchase and carry around your own spare. Unless you are so loaded that there is no space in the whole car.

- Alex

 

Yup, four bolts vs five, for example. I know, I know, someday. Anyway, until then: no spare? Deal breaker. Also, that damn catfish-with-an-hourglass-gob front grill that's so popular on the Lexus: sorry, no sale.

 

Off topic, but I want to see more secure battery location: If these news reports keep going about batteries being cut out of trunks, not only will I not purchase, I will be more motivated to sell mine.

 

Underneath or behind the rear seat is about as secure as it is going to get. It is already bulky and heavy enough that thieves have to be targeting it, and will just find a a quick, likely destructive, way of bypassing any other securings. Going from nickel to cheaper lithium is probably the best way of reducing the appeal of stealing the battery.

Skip on a hybrid for because of worry of battery theft, and someone will just steal your catalytic convertor, or gas, or wheels, or anything that looks remotely valuable left in the car.

As for the poll, I think there will be:

• Grill shutters are already on some less expensive class vehicles. As long as the next Prius has a forward facing grill, having them will not be a major cost increase. They'll help with warm up, and highway aerodynamics.
• Which ties into decrease in warm up time. A larger capacity battery may also help with this indirectly. More energy for EV during warm up may not decrease the time, but reduce the amount of fuel wasted by the ICE heating up and moving car the car.
• Larger battery. I don't see Toyota abandoning NiMH anytime soon, but the new platform may have the weight and space savings to allow a larger pack. This will allow more energy to be captured with regen braking, in addition too more energy for EV and assist modes.
• The 40% ICE thermal efficiency has been mentioned for awhile now.
• Direct inject ties into that increase efficiency. It allows a higher compression ratio to eek more energy out of the fuel during the power stroke.
• I did vote for the decreased weight, but thinking it over, it won't be 15%. Ford saved 15% on the F150 be replacing most of the steel with aluminum. The Prius already makes use of aluminum in places, and I doubt it has the margins of a truck to absorb going all aluminum. Toyota does have that FCV/carbon fiber partnership with BMW though. CF isn't likely because of cost, but Toyota might use some if they see it as an investment. BMW has reduced the cost, and increased production and applications can help reduce it further in time. The weight savings will be important from it will be important for FCVs and any future cars with the increasing fuel economy targets.

Sounds like a no brainer, but isn't the motor's output limited during EV and stealth modes by the traction pack's output? If so, a more powerful battery may be all that is needed to get more out of the motor without the ICE on. Unless the ICE has gone smaller and the HSD makes more use of serial operation.

 

i'm more concerned about actual battery theft numbers, than i am about news reports. if they are higher than car thefts, i will be concerned. but not unless i move to cali.

 

I did not know Prius v was the warm-up champ, but I see this as important. I think other hybrids may not have this issue because they are not CARB certified, so Prius loses MPG vs. FORD if the FORD can be non CARB in non CARB state. Toyota's been giving everyone CARB vehicles, which I think accounts for MPG deficit at warm-up.

 

My Prius (v)agon really does a superb job of ICE warm-up.
My first mile is low speed driving out of the neighborhood. At mile #1, my MPG is in the 40s and the ICE temp has increased about 40-50F, enough to enter EV mode at a stop. By mile #4 overall MPG has reached 60 MPG in mild weather and the ICE is toasty.

Numbers are from a ScanGauge, and are the result of attempted efficient driving technique. This particular one-way route drops about 50 ft, worth about 10 Wh per Km savings to the drivetrain.

Addendum: Incidentaly, our Honda Fit also warms up quite quickly. One of the advantages of small, Alu engines.

 

Other: better front seats - comfier.