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To plug-in or not to plug-in...

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by SweetPriusBro, Jan 7, 2018.

  1. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    I've checked about a dozen times and every one has been within 3%.
     
  2. fneil

    fneil Member

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    I rarely go fill up to fill up on gas only (I'm about 55% EV overall), but the three times I did it was > 5%. I'll have to try a couple more times and see again. Maybe the accuracy varies a bit by vehicle.

    I had a trip computer I installed back in the early '80''s, that allowed me to enter the actual gas used, to allow calibration of the mpg readout. Wish our cars could do that today!
     
  3. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Don't forget that the pumps aren't perfect. 3% error at the pumps is allowed.
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Allowed pump error varies by state. 3% sounds significantly higher than the figures I've read in news stories about consumer protection actions by weights and measures agencies.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  5. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    If the cost is basically a wash, it's still worth it to plug in since it's such a better driving experience in electric. I ran out of battery last week and started wondering "is this car really this slow?".
     
  6. benagi

    benagi Active Member

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    I noticed the same thing a few weeks ago when I needed the ice running. But then I put the car in normal mode and it felt a lot better.
     
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  7. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    It's 2 seconds faster to 60 in Hv than in Ev.
     
  8. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Yeah, but the power curve is so different - torque is so much more readily available in EV mode. Even in PWR, the pedal response is hugely different. For straight-line racing (cause I live my life a quarter mile at a time), HV is faster, but for around-town EV is a better experience (especially off the line).
     
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  9. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The pedal mapping is the biggest difference. I can't fathom a reason they chose to make the pedal mapping so different in Hv and Ev. They should be the same.

    Regardless, at least for me, I never notice. This is because I use Ev around town and Hv on the open road with cruise controlling the pedal. Still a stupid decision.
     
  10. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I'd argue that it's more than the pedal mapping (which is basically what Eco and PWR buttons change). In HV mode, the engine has to "spin up" to reach a desired torque level - in EV mode the power output is nearly instantaneously adjustable so it feels more instantaneous (like the way an engine with lightweight internals revs faster - I'm thinking of a certain Porsche here).
     
  11. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Even in Hv mode, you get instant power from the electric system, just not as much. At half throttle or less, give or take, it's about the same as in Ev. Above that, it has to wait for the engine.
     
  12. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    You know, I really should borrow my friend's data logger and do speed vs time plots in both EV and HV because I'm curious - I'm still convinced that the car is slower off the line in HV. One guy who autocrossed his Prime also noted that his fastest time was in EV mode.
     
  13. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    It is.

    I ran a 0-60 test in Ev mode | Page 2 | PriusChat
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Sorry, haven't read the whole thread, but I'd think, even @bisco 's electrical rates, the plug-in electric-mode is very good for short trips, where gas consumption would be highest. Also, even if it was break-even on cost, running electrical-only saves the engine wear-and-tear. And is feel-good, cleaner.
     
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  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You're closer to sea level than @Lee Jay so at least we can have a comparison between the two elevations.
     
  16. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Working on it - might take me a little while. I'll update if I hear back.
     
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  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Appreciate it!