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Prius Prime 2017 - Comparing Electric vs Gas cost

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Komsan, Apr 25, 2018.

  1. Komsan

    Komsan New Member

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    Hey folk! Prime owner for 5 days and still confused lol

    I just tried to charge my car through Chargepoint twice.

    1st earned 17 miles with 3 hours+42 minutes charging time, cost at $1.61 ($1=10 miles)
    2nd earned 25 miles with 2 hours+56 minutes charging time, cost at $1.59 ($1=15.723 miles)

    Comparing with gas price for 3.2 per gallon with Prius MPG roughly at 50 MPG so $1 = 15.625 miles

    Based on this calculation, I do not see I am saving when I charge electric. Plus, I have to spent at least 3 hours for charging.

    Anybody could help me clarify if I misunderstood?
    My point is to save money and maximize benefit of using electric/hybrid car.

    Thank you : )
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well with a chargepoint, you're also paying for using that station. The idea is that you charge at home, so you only pay for the actual electricity used.

    The charging time via Level 2 (240V) seems a bit long. From an "empty" battery, it should only take about 2h10m. 3hours+ seems odd. (Charging on 120V household outlet takes 5.5 hours for comparison)
     
  3. Komsan

    Komsan New Member

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    Unfortunately I cannot charge at home. Do I still have other ways to maximize from my Prius prime?
    Chargepoint is quite expensive in my opinion.

    How much will cost if we charge from home? I mean for one full charge.
     
  4. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

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    Electricity can be expensive (particularly in SoCal, and sometimes at public charging stations), or it can be cheap (free or subsidized public charging, or at home with PV.)

    The car does not tell you where to get your electricity anymore that it tells you where to buy petrol.

    And remember that EV driving has serious advantages over ICE besides cost:
    MUCH nicer driving
    MUCH less pollution in CA
    No support of OPEC or other nasty oil producing countries

    And in CA HOV privileges and tax credits, which probably drew you to the Prime in the first place. Right ?
     
    #4 Oniki, Apr 25, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2018
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    best thing to do is not charge it, and drive on gas until gas prices increase. all the best!(y)
     
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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ahh that's too bad.

    The meter will read about 6.1-6.3kWh so multiple one of those numbers with your electricity cost. Presumably if you were to charge at home, you will charge at the off-peak rate or the "EV rate" (as some power companies have it listed) so you can take that electricity rate cents/kWh and multiply it there.

    e.g. my electricity cost is 9 cents/kWh so for me, using 6.3kWh, it'll cost me 56.7 cents (canadian) to charge at home.
     
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    One of the things I've found is the Prius Prime car efficiency on gas only exceeds 60 MPG in city driving. As for EV miles, it will take some investigation on your part to verify:
    1. CHARGE mode - on last "n" miles to home. This can add enough charge so the next day, cold-start, can be offloaded by strategic use of EV mode. Use EV to reach cross town speed and then switch to HV mode.
    2. PlugShare - use this to map 'free' charge stations:
      1. Neighborhood and discuss this with the property manager/owner.
      2. Work and likely lunch areas.
      3. Shopping and entertainment spots between work and home.
    3. Check local utility rates, $/kWh. There are areas where the local electrical rate is excessive. We know this because commercial customers have significantly lower rates.
    GOOD LUCK!
    Bob Wilson
     
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  8. karthik1107

    karthik1107 Junior Member

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    Millions of years in time + 98 tons of prehistoric, buried plant material – that’s 196,000 pounds – is required to produce each gallon of gasoline we burn in our cars. Can you imagine loading 40 acres worth of wheat – stalks, roots and all – into the tank of your car or SUV every 20 miles? If not, you'd get on a renewable grid. its a moral choice. For me personally, I would still drive EV even if Gas costs a little less (Assumption is Make is, you don't live in a locale with dirty utilities). Its about protecting earth.
     
    #8 karthik1107, Apr 26, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018
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  9. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

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    Yep.

    I charge off my home PV:
    2.77 cents a kWh
    6.1 kwh for a full charge
    About 35 EV miles on a full charge

    Works out to (2.77*6.1)/35 = about half a penny a mile
    Petrol is about 10x more
     
  10. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    The car charges itself. Wait until ev range is 10-20 or lower and charge to distance left.
     
  11. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    I don’t know what my rates are, my son pays for it.
     
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  12. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Actually, most people don’t know what their gas costs are. Their sons and daughters are the ones paying for it.
     
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  13. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    Here I thought I was special.
     
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  14. Komsan

    Komsan New Member

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    Thanks you guys for sharing. Hope I could work the way out sometimes soon : )
     
  15. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

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    Clever :)
     
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  16. bb4srv

    bb4srv Active Member

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    This is my reference calculated in the Canadian metric version of L/100kms and gas prices in $ per L

    Electricity rate in kWh; built in 10% efficiency loss from charging.

    Variability based on:
    Efficiency in EV: Low is at 35kms at 17kw | High is at 43kms at 17kw

    Efficiency in Gas: Low is at 5.5 L/100km | High is at 4.2 L/100kms

    Currently, my electricity rate is at $0.129/kwh. So that is equivalent to $0.50 per litre in gas for the EV range. Current gas price in my region is around $1.50 per litre, so I’m saving 75% driving in EV.

    EV Equivalent $/L

    kwh
    Elec Rates; Rated Eff; Low Eff; High Eff;
    $ 0.129 $ 0.50 $ 0.47 $ 0.50
    $ 0.150 $ 0.58 $ 0.55 $ 0.58
    $ 0.200 $ 0.78 $ 0.73 $ 0.78
    $ 0.250 $ 0.97 $ 0.91 $ 0.97
    $ 0.300 $ 1.17 $ 1.09 $ 1.16
    $ 0.350 $ 1.36 $ 1.27 $ 1.36
    $ 0.400 $ 1.56 $ 1.45 $ 1.55
    $ 0.450 $ 1.75 $ 1.64 $ 1.74
    $ 0.500 $ 1.94 $ 1.82 $ 1.94
    $ 0.550 $ 2.14 $ 2.00 $ 2.13
    $ 0.600 $ 2.33 $ 2.18 $ 2.33
    $ 0.650 $ 2.53 $ 2.36 $ 2.52
    $ 0.700 $ 2.72 $ 2.55 $ 2.71
    $ 0.750 $ 2.92 $ 2.73 $ 2.91
     
    #16 bb4srv, Apr 26, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018
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  17. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

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    Err ... what ?
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah the efficiency in EV numbers aren't right (wrong units... but the value also seems off). If you're talking about distance on a charge, then it's somewhere between 6.1 and 6.3kWh (including the loss. Actual battery capacity is in the low 5kWh)
     
  19. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

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    This conversation would be so much easier if people would just get used to reporting costs in pennies per Km or pennies per mile.

    In the US today an average ICE car pays about 10 cents a mile and a Prius costs about 6 cents a mile
    Electricity at 40 cents a kWh works out to about the same 10 cents a mile

    So many spilled bytes over such a trivial question.
     
  20. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I'm confused by the "low 5kWh". I've measured total pack charge of 6.4 kWh of a fairly new, Prius Prime and I'm OK with +/- 5%. But I don't understand the "5kWh." Was that derived from the vehicle energy displays?

    Bob Wilson
     
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