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Pip basics

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Recian, Sep 30, 2019.

  1. Recian

    Recian Junior Member

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    I was browsing 3rd Gens and came across the plug in prius. I immediately came here and started looking at the PIP FAQ thread and some of the other posts. Does the car absolutely have to use the plug in option? I live in NC so we do lose power at times during hurricanes. Florence knocked us out for 5 days. I've had training on Leaf and I like them but the range limits me even tho I like the EV. I like the idea of having ev then switching to HV at low charge. Is that automatic? My morning commute is mostly city. 11 miles. Lunchtime is usually a 2 mile city radius where ev would help not running a cold ICE for a few miles but after work I have another job and night classes so it is anywhere from 20 to 60 miles mostly highway where I'm sure I'd run out of EV. I have a garage with 110 and 220v. Has anyone monitored actual KwH to charge?
     
  2. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    It is not necessary to ever plug in, if you don't want to. It always starts in EV mode if there is enough charge, otherwise it drives like a regular Prius, switching between EV and Hybrid modes automatically. Electronics keep the state of charge between 20 and 80% for long battery life. Once the ICE starts, it runs until normal operating temp is reached. Ask your job if they can give you a parking space with electricity, they may be civic-minded enough to even do that for you. It's pretty easy for most drivers to get 55-70 mpg with the plug-in.
     
  3. Recian

    Recian Junior Member

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    So like ev mode In gen 3 but better. If you take care to keep the battery charged it can still do some EV driving even not plugged in regularly. We have 5 leaf chargers on the building. I'm sure I could maybe sneak one for a hour or 2
     
  4. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Your 11 mile commute is right around the practical limit of your EV range. With a bit of luck and an extra charge after lunchtime you may never need gas. Of course the engine is programmed to start up ever 125 miles, whether you need it or not, and for the first few weeks you will be learning how to follow the power display to avoid accidentally starting ICE when you don't really want it. I have about 2,400 miles on this tank- obviously it's a lot of local driving.
     
  5. Recian

    Recian Junior Member

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    Sounds worth it for a few thousand more on a car if that's the potential not to mention it'll still function as a standard prius even maybe a little better using ev even not plugged in except for at work (I'm looking used so may end up with a car with no plug in charger)
     
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  6. Yea Right

    Yea Right Active Member

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    Plug-in Base
    My new commute is about 28 miles with some hills. When charged at home, I head out and with some city and freeway driving, I average 80-85 MPG. Work has a couple ChargePoint stations, so I recharge for about an hour and 15-20 minutes (L2). My work is about 300-500 feet higher in altitude, so I get some charge from going downhill going home too. That translates into about 95 MPG or a bit more on the way back home.

    So I full up with gas every two weeks with about 560 miles every two weeks. Sometimes I get a bit more depending on what I'm doing on the weekend.
     
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  7. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    I have the 2018 Prius Prime (next gen of the Prius Plug-in), but I don't think its too different:
    • Never needs to be plugged in. It can be driven in full hybrid gas mode all the time.
    • Can charge it via 120v using the cable that comes with the car. A 220v level 2 charger is more of a luxury purchase and not really needed.
    • The HV/EV will transition automatically, but I do like to manage it manually. EV for city-driving, getting up to highway speeds; HV for highway driving seems to maximize gas fuel economy.
     
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  8. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Don't forget: Twice the EV range of its predecessor.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you have 120 and 240 9n your garage, why wouldn't you charge it? it comes with an oem evse
     
  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    On paper, it's twice the range. In my experience it's nearly triple the range.

    My commute is 9.5 miles each way and it's 50 mph stop and go with the emphasis on the "stop." In the cooler (errr ... less hot) parts of the year here in FL, it was no problem making it in EV and I can charge at work for free. But in the summer with heavy air conditioning use, it was touch and go on making it all the way.

    Still, I think I averaged about 95 mpg for the 2-1/4 years I had my PiP. Given your commute, @Recian, I'd recommend a used Prime if you can manage it. It's even cheaper to run, it's more comfortable, and you'll have a newer battery. My cost per mile of local driving for electricity and gas is under 2.5 cents/mile. I think you'll like it better, and be better off in the long run if you can swing the up price of admission.
     
  11. Recian

    Recian Junior Member

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    That's the problem I definitely can't do 20k for a prime. I'm in the 10k range. I was also reading the plug ins don't have the crazy engine issues the 3g prius do and I can find plug ins about the same price as a regular Prius that year they're just more rare. There's a couple plug ins in my area that are at or just below 10. I was worried about how it did without charging because there may be situations you can't do the ideal drive the same commute then plug in. Bad weather at work so I can't charge it or I may do a couple hundred mile commute. That's where I was worried about not being able to charge. The garage is always available unless Florence comes back and kills our power for 5 days again
     
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i haven't heard that the engine is any different

    the engine tends to run less, depending on how much you plug in, so it might take more overall miles to clog the egr, but i really don't know.
     
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  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Same engine in the PiP as the regular Gen 3. I took my PiP on several multi-thousand mile road trips. With my wife and a car full of stuff and the typical headwinds and rain I always seem to meet on trips, I averaged about 50 mpg. Commuting was about 95 mpg.

    Edit to fix big-time typo. Thanks, @bisco. Good catch.
     
    #13 jerrymildred, Oct 9, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2019
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    gen 3 (y)
     
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