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Unanswered questions about new Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by adric22, Nov 22, 2022.

  1. adric22

    adric22 Ev and Hybrid Enthusiast

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    I'm really excited about the new Prius Prime. Here are some of the questions I'm still wanting answers to!
    • What is the EPA driving range
    • What is the charging rate on 240V? (I'm hoping for 6.6 Kw)
    • What is the output of the solar panel?
    • Does the solar panel charge only the 12V or high voltage system? (I've heard claims both ways, so I'm not sure who is right)
    • How problematic is the placement of the instrument panel? I'm concerned that with my favorite driving position, the steering wheel may be blocking it.
    • What is the 0-60 time in EV mode without the ICE?
    • What kind of thermal management does the battery have?
    • Are they going to make more than token amounts of the Prime like they've been doing with the Prius and Rav4, or are they going to build to demand?

     
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  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Much of what you ask has yet to be released.

    The solar roof is rated higher than the current one. That one charged the traction battery while parked, and provide energy to the 12V system when the car is on.

    Toyota under estimated demand for plug ins. They didn't have the battery supply lined up for the Rav4 prime. And now there is the general disruption in supply chains.

    The next Prius Prime will ship to CARB states first. I do believe Toyota has the good faith to ship across the country after that. Toyota doesn't have 100% say for the entire country. The Southeast and Gulf Coast distributors have not been 'enthusiastic' about the plug ins. Part of the reason why some have been going out of state for Primes.
     
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  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Also, US media test drives is at the beginning of Dec and I believe the embargo lifts Dec 16? So we’ll know some more information in a few weeks.
     
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  4. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The biggest one for me is, "are they going to make an EV version of the Prius?" I'm getting to the point where I'm running the engine about twice a year, and I'm not convinced anymore that it's useful for me to have it at all.
     
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hard to say, but doubtful? seems like it would be easier to start with a whole new design
     
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  6. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Which they just did, and failed to do what was right (PHEV + EV vs Hybrid + PHEV).
     
  7. MBurch

    MBurch Junior Member

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    One factor that would encourage me to order a new one would be increased sound deadening - nothing other than a throw away line about increased frame ridgidity which would provide a quited ride but think that might just be rattle proofing

    I get it, you can't put hundreds of pounds of sound deading material and keep high MPG but please, tone it down a few decibels please Toyota, broken or worn pavement at highway speed is painful
     
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  8. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    How much would you pay (MSRP) for a 300, 400, & 500 mile Prius BEV?
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    why would that be 'right'?
     
  10. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Because the planet is on fire and we need to stop burning things for energy RIGHT NOW!

    upload_2022-11-23_11-46-41.png
     
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  11. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    $35k base, $5k extra for each 100 additional miles, up to $10k extra for feature "upgrades".
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they have a bev. it doesn't have to be a prius
     
  13. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The one Toyota BEV is not efficient. A Prius BEV would be.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    perhaps the chassis just isn't designed for it, and cannot be reconfigured
     
  15. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Probably true, but it *should have been*, from day one. Like the Ioniq PHEV/Ioniq EV, just done with newer technology and newer hardware.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yeah, in those days, toyota was claiming bevs didn't make sense
     
  17. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    They still don't, but thanks to Musk, we're out of options so we need to take the one that is least bad.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what did musk do?
     
  19. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Didn't support hydrogen.
    Neither did Toyota. They pushed the no plug version in the belief it meant higher demand for the fuel, and didn't invest in that refueling infrastructure.
     
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  20. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    Well, I suppose Musk did make the Tesla popular, so California as well as auto makers have jumped on the EV bandwagon as the quickest solution to the fossil fuel “problem”. Unfortunately, it seems that as many people who complain about fossil fuels now complain about precious metals, increased impact on the grid, etc. I don’t know much about hydrogen, but if it were ready, wouldn’t it be here by now? Oftentimes the best solution is a matter of timing. I guess if someone needs a scapegoat for hydrogen not being available, Musk is the obvious choice since he’s been successful with EVs. But why blame him and not those working on hydrogen? Sure, he could have put his money into hydrogen, but who knows where we’d be if he had? It’s pure supposition to say hydrogen would be the solution of choice today.

    I’ve been considering going EV too and renting something with more range for our annual road trips to Georgia, Florida, etc. Unfortunately, renting cars for the length of our trips isn’t really practical financially, so I’m in a quandary. Buying a plug-in Prime seems to be the best solution now, but letting gas sit in a car for 10 months or so out of a year might not make a lot of sense either. Plus, who knows what will happen with hydrogen? All I know is that a whole bunch of people seem to be adopting EV and it won’t be long before that will be the only new vehicle one can buy. If one needs/wants new now, hydrogen isn’t a choice. It’s pure conjecture to say it would be if Musk had bought into the technology.
     
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