1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Choosing a power meter

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prime Charging' started by tovli, Oct 11, 2023.

  1. tovli

    tovli 2023 Prius Prime replaced 09 Prius

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    325
    247
    1
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I only have a 120v receptacle available in my garage, so I charge my 2023 Prius Prime XSE at 120v 12A and keep track of each day's driving performance and charge consumption.

    I originally was using this $15 Mecheer PM01-US meter which I estimate reads 2% high:
    Mecheer PM01-US.jpg Note 10.99 kWh reading from the last charge

    Yesterday I also used a $12 SwitchBot Plug Mini A2:
    Switchbot Plug Mini A2.jpg
    which is 2.4GHz WiFi enabled which gave this display of 10.53 kWh in the SwitchBot app:
    Switchbot Display.PNG

    I stacked them with the Meecher attached to the wall, and the Toyota CCID plugged into the SwitchBot.
    The SwitchBot draws 0.8W, so the Meecher 10.99 kWh includes 0.01 kWh (13 hours * 0.8W / 1000 w/kW) drawn by the SwitchBot Plug Mini giving a Mecheer reading of 10.98 kWh drawn by the CCID for last night's charge. Previously I have tested the Mecheer meter to read 2% high but I have been using the readings without adjustment.

    The SwitchBot read 10.53 kWh this morning which is 4% lower than the Mecheer reading, so perhaps 2% lower than the actual but I'm going to just use the readings without adjustment.

    The SwitchBot meter is much more convenient to read and is the meter I am going to be using going forward.

    Yesterday's drive was 33.7 miles at a reported consumption of 4.7 mi/kWh using 80% of the EV mode battery capacity.

    IMG_4843.JPG

    I am using 10.6 kWh as the 100% EV mode capacity, and the car estimated the remaining charge as 20%:
    - Battery used: 80% of 10.6kWh = 8.48 kWh

    - Charging Loss Factor: 10.53 kWh wall / 8.48 kWh battery = 1.24x

    Charging with Level 1 CCID lost 24% to voltage conversion, heat, and battery cooling.

    (Charging with Level 2 loss is usually around 5%, so I could potentially save 30 cents per charge, maybe $90/year, but having a 240v receptacle installed would cost several hundred dollars right now.)
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  2. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    172
    53
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I have not figured out how to get that miles per KWH display on the Prius meter (I think its called the meter ?). Can you enlighten me ?
     
  3. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    172
    53
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Read recently in owners manual that the KWH/Mile display may be in PP with a Solar Panel roof. I don't have that option, so I don't have a KWH/Mile display option.
     
  4. NullDev

    NullDev Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2024
    91
    35
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I stumbled upon this in my PP without a solar roof. It only shows during EV mode and it replaces the miles per gallon display. If you have that one selected and then you enable EV mode, it should switch to showing miles per kWH.