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Prius vs Prius PiP GO!!

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by inferno, Jul 26, 2013.

  1. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    Short and sweet: let's just see what the benefits are vs each other. Here's mine, Prius vs PiP:
    • 11.9 Gallon Tank vs 10.6 Gallons, in a 50mpg scenario that's about 70 miles less distance
    • 595 miles on 50 mpg vs 542 miles on full tank (inclusion of 12 electric miles there)
    • 1 mile (hardly possible since the electric is weak) vs 12
    • No alternative power vs plugin for 1-3 hours for charge
    • Gas is about double vs Electric costs
    • More space in the trunk vs standard without anyone taking out the secret compartment
    • Spare tire vs no spare tire (are they runflat tires though?)
    • ~$24k vs ~$33k (or ~33k-$3k incentive - $2.5k government = $27.5k) - similarly equipped
    • Always need to pay for gas vs 12 miles can possibly be free (possibly, or possibly a ripoff)
    • Overall can travel longer distances vs PiP

    Anything else? Discuss? go! Sorry if I'm redundant.
     
  2. stanwagon

    stanwagon Junior Member

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    It seems like your comments are predicated on doing only only one charge per tankful. That would certainly argue against the PiP. But I am getting about 900 miles per tank since most (not all) of my driving is short and so uses almost no gas. On my 2005 Prius I'd get about 43 mpg, so 520 miles per tank. Of course, a newer Prius might get 50, so about 600 per tank. That extra 300 mi per tank (which is costing me very little because of solar panels) is the reason the PiP is my choice. Aside: I did not get any incentive from the dealer. But there is a huge state rebate here in Colorado, so it is about the same.

    And of course many people are getting much more than 900 miles on a tank.
     
  3. Mark in Colorado

    Mark in Colorado Junior Member

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    Each model fits a different use model. The PiP is for people who drive short distances, can recharge conveniently (and in an environmentally friendly way :)), and need occasional long-range trips. The Prius is for people who drive longer distances or cannot recharge conveniently.

    I drive mostly to work, exercise, kids' activities, and errands. I picked up my PiP last August 7th (almost a year) and have only refueled twice. I definitely fit the PiP use model and am very satisfied.

    One has to start with objectives in choosing a vehicle first and then compare the alternatives against those objectives. Your comparison is interesting, though.
     
  4. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    I just love driving 500+ miles consistently without having to fill up. If only the PiP had the same storage in the back, same gas tank volume and/or higher battery capacity...well that would sell me over i guess. Mark, you must take a lot of short trips, do your short trips involve charging on the other side as well or only at home? Is it your main car?
     
  5. Phausto

    Phausto Junior Member

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    We do mostly short trips, and have averaged > 1000 miles per tank. But what has surprised me somewhat is how nice it is to have a bigger battery "tank". (I do live in a hilly/mountainous area where goodly amounts of regen are common.) I simply want more battery--we have cheap and clean electricity--and the next time we buy a car I won't let my wife talk me out of a EV.
     
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  6. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I have frequent 2 miles trip that gets 46 MPG in nice weather. PiP is able to cover those trips in electricity, leaving the gas miles to more efficient long, near constant speed highway driving. It resulted in boosting the efficiency of both gas and electric propulsion.

    Since I put about half of my miles with electricity, I cut my gas usage by half.

    One disadvantage of PiP you did not mention.... It weighs about 150 lbs more so the acceleration is not as fast but still feel more powerful than the Gen2 Prius I upgraded from and drives better too!

    PiP has better weight distribution due to the bigger battery in the back. It feels less front heavy.
     
  7. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Lets go with monthly mpg...
    On my 2012 Prius Five I was averaging 50.3 mpg over the six months I owned the car.
    On my 2012 PIP my monthly mpg has been between 88mpg (Feb) and 101mpg (June).

    My commute has not changed- and I'm comparing the same months (Feb-June) for both cars.
    I drive about 1,400 mi/per month and recharge at both ends of my 56mi (round trip) daily commute.
    With the std Prius I would go to the gas station on a Monday- then by Wed the latest the following week.
    With the PIP I can more than 2 weeks without the pleasure of visiting the local gas station.
     
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  8. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Don't forget that the PiP does a little better on the highway in MPG than a regular Prius. That brings the miles possible per tank on HV alone a little closer.
    Also, you do realize you don't lose that much storage capacity in the back?
     
  9. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    About a week extra without gas? Nice! That's charging on both ends which is very lucky. My commute used to be 10-15 miles a day, with the 2010 Prius I wouldn't need to fill up the tank in like 3 or sometimes 4 weeks.

    Now my commute is about 220 miles a week. Which so far has me filling up a week and a half. I don't have the benefit of plugging on the other side. There are hills and a lot of the times my battery goes full. Not sure if PiP would be optimum in my situation.

    Probably with the PiP in my scenario - I would have to fill up in about a week's time because I can only gain 12 miles at home, but the PiP tank is smaller and I'd get 50 miles less on gas, the differential on two weeks is 24 miles I get on EV vs 50 miles I get on gas.
     
  10. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    With 3 kids we always take out that hidden compartment tray. Sometimes we take that out and put stuff on top of the spare tire, always save space. We've done Florida trips from MA, Alabama, we've traveled over 500 miles in one day with the car stuffed for a weeks worth or two weeks worth of things. It's amazing really.
     
  11. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    PiP highway is rated at 49 MPG while a regular Prius is rated at 48 MPG.

    Both models have the same 21.6 cu.ft cargo space. The difference is the space under the cargo floor.

    PiP can shut down the gas engine at or below 62 mph. A regular Prius limit is 46 mph.

    B gear - If you shift to B gear in PiP EV mode, the gas engine never starts. A regular Prius gas engine will start above ~25 mph.

    Regen Brake - PiP has more powerful battery pack so it can absorb 38 kW (51hp). A regular Prius can take only 27 kW (36hp).

    Regen Storage - PiP battery can store more energy so it can recapture more energy from a long downhill regen braking, where a regular Prius battery would get full and forces the gas engine to run (as an air pump to rid of the extra charge).
     
  12. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    If you had a PIP back then- and charged at both ends of commute... replace "weeks" with "months"! :)
     
  13. Rav

    Rav Member

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    In CA, PiP = Car Pool Lane Advantage = Winner!
     
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  14. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I fill up mine once a month.
     
  15. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    I don't understand the 62 mph hour part. My prius has engine off or 75 mpg when I'm coasting or letting go of the gas at 62mph...The 46 mph I don't get either, I've coasted at 50 mph on a straight away just using battery.

    The B gear in the PiP is the same in the Prius, right? It's just the battery is larger so the engine doesn't need to come on for the excess energy.

    How can we trust the EPA ratings anymore lol? After that whole Ford debacle.

    Eagerly waiting what 4th gen has in store....
     
  16. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    The screen doesn't show the engine being active when it is not making power. ICE will be spinning ~1,000 rpm above 46 mph. You'll need an OBDII reader to see the actual engine rpm.

    The B gear behaves differently in EV mode, as I described. It behaves the same as a regular Prius in HV mode.
     
  17. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    This is not entirely correct. I drive 105 miles round trip. I have the benefit of charging at work but I would qualify my 1+ hour commute each way as long distance. I average 700+ miles per tank or 80 mpg not counting EV. A regular Prius would allow 5 work days. My PiP can do 7 work days. A PiP is for people who drive short AND long distances. Sadly, this myth of long distance driving won't likely go away. I specifically chose the PiP over a Volt with a much larger battery range in part due to the fact that PiP is more fuel efficient over longer distance driving.

    Sure, my single tank and single charge range fell to about 400 miles while on a road trip. But that is only once in the 10 months I've owned the car. The other 10 months I've saved ~10 fewer trips to the gas station versus a Prius.
     
  18. JohnSNY

    JohnSNY Member

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    I drive on average just over 20 miles a day in EV only. Because I am located on Long Island, I save about $30.00 each month by using electricity (using $4.00 per gallon for gas for comparison to a regular Prius). This amount accounts for the cost of electricity. Based on the U.S. average, I would save around $60.00 per month.

    In that same eight months, by having a PiP, I have not burned 96.8 gallons of gas that a regular Prius would have consumed.

    I have driven 7295 miles which amounts to 182.38 MPG. Based on a 10.6 gallon tank, my range has been 1,933.18 miles per tank. Prius Display 8 months.jpg Prius Display 8 months.jpg
     
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    You used 1,158 kWh (1,362 kWh with 15% charging loss added) of electricity for not using 96.8 gallons of gas.

    33.7 kWh is equivalent to a gallon of gas. So, 1,362 kWh is equivalent to 40.4 gallon of gas. Yet you saved 96.8 gallons. That's a good trade!
     
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  20. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    Do you drive it like its a BMW? Can you really tell the difference in acceleration if you add a 150lb person in the passenger seat? 150lbs equals a 4.8% increase in weight.