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

Get the 15? Or wait for a 16?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by jry423, Feb 19, 2015.

  1. priusdonkey

    priusdonkey Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2014
    211
    51
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, California
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    i went buy a dealer and they were saying September for the generation 4 release. TMC won't say a word because they want to clear out all the dealer inventory. if Toyota is going with a new rear suspension and making room for more trunk space then both the regular and eco plus model will have lithiium. The gen 3 was going to have a lithium battery,but Toyota made the wrong bet on lithium technology back in 2009 so it would be foolhardy to keep Nickel Metal Hydride in the Gen 4
     
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...sounds interesting...what do you think was wrong bet about NiMH decision for Gen3? Seems like it was not a bad decision at the time.
     
  3. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Not sure. "C" has NiMH battery (actually both 12v and traction) under rear seat (you literally sit on top of it).
    [​IMG]

    I would expect similar arrangement in Gen4, with either lower trims getting NiMH or smaller/cheaper LiION. Either way charges would have to be optimized for both set ups
     
  4. priusdonkey

    priusdonkey Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2014
    211
    51
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, California
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    the NiMH batteries are heavy. To increase gas efficiency by 10% that means a weight savings. The batteries are an obvious choice to cut weight and increase overall MPG. There is an eco plus option available. so that just might have a larger lithium pack. All the new Volts, Tesla, leafs etc. have lithium. The Toyota execs would shoot themselves in their collective feet to make a 2016 model with old technology. This is a cur for the future, while lithium is a car for the future.
     
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...well they tell me the Mirai has NiMH
     
  6. priusdonkey

    priusdonkey Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2014
    211
    51
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, California
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Interesting. Hard to believe a fuel cell car would have old batteries.
     
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...that's exactly what I said, some replied that there may be advantages to NiMH eg; in cold weather.
     
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It's been proven reliable and perhaps they wanted to keep costs down.
     
  9. Boji

    Boji Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2009
    59
    9
    0
    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A