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So groceries don't fit in the Prime cargo area?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Lee Jay, Apr 27, 2017.

  1. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

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    The raised floor in the cargo area is definitely *odd* looking, I'll give you that, as that was my first impression too. It really didn't make a difference on my decision to order a prime though, I'm getting it for gas mileage and versatility, not total cargo capacity. (I'd buy a truck if that was the goal!)
     
    #21 Bob Comer, Apr 28, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or could it be they just wanted to sell enough to cover carb credits, and a whole new battery situation wasn't worth the r&d?
    and maybe they really, really, realy wanted the solar option for japan, and the heck with everyone else.
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The battery for the solar option didn't have to go under the seat. Part of the traction pack could have gone there, and the solar pack in the back. That way cars without the option could have had more storage.

    What I've gleaned from articles and posts here is that Toyota had actually made the Prime a PiP2, with the flat cargo floor and shorter cargo range. Toyota USA, upon seeing it, said that won't sell in the US, and Toyota was left scrambling to get a larger battery in without delaying the release too much. Have to wait for some NDA's to expire to know for sure.
     
  4. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The root cause, in my opinion, of the raised floor is that they were sharing chassis, gas tank, E-Four and so-fourth with G4. That made it impossible to extend the battery behind the back of the rear seat from under the rear seat because the gas-tank is there. So, instead of segregating the battery into two parts or redesigning the gas tank and the rest, they just put the whole thing in the cargo area.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I recall watching a Prime "reveal" (in New York), and the look on the Toyota reps faces when the hatch was popped, somewhat sheepish, glancing around/away. That could be all in my head, lol.
     
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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah. I noticed the gas tank is in an L shape if the letter "L" was rotated 90° anti-clockwise. The hybrid battery would sit on top of it but in the case of the Prime, it wouldn't work. Would be nice if there was the ability to rotate the gas tank but I doubt it's worth the effort of redesign and testing. There is the space where the spare tire would go that is still vacant. Again, it looks like Toyota wanted a regularly shaped battery. My guess is so that it's easily transferable to other models should the need arise.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    of course it's all in your head, how else could it come out?:cool:
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you saying that toyota usa was completely in the dark until the very end? no discussions with hq about acceptable range during the design process?
     
  9. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    A couple years ago, I got a double wide tool box and was pleasantly surprised that it bit perfectly in the back of my Gen 2. Had about a half in to spare for width and height. If I'd had a Prime, it would not have fit. But that wouldn't stop me from getting one. Can't wait till they depreciate. :D:D

    Today, I had a bundle of ten 12-foot long base boards in the PiP. Had to lash down the hatch, and listen to the car beep for the five miles home, but we got it done. They only stuck out about a foot. Lots of padding on the dash and against the windshield, btw, and left lots of following distance. I think a Prime would have handled that just as well.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think if you can get a carabiner or chain link of the right thickness and dimensions to push into the hatch latch, in place of the U-bolt in the hatch lid, the beep will stop AND you can loop rope through it, to tie the hatch down. Maybe put some pipe insulation pieces on the lower hatch edge to cushion too.
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Tried it, worked a peach!

    IMG_6706.JPG
     
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  12. Since2002

    Since2002 Senior Lurker

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    Nominated for great idea of the year! (although there are still eight months to go)
     
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  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I think @Since2002 is right. That's a GREAT idea. I have some of those around. I'll toss one in the back of the car today. Assuming it's the right thickness.
     
  14. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    How much did Toyota spend to develop TNGA, a supposedly modular platform system? And their solution to a PHEV traction pack for multiple models is a one size fits all approach. Batteries are modular by their very nature. How much more would designing a 2.2kWh pack, and using 4 of them cost over the single 8.8kWh? I bet less than the flexibility it grants to vehicle design. Toyota's solution to one large, bulky hydrogen tank on a FCEV is already to use multiple smaller ones.

    A comment here from someone at one of the events gave that impression.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Look at the u-bolt on hatch for size, and test. If it jams in there, I've never heard of you... :whistle:

    It's kinda cool when it works: your car is locked and closed, but not.
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm not doubting it, having seen toyota communication over the last 12years, i just find it shocking.
    when i was in business, u.s., not international, manufacturers would hold all sorts of meetings to plan and implement new products. it wasn't always effective, but it was never a surprise.
     
  17. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Not really.

    While the batteries themselves certainly are, their thermal management really isn't.
     
  18. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    By the way, something happened right after I took that picture in the Costco parking lot that has never happened to me before. Someone (a little girl of about 6 in this case) walked up to me and told me she really liked my car. Obviously, she isn't judging it the way I do, based on how it drives and its efficiency and so forth, just on its looks.

    I guess that has happened to me before, but only when I was driving a classic car in show-quality condition, and I don't think that's the same thing.
     
  19. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    It may not have been a surprise to Toyota USA. It could have taken time to get Japan to listen, or they simply didn't want to spend the time and money to go back and make changes on already set decisions. I think Toyota designed the gen4 Prius first without any more thought to the plug in version beyond the Japanese market. That could limit how much change any input the US branch had on the PHEV by the time they learned any specifics.

    Imagine a new car being designed that will be getting a performance engine after its release. The car gets designed, and production tooling gets built. Then the parent company shares with foreign branches that the performance engine will be a turbocharged 4 cylinder. One branch says a V6 would sell better in their market. The engine bay of the car already heading to production isn't big enough for a V6. Perhaps they can get a V6 in there by losing trunk space to move the starter battery back there, or they compromise on a larger displacement 4 cylinder.

    Eitherway, the parent company was being short sighted with design goals, and/or didn't share their complete product vision with the branches in time for their inputs to be properly implemented. I think that is what happened with the Prius Prime.
    Four separate 2.2kWh modules within the 8.8kWh case would require different ventilation than the current pack in the Prime? I know splitting them up between separate locations will require different ventilation, and possibly casing, and that will increase cost, but will it be enough to counter the flexibility advantage for future PHEV models?

    These smaller modules won't work for a BEV, but neither will multiples of the Prime's pack. The larger pack will likely make use of liquid thermal management. That would allow the battery cells to be more tightly pack than one using airflow. Then a BEV design doesn't have to concern itself with also making space for fuel tanks and exhaust systems. The packs are going to be large enough that the cases become structural components to the frame.
     
    #39 Trollbait, Apr 29, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2017
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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or doesn't care if they sell that many, figuring enough for carb.