2013 Prius v vs. Pacifica Hybrid/ Tesla batteries and engine setup/design?

Yes a 'normal' hair dryer is almost 2000 watts, and will over power almost any car electrical system. (some pickups may work)

Due to a very small 12 volt battery, you are ill advised to ever run any electrical load except when in READY. If you are in READY, you can have a 1000 watt converter, if you wire it directly to the 12 volt system. The cigarette lighter plug is limited to about 100 watts, so only power these from the clips. (Or better, have your automotive electrician/stereo installer permanently install it, so it only works in READY)

www.amazon.com/dp/B00T564EIY
www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJHJB3J


'Small' Hair dryer
www.amazon.com/dp/B01AD0AOCU

The Pacifica has a 3.6 liter engine, while the v has a 1.8 liter engine, so it makes more power/gets worse mileage. It also has a larger High Voltage battery 16 kWh vs the v's 1.3 kWh, so it can better spend time in an all electric mode, and needs to be charged by being plugged in. The size of the (tiny) 12 volt battery in the v will not impact you much once you internalize ALWAYS be in READY when using any electricity.

Forget Accessory mode even exists, and you are golden. I do not think I have been in ACC since 2010, and have no plan to ever be in it again. While small, the Prius v 12 battery will set you back over $150. Don't run it down in ACC. Be in READY.

(The Pacifica will have a larger 12 battery, that will also leave you stranded if you run it down. Be in Ready)

The load from the DVD is the same and has to be made up for. With a Plug in, you can charge up the 12 volt battery with 'real' electricity as well as the bigger HV Battery, but yes, if the DVD is played while driving, that energy will lower MPG slightly

 

With a Prius or any hybrid, the most economical solution for long term use of accessories while parked is the Ready mode, allowing the HV battery do the heavy lifting, rather than installing a marginally bigger battery that just adds 10% runtime before it is discharged. Plus using the 12vdc battery system offline on a regular basis will cause deep cycling, dramatically shortening it's life.

An alternative is to properly install a dual battery system with a battery isolator AND an automatic charging relay. The setup would be a little different than most sources illustrate. The automatic charging relay portion should include combined and isolated charging modes. The system should incorporate a low voltage disconnect feature. It should handle voltage lockout situations when one battery fails. Even then you should specify a new "second" battery outlet for items the second battery would run plus purchase a Marine AGM deep cycle battery. I would have it done with someone who does high end marine systems who also has a working knowledge of Prius 12v electrical systems.

All of this is pretty expensive to install especially when you have one of the most efficient and quiet electrical power sources already installed, eg your existing hybrid system. And don't forget, even the best dual battery system still has to be recharged which will end up burning additional gas anyway.

If I was fit to be tied and had to have more available battery power because I am camping in the garage and can't let the car run, then I might buy one of the new 120vac/12vdc lithium rechargeable power supplies and optionally include a solar panel for the zombie apocalypse as well. Probably less money and it might have some use with the boy scouts.

 

Based on consumer complaints, the Pacifica hybrid is still a technologically risky car to own. It can shut down, overheat, burn out, etc. based on the complaints. You may want to hold off if interested until all the troubles are worked out. Owners are really scared of it dying in the middle of the road.

15 Complaints: 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Engine Problems
9 Complaints: 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Electrical System Problems

The v does not have enough power and capacity to run much on battery alone. Consider investing in a power station. The lithium Yeti can power a hair dryer and still be charged from the car or solar. But very pricey. Around $1k. Costco carried them. Also heavy at 40lbs.

 

did i miss the tesla question?

 

you can install a 1000 watt inverter on your 12v battery, leave the car in ready, and watch all the dvd's you want.

 

The thousand dollar Costco version is the Yeti 1000 wHs (watt hours) or 1 kilowatt hours (eg it could do 1000 watts for an hour). It still has a 1500 watt (max instantaneous) inverter. A typical 25 watt portable dvd player might run 40 hours on 1000 wHs. The $300 version in my post above is 500 wHs with a 300 watt max inverter and might run that DVD player for 20 hours. Both can recharge with solar, plugin AC or 12vdc while the car is running. It could take days to fully charge with 12v or solar and 18 hours with their small AC charger.

Tesla Model 3s have a 50 kwh (50,000 wHs) so you can hide in the woods for weeks.

You don't have a lithium battery in your hybrid. Some hybrids like the Prius Prime and Prius v's sold in Europe do have lithium. Of course we are talking the high voltage battery which does not discharge unless you are in "Ready". In general the lithium batteries have more kwHs in the same volume, so their capacity is larger, meaning it will run on EV alone longer, even when in Ready mode. All pure electric and most plug-in hybrids will have higher capacity lithium batteries.

 

I've thought about what is the best way to setup solar panels. This is an expensive option to consider but it will give a roomier place to sleep and plenty of space for solar panel charging while camping out.

A rooftop tent. When you don't need the solar, just place it back in the rooftop compartment. Should be enough for 200-300 watt of evergy and can charge a 1kw Yeti in 3-5 hours in direct sunlight. The solar panels will have to be those thin flexible panels. Get the ETFE film panels. They should last 10-20years and only weigh a few pounds. Regular plastic film panels will yellow out over time.

 

I think the inverter is protected by a 125 amp fuse. 12 x 125 = 1500 watts which is why I was not sizeing over 1000 watts, as you need some for the car.

 

Always be in 'Ready' when using the inverter.
Simba