Prius Prime vs RAV4 Prime: which cycles more

So, this is for the PP or Rav4Prime while parked in READY mode? If you are using it for camping and start with a full traction battery charge, then I would think Rav4Prime last much longer before the engine begins to cycle. That's because the Rav4Prime has a much bigger capacity traction battery.

If you are starting with the EV portion of the traction battery depleted, then the engine cycle frequency would come down to the amount of traction battery energy needed to operate AC. IIRC, both PP and Rav4Prime use heat-pump for HVAC. I am not sure if there are any efficiency differences in the heat-pump components of the two cars, but my guess is that they are very similar if not identical. Then given the size of the cabin space to cool, PP may take less energy to maintain the temperature than Rav4Prime. But I really think not much difference.

I don't have any car camping experience, but I would think any PHEV would be able to cool while you sleep. I really don't think much difference in AC energy demand among modern vehicles. That being said, if your camping requires heating, then PP or RAV4Prime equipped with a heat pump would be much more efficient than any vehicle that does not have a heat pump. I have never done this with my current PHEV, Ford Escape PHEV, but I think I can keep it on Ready mode and have the AC on all night long without the engine starting if the traction battery was full at the beginning. Though I am not sure if it is more efficient than PP or RAV4Prime.

EDIT: My comment is comparing the 2017-2022 PP and Rav4Prime of the same MY. If you are comparing the new 2023 PP vs the 2023 Rav4Prime, the difference in the size of the traction battery is less. So, you may not find the Rav4Prime advantage for the duration of AC operation, though Rav4Prime would be much better for overnight camping than the current Gen5PP for the cabin space, I would think.

 

since cycling is a relation between battery capacity as determined by toyota programming parameters, and the energy draw of the hvac system, and the interior space, climate and weather being equal, i'd guess they are similar.

 

i have never read anyone hearsaying they could keep the ice off all night. of course it depends on temps and humiditu, but even a fully charged prime battery is not going to last very long before it goes to hybrid mode. certainly, the bigger, the better.
on a full charge in my pip, it only lasts about half an hour. gen4 prime is double that, but more efficient, and gen 5 is triple.

unless it's a free charger, that could get expensive.

isn't camping mostly after the sun has gone down?

 

I have never done PP camping, but I have sat in a parking lot under the direct sun with AC on for 3-4 hours in my PP (Gen4) without the engine starting. I can't remember how much SOC was used for that. But I feel in our region's climate, even during summer daytime with ambient temp near 80F, the Gen4 PP would have lasted 6 hours or longer without the engine starting if started with a full charge. Yeah, if the outside temp is above 90F, that is a different story though.

 

The rav4 Prime does have about 5kWh more for the heat pump capacity than the Prius.

 

Our relative humidity is usually above 70% most of the time, but I don't remember how high or low it was on that day. Here is the comment I made on that day. According to my own account, I had the car in READY mode for ~3 hours with Audio and AC on and off. I may not have had the AC blasting for all the 3 hours. Our normal July temp is usually not above 80F. But I was parked in a parking lot under the direct sun around noon time, so it was uncomfortably hot for me. For this duration of time, the engine did not start and it used only ~10% SOC. So, under that usage condition, AC could have stayed on overnight without the engine starting, I would think.
12v Battery Is Discharging, Re-Charge Now ! | Page 15 | PriusChat

No. It means Rav4Pime has a bigger traction battery with more capacity, so with the battery fully charged, it will last longer before the engine starts compared to PP (Gen4 or Gen5). FYI, Rav4Prime has 18.1kWh battery, Gen4PP is 8.8kWh, and Gen5PP is 13.6kWh.

 

Yeah, at that temp and humidity, the AC must work much harder than in our region. So, I don't know how long it will last without the engine starting even if you start with a full charge.

 

Our daughter still drives Gen2 Prius. Not sure what year it is. I think they got it used. From what I have read, Gen2 Pruis was a solid hybrid. But a lot of technological advancement since then. My first hybrid was Honda Civic Hybrid. Although it had the traction battery replaced around 150kmiles, otherwise it was a great car, until my son totaled it. LOL

If your Gen2 is still on the original battery, then you are doing OK. In the current market, fixing existing cars is the most economical route for most people.

Did not plan to flip the car that often, but after finding out how cheap the 2017 PP was as compared to the prior Gen3 2015 Prius Two, I took full advantage of the tax credit and other incentives to swap 4 PHEVs in 6 years. But, a good thing does not last forever, at least for Toyota PHEV and BEVs tax credits and huge factory incentives are things of the past now.

 

Fully charged up, The Rav4 Prime will have more energy to run the heat pump with. Presumably, you've used up at least some of that charge getting to the site. Once the grid charge is used up, both will be working with the same amount of energy as the no-plug hybrids. I think the Rav4 has a little more for the AWD, but it is a larger cabin.

Interior volume(cubic feet) of the two is; 111.5 for the 2023 Prius, and 136.4 for the Rav4. The earlier Prius Primes have a little less space, because of the battery, but the battery placement also makes them a poor choice for sleeping, as something needs to be done to address the differing floor heights.

I believe the 2023 Prius Prime has a room mode, if it can be plugged in. Charge mode is an option before arrival to get the battery mostly full. Can't say if it will use less gas vs. letting the car cycle while park though.