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Difference in EV mileage between Base and Advanced?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Greg_M, Jun 19, 2015.

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  1. Greg_M

    Greg_M Member

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    I recently bought a silver 2013 base with 83k on it. I then ran across a white 2012 advanced with 48k on it. Now I've got 2 plug-ins. Wife likes the color of the 2012 better and I like all of the extras on the advanced so the 2013 is going to be sold when we get the title from the state.

    The only thing that disappoints me with the advanced is that it gets less EV miles then the base. I can consistently get 12 and sometimes as much as 14 miles with the base. However, the advanced only gets 9-10 miles. For many of my wife's trips the 2013 will run on all electric but not so with the 2012.

    Is it normal for the advanced to get less EV miles then the base or is this a battery issue? Judging from the usage history it appears that both previous owners had charged the battery on a regular basis.
     
    #1 Greg_M, Jun 19, 2015
  2. bfd

    bfd Plug-In Perpetuator

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    Uh, maybe the battery holds less capacity over time?

    Wait until the battery is 10 years old and you are getting 5 EV miles.
     
    #2 bfd, Jun 19, 2015
  3. Greg_M

    Greg_M Member

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    Well I would hope that the battery wouldn't loose capacity that fast. The 2013 has 35k more miles on it and is only 1 year newer but the 2012 gets 17% less EV miles. If there isn't a difference in battery usage between the base and advanced models then it tempts me to swap the batteries before selling the base PIP. Of coarse I'm not sure if that would void the remaining warranty on both cars and I wouldn't want to chance that.

    I'm not new to Prius but I am new to the PIP. My 2004 still has the original battery with 183k on it. Still works almost as good as when I got it at 43k and 5 years old. Just looking to educate myself so I know what to expect and what will help to keep it running as good as it can for as long as it can.
     
    #3 Greg_M, Jun 19, 2015
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    It's far too soon for the effects of aging to show yet.

    3 years later driving the same routes the same way. No change for me. Results have been very consistent.

    We haven't ever encountered reports of the base behaving different that the advanced. The system is the same. Only the package features are different. How the previous owner drove & charged may make more of a difference.
     
    #4 john1701a, Jun 19, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2015
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  5. roflwaffle

    roflwaffle Member

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    Are the tires the same and at the same pressure?
     
    #5 roflwaffle, Jun 19, 2015
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Swap cars for a while, just to see if it's driving style?
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jun 19, 2015
  7. Greg_M

    Greg_M Member

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    Same size tires and same pressure. The tires on the 2012 are new.

    The comparison is with me driving along the same route while trying to maximize EV miles. Driving conditions were actually better for the 2012 and got 3 less miles. I took actual miles, not the Prius guess-o-meter.

    It's probably the battery but I'm open to ideas since I'm hoping that it turns out not to be the battery.
     
    #7 Greg_M, Jun 19, 2015
  8. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    New tires need break-in time. I've noticed it seems to take around 7,500 miles. That may be enough extra demand to make the engine run longer and more often.

    SAMSUNG-SM-G925A ?
     
    #8 john1701a, Jun 19, 2015
  9. roflwaffle

    roflwaffle Member

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    #9 roflwaffle, Jun 19, 2015
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what tyres?
     
    #10 bisco, Jun 19, 2015
  11. Greg_M

    Greg_M Member

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    The article states a potential 2-4% drop in mpg when new tires replace worn out tires. I've got a 17% difference and the tires on the 2013 are not worn out.

    The 2013 has Goodyear Eagle LS and the 2012 has Michelin Defender Green X. Both are 195/65/R15. Tire pressure is about 41psi on all tires.
     
    #11 Greg_M, Jun 19, 2015
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well there's your problem right there. defenders are the worst, but many people like them for attributes other than mpg's.
     
    #12 bisco, Jun 19, 2015
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Again, just to make sure, try swapping cars with your wife.

    It's your wife's car that's doing better? Maybe you don't want to know the reason... :whistle:
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Jun 19, 2015
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I do not know. The Defenders are several notches down in RR department, even on Michelin website. But compared to the Goodyear Eagle LS? The latter are not listed as LRR on TireRack.

    Just drives home my theory, his wife is maybe a hypermiling guru.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Jun 19, 2015
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would switch tyres and remeasure.
     
    #15 bisco, Jun 19, 2015
  16. Greg_M

    Greg_M Member

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    Could they be responsible for a 17% difference?

    My results are from me driving the car. I know she does't get near what I get.
     
    #16 Greg_M, Jun 19, 2015
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's hard to say, it's usually multiple factors.
     
    #17 bisco, Jun 19, 2015
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    this is the first time we've encountered this with the pip, you should fill out the low mileage questionnaire as it relates to your car, that might help us. the hv battery is not outside the realm of possibility.
     
    #18 bisco, Jun 19, 2015
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ok gotcha.
     
    #19 Mendel Leisk, Jun 19, 2015
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if that turns out to be the case, it kinda reinforces the used ev problem. maybe the '12 has a lot more ev miles. i wonder if that info is in the computers?

    who knows, maybe it spent its life in the heat.

    maybe they kept it charged all the time, ignoring toyota's warning as many here do.

    maybe they drove her hard and put her up wet.

    abuse is not out of the question.
     
    #20 bisco, Jun 19, 2015
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