Going on 1st EV Run Since Ownership

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by kepani, Nov 8, 2019.

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  1. kepani

    kepani Member

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    I finally unwrapped the charging cable from its bag last night and hooked it up for some juice. For the first time since owning the Prime (purchased this past Saturday), I will drive it in EV mode!

    I’m debating on whether to make the drive to work in full EV or if I will use it for city (pre-post freeway trots). My commute each way to work is 20 miles.

    Let’s see! I’ll check back in later this morning for a download. :):whistle:;)

    Jay
     
    #1 kepani, Nov 8, 2019
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  2. illumiN8i

    illumiN8i Active Member

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    When I had a longer commute I used the EV Auto mode. It might allow you to arrive at work with some charge left that can be used on the way home. Just get in the habit of pressing EV Auto when you leave for work and when you leave work.
     
    #2 illumiN8i, Nov 8, 2019
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  3. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Everybody’s charging resources, and their commute/ driving needs, will be a little different, not surprisingly.

    In my particular case, I have a level-2 charger at home, at work, and at several other places I frequent around town. That being the case, I can pretty much always drive EV around town.

    If you don’t have as-easy access to level-2 chargers, and you typically use the proverbial “granny lead,” you may be best off just charging overnight, and then “just drive,” not really thinking much about it.

    I think it’s clear that that’s the nominal use case Toyota had in mind for the Prime: build a really super-efficient car — the Gen-4 Prius — to where you already use very little gas. But then, add 25-30ish miles of EV range and a super-simple overnight charger, so that you can cut that already-tiny gas bill to a third or so!

    Point being, in this use case, you don’t have think about it much: just plug it in overnight, and watch you gas usage plummet!
     
    #3 mr88cet, Nov 8, 2019
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  4. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Good morning all!

    Report:
    • Left home this morning with battery fully charged.
    • Ambient temperature ranged between 58-62 deg. F on my drive up.
    • Garage was a nice 72 deg. F just before I left per the vehicle display - I presume this is great in that the battery will perform more efficiently compared with the car sitting outside overnight in 50-60 deg. F temperatures.
    • Drove to work in EV Mode / ECO Mode for 20.1 miles:
      • Drive to FWY is about 3 miles with 3 traffic lights.
      • Drive on FWY is an overall "flat" for about 16 miles - traffic is moving fairly well with no complete stops (though it is a Friday!).
      • Drive to Parking Structure from FWY is about 1 mile with 1 traffic light.
    • Battery Consumption: 59% remaining after 20.1 miles.
    • Projection: 14 miles remaining on 41% life
    I must admit that my driving habits are very disciplined since the car is brand new and I'm trying to extract as much efficiency out of the car. I know when I start to drive the car more and more, I won't be as discipline. That being said, I'm very impressed with the EV Mode thus far.

    I'm curious to see how the battery does later this afternoon on the way home. The weather forecast shows 82-83 deg. F so I wonder if the batteries will not perform as well compared with the cool 58-62 deg. F weather in the morning. :)
     
    #4 kepani, Nov 8, 2019
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  5. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Thanks! I want to try that mode on my next commute up to work. It will be interesting to see how efficient each mode is for my specific commute.

    Today I'm trying full EV Mode. Next, I'll try EV Auto. Likely after that, I'll do full EV Mode in the city (to/from FWY, etc.) and then run HV Mode on the FWY.
     
    #5 kepani, Nov 8, 2019
  6. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Totally agree with you @mr88cet I am just simply amazed at the efficiency of the Hybrid System (not even considering the EV benefits). I'm coming from a 4-cyl Honda Accord CVT, which got me around 27 MPG (mixed FWY and city use). I know that car could do better if I didn't have so much city driving.

    Although I've only driven the Prime for 2 days, I'm getting mid to low 60s MPG. It's just simply mind-blowing! :ROFLMAO: Then, mixing in EV is even more icing on the cake!

    Eventually I'm probably going to focus on charging at 120V at home and then letting the Prime manage it. I too like to lean toward K.I.S.S. - keeping it simple! (y)
     
    #6 kepani, Nov 8, 2019
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  7. kepani

    kepani Member

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    D4FAB52E-0F6F-4C44-8955-B0E11D31C12E.jpeg

    Shot of my progress this AM...
     
    #7 kepani, Nov 8, 2019
  8. kepani

    kepani Member

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    38.4 miles in EV Mode with 0.2 miles left to spare.

    Consciously made an effort to pull out as much as I could. Temperature on the way home was 80-82 deg. F. No HVAC used at all, however. My “cooling” was my bottle of ice cold water! :LOL:

    Prime is just simply amazing!!! (y)

    07F264BD-B90E-4DE9-8F16-6BA4A1BF5170.jpeg
     
    #8 kepani, Nov 8, 2019
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  9. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    Welcome Prime mate. For many Prime owners an unintended consequence is to get the best efficiency as possible, even though just driving the Prime normally will be more efficient than 99% of other cars out there. You'll find getting less than 999.9 mpg will make you feel like you're being inefficient. Fortunately with my 2017 Prime the mpg only goes to 199.9mpg. 20190726_185018.jpg
     
    #9 Marine Ray, Nov 9, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2019
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  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Wow, 38.4 miles on your very first EV mode. That's great. It took me almost the entire first summer to get mine to drive over 35 miles on EV. You must have very lightfoot. I envy the temperature you are having this time of year. We are heading into winter here in North East. High today was 32F. I will be lucky to get 20 miles of EV range once I start using the heat regularly.
     
    #10 Salamander_King, Nov 9, 2019
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  11. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Thanks @Marine Ray for the post! This is so true...I feel like I'm letting the car down if I don't drive it efficiently. :ROFLMAO:
     
    #11 kepani, Nov 11, 2019
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  12. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Thanks @Salamander_King I was quite amazed to get so many miles. Though, it seems like the ideal temperatures have a lot to do with it! Plus, I didn't run any AC or fan so that was probably a huge part of it. :eek:;) Hope to catch more posts of yours - stay warm and safe! :)
     
    #12 kepani, Nov 11, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2019
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  13. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Over the past week, I have been charging the Prime at work.

    Thankfully, the work chargers are Level 2 and I pay $0.25/kWh. After 4-4.25 kWh of consumption (20.1 miles in EV Mode), I fill up in about 1-1/2 hours and pay just below or above $1! I range anywhere from 0.19-0.21 kWh/mile!

    :)
     
    #13 kepani, Nov 21, 2019
  14. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    It works in CA, but at that rate, for many places in the US, it is cheaper to drive HV using gas. In CA, with $4/gal gas price, it makes sense to charge at that high rate. Assuming 6kWh to full charge and 25 miles of EV range and 50mpg on gas HV. The full charge cost $1.50 for 25 miles of EV. OR $3.00 for 50 miles of EV. If gas is less than $3/gal, it is cheaper to drive on HV.
     
    #14 Salamander_King, Nov 21, 2019
  15. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Roger that! Thanks @Salamander_King for the cross reference. My rate at home is $0.12/kWh + $0.40 (daily surcharge for opting for the "EV Vehicle TOU Utilty Rate") albeit I'm charging at 110-120v. Since CA gasoline prices are so high, my smile is ever more prominent at each "EV Fill Up". ;)
     
    #15 kepani, Nov 21, 2019
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  16. kepani

    kepani Member

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    It's been cold here lately in Southern California (...relatively...I know! :p...) and I noticed a big drop in EV mode performance - just as everyone alluded to. However, I experienced it first hand.

    Distance of each stint: 20.1 miles
    Average efficiency (over 4 weekdays @ 60-70 deg. F ambient temperature range): ~203 Wh/mile
    Today's efficiency (@ 50-55 deg. F ambient temperature range): ~220 Wh/mile

    Nonetheless, I'm still on my 1st tank of since purchasing the Prime on 11/2/2019...exactly one month ago!

    Still beats using gasoline here in CA!
     
    #16 kepani, Dec 2, 2019
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  17. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Aha! So today's commute up to work was about 5-10 deg. F cooler compared to yesterday's 50-55 deg. F ambient range.

    Yesterday's efficiency (@ 50-55 deg. F ambient temperature range): ~220 Wh/mile
    Today's efficiency (@ 50-60 deg. F ambient temperature range): ~200 Wh/mile

    Does Toyota and/or any of the Prius Chat Members have historical findings on optimal battery performance versus ambient temperature?
     
    #17 kepani, Dec 3, 2019
  18. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Without use of AC, higher the ambient temperature longer the EV range and colder the ambient temperature shorter the EV range. It is fairly linear. @Prius from Dad had shown this relationship in a nice graph, but I lost the link.

    Edit: I found the link. Decreasing Mile Range | Page 2 | PriusChat
     
    #18 Salamander_King, Dec 3, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2019
  19. kepani

    kepani Member

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    Thank you @Salamander_King !!! ***New Reading Material!*** :ROFLMAO:
     
    #19 kepani, Dec 3, 2019
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