I have a bad feeling that those 4 packs have around the same combined capacity than the old 3 had. But prove me wrong on this one, please!
Isn't it 3 subpacks and one HV pack? the video seemed to show in HV mode you have 8 reuglar bars, in EV mode you have a solid green area showing SOC. if you filled (with regen) the HV 8 bars it transitioned to a solid green area representing you have some EV range available.
Ok, the prototype's target was 20km range but production will have 23km. I guess Toyota has determine the optimal size is 14 miles. I like the new exterior changes. The interior doesn't seem to have soft panel material but can't really tell from the pic.
They look smaller and I bet each subpack is sized for HV application (for Prius+) so they can share the same part. I though the prototype's size (1.7 kWh) was weird.
EV-City is full EV. It'll tell the Prius to work the battery and motor as hard as it can. That'd be for shorter trips where you know you have enough to battery to complete the trip so there's no point preserving the charge for more efficient use later. I just wonder whether EV is the same as the Gen 3 EV or a bit more generous before turning the engine on. Just like another poster, a lack of PWR mode would be unpopular with my wife.
As you wrote, they're using multiple packs. It might simply be that the packs are sized for other models and the PHV just has n packs where n = min { i : i * size gives >= 20km AER } On the other hand it could be that they realized they needed slightly above optimal Japanese range for the USA or to provide the buffer required to avoid unnecessary engine warm-up.
I just need 7 miles city EV range since most of my frequent short trips are within 3 miles radius. My commute to work is 85 miles round trip so gas can be used. The hatch floor is flat now since the new sub-packs are thinner.
That's 110 lbs heavier. Much lighter than the prototype. They made the battery pack smaller, lighter, more cargo room and increased the range at the same time. This is probably the best balanced plugin hybrid you can get! :rockon:
So, the battery pack was downsized from 5.2Kwh to 4.4Kwh, but still has 14.3 miles/23km EV. Awesome, less weight, less loss of space!
It has been at least a year, if not two, that Toyota released the 14 mile AER target. Lo and behold, the car is 14.3 miles. This is one of the main reasons I have become a Toyota fan: No BS, no hype, just fantastic engineering and honest information. Go Toyota!
That target was available in the data-collection models... [IMGLINK]http://john1701a.com/prius/thumbnails/Prius_PHV_Energy_FirstDay_04.jpg[/IMGLINK] ...and it seemed to fulfill the overall efficiency goal quite well. So, the expectation was they'd focus on smaller packaging to be able to completely conceal it below the false floor. Sure enough, that's exactly what we got. .
The PWR Mode is your right foot. Mash the Go Pedal and it will go. I think the PWR Mode in the Gen III is a gimmick. The car goes just as quick off the line as ECO Mode with proper use of that right foot :eyebrows: Mike
I believe tax credit is $2,500.00 for the first 4Kwh, then $417.00 for every additional Kwh of capacity.