Plugin Prius Longest STRAIGHT Trip

Math will say maximum range of the PiP will be shorter than the regular Prius by about 1.3 gallon of gas. Some of it will be made up by 11 miles of EV and slightly better fuel economy of the PiP but it can't overcome a 1.3 gallon smaller tank.

A PiP might have longer range if the drive was through a hilly region where the regular Prius's battery would get full before the bottom of the hill. Otherwise, a regular Prius would win most of the time.

I usually fill 8.7 gallons when the gas light beeps at me.

 

I've never done a 1 charge per tank before. I will next weekend on a road trip to San Diego. and I'll report what I get.

EPA lists 'Driving Range' for the PiP as 540 miles which is a straight calculation of 11 EV + 10.6 gallons x 50 mpg = 541 miles. It shows blank for the Prius. That 1 mile discrepancy is because gas was used in the EV portion of the test.

EPA lists 'Miles on a Tank' for the Prius as 536 miles calculate as 90% fuel tank x 11.9 gallons/tank x 50 mpg = 536 miles. It shows blank for the PiP.

They are two different metrics apparently. The newer driving range metric is ignoring the fact that you cannot extract every last drop of fuel from the tank. So if I were to recalculate it, I would do 90% x 10.6 gallons x 50 mpg + 11 EV miles - 1 = 486 miles. That's more realistic.

My tanks are usually 700 miles using 8.7 gallons gasoline and 40 kWh electricity.

 

I've made numerous trips where I maxed out the tank. Generally speaking I am not hypermiling on such trips so my mpg is not what I could be. However, I always achieve amazing numbers considering the terrain and the speeds (75+mph). On average I get 52mpg+ and 480-520 miles. My last straight trip was from Sacramento to Chatsworth (380ish miles) and I got 49mpg after doing 80+mph.

 

Thanks!

The Volt with a larger battery has even shorter range due to its even smaller gas tank. Still, I am proof that with daily charges at home, your per tank average will exceed a regular Prius hybrid. It'll be nice to have longer range but I remember one of my earlier cars, an Acura Integra, got 250 miles to it's 10 gallon tank. I was perfectly content with that range as my bladder rarely outlasted the car.

In my area, I can still say most stations are free. But it's fast becoming pay per hour. EV's and PHEV's are getting numerous and squatting at the free stations. I don't think they will be free much longer.

 

"The newer driving range metric is ignoring the fact that you cannot extract every last drop of fuel from the tank."

I wish you wrote this a couple months ago, as I thought you could get every last drop!

Actually I did, but the 45 minute wait for roadside assistance to bring the 2 gallons of gas kind of takes the thrill out of running the tank dry

 

The ones that charge, it's usually $2/hour. Generally any car with a 3.3 kW charger like the PiP, Volt, and older Leafs, you don't want to pay this. Even in CA with some of the highest electricity rates in the nation, $2/hour is more than double what you pay at home. Most EV's 2013+ have 6.6 kW chargers. $2/hr is only slightly more than home. Only then can you justify paying to plug in.

They usually charge by the hour and not the kWh so it isn't worth plugging in a PHEV. Gasoline would cost less. Of course, this is based on my electricity rates, $0.30/kWh.

The stations are easy to use. Sign up for membership or use a credit card with a smart chip.

Whether it is worth it or not to buy a PHEV or EV depends on your electricity rates, commute, ability to charge at home, etc. I can tell you that electricity costs for me gives me the same distance as the same costs in gasoline. So it makes no sense to pay extra for a PHEV. But since my PiP costs just a tad more than a regular Prius after rebates, then it makes more sense. Even though electricity is powered by polluting power plant somewhere, it is still cleaner than tailpipe emissions. That's because CA has a lot of clean energy power plants.

Add in solo carpool lane access and I was sold.

 

inferno, and fellow chatters
I convert electric to gas equivalent when updating Fuelly, to get my MPGe, otherwise I overstate my efficiency. I also convert my cost per gallon of gas to include the cost of electricity.

I realize I'm just repeating a long-standing complaint about Fuelly, but...it would be really nice if the site was EV-friendly.

I post a pdf file in the PIP MPG thread, which is a sticky forum on the PIP page, which walks through my actual energy usage. The Fuelly math works like this; add actual gallons to the electric gallons equivalent to get to total equivalent gallons. Then, divide total cost by total equivalent gallons to get total cost per equivalent gallon.

There is some other stuff in there too that might interest you...kWh to gallons conversion, which I learned from the good folks at PC, as well as local electric rate including the distribution charge. I'd be happy to PM the Excel worksheet. I'd post it, but I cannot figure out how to post an Excel spreadsheet.

Cheers!

 

Here it is...that was easy

 

I've never used a public charger, nor someone else's wall outlet. I could have used an outlet at a trian station once, but I don't carry my cord. I have it hanging from my garage ceiling.

My electric usage is a result of my commute, which is 15 miles each way, and I take all surface streets. On weekends, we use the PIP for errands, leaving my wife's Venza parked. I rarely average over 25 mph on a tank, nor more than 10 percent highway. I've posted pretty extensively in the PIP MPG sticky thread on what drives my usage.

I am thrilled by the efficiency of the PIP, and it has has exceeded my expectations in every aspect of driving.

If I can give you some advice...unless you can get some crazy good deal on a trade, run you gen 3 for a long long time. I would not have traded a gen 3 for a PIP. I turned in a RAV4.

 

Inferno, also keep in mind charge station costs vary by location.
For example, in California free stations are pretty common (although becoming less so), in Minnesota they are rare.
Most chargers in Minnesota are NW charging by the kWh, not by time, although there still are some of those.
If you add your location to your profile you will get better local information.

Your driving patterns will determine the most efficient plug in for you. Since you are asking about full range, I would guess the PHEV with the greatest gas efficiency would fit the bill. Which of course is the PiP.

And the joy of driving electric will help you decide if it is worth it or not to you

 

Payback completely depends how you drive.
For people that don't, or very rarely, drive outside the electric range and charge at home all the time, it an make a lot of sense.
If you frequently take longer trips, a regular Prius probably makes more monetary sense. If you have other priorities, the PiP may still make more sense.
Many people report getting substantially better mpg in the PiP beyond the electric range, so even then it may save you more than just during the electric range.

As for chargers,if the public ones are charging by the hour, the your cost/kWh will depend upon how fast your car charges. However, I expect most pricing schemes will change to a per kWh system.