Citation for usable capacity?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Jeff N, Jan 12, 2014.

  1. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Does anyone know of any document from Toyota or an "authoritative" report of some kind that shows the usable capacity 2.7-2.8 kWh of the overall 4.4 kWh pack?

    I googled around but wasn't able to find anything although did find a reference by a forum post here that there is such a document somewhere.

    Also, how about an official citation for a full battery charge? I know EPA used to report this in 2011 for the Volt and maybe LEAF but I don't remember if there is an EPA number for the Prius PHEV.

    Wikipedia says 3.4 kWh for a full battery charge but cites no documentation in support of that number. I know most people see 3.0-3.2 kWh and a few report even lower.

    Finally, a citation for the state of charge range used. I've generally assumed it is around 63% based on various numbers that I've seen informally reported here. Any official source for this value?

    We should ultimate add this info to the FAQ, I think. I didn't see it there.

    An article the other day at insideevs.com about the Prius PHEV battery got me interested in finding authoritative sources for this info.

    The article is:

    Plug-in Toyota Prius, Setting The Record Straight!


    Thanks!
     
  2. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I am not home now but I will give you the numbers.

    2.7 kWh usable. EPA said it takes 3.2 kWh to charge with charging loss.
     
  3. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Yes, I said about 2.75 usable and 3.2 from the wall in my comments on the article but I wanted some good source documents to back that up and Wikipedia needs to be updated with a real citation.
     
  4. crewdog

    crewdog Acting Ensign Prius Prime

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  5. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Thanks.

    The harder part is finding the "2.7 kWh" usable capacity or an equivalent statement saying Toyota is using "63%" of the battery capacity as in charging to 85% and switching out of EV at 22%.

    I know folks here have measured numbers like this informally but I haven't been able to find anything official looking that says that like a Toyota service technician manual, Toyota marketing brochures or press releases, or government or academic laboratory evaluation reports.
     
  6. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    The state of charge reported by the on-board diagnostic computer port should be good enough. A full charge is 85.1% and I am not absolutely sure when EV gets kicked out. I think it is 21.3%. I'll confirm and start a new thread.

    If my memory is right, that's 2.8 kWh usable energy.

    Compare Side-by-Side

    EPA said 3.2 kW-hrs of electricity and 0.3 gallons of gas to drive 25 miles, meaning it used a full charge.
     
  7. giora

    giora Senior Member

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    I was under the impression that EV gets kicked out at 23%, and the usable range is 85-23=62% or 2.73 kWh (give or take).
    My (many) measurements of full charge (from 6 pips on the HV battery) average 2.96 kWh, this is on 230V and measuring at my home distribution box (i.e. with all losses) and it is done with a very accurate (0.5%) fixed mounted meter.
     
  8. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    It may be 23.1%. I was going by memory from what I saw while driving.
     
  9. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    I'm guessing it may vary a bit depending on the level of power demand when you get near the 23% level. There might be no exact answer.
     
  10. giora

    giora Senior Member

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    Agree.
    And I don't think that an official usable range (by Toyota) is available, it is probably regarded proprietry info.
    Maybe take the EPA 3.2 kWh from wall (110-120 V) with 0.85 factor?
     
  11. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Just confirmed today. ICE kicked in at 23.1% SOC.

    EV window is 85% to 23%. Usable is 62% of 4.4 kWh.

    2.73 kWh usable.
     
  12. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Wikipedia corrected.
     
    Jeff N and Tracksyde like this.
  13. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    You updated the actual Wikipedia page? :-O
     
  14. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Actually, anybody can. You can edit it too.
     
  15. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Thanks for fixing Wikipedia. I've sometimes wanted to fix the Chevy Volt page but have been simultaneously too lazy and too busy to figure out the process.

    It looks good to me except for the following quote which is going to confuse and mislead many readers:

    That is based on a fueleconomy.gov statement that if you drove 25 miles on a single charge it would use 3.2 kWh from the battery plus 0.3 gallons of gasoline. Or, in other words, about 10 miles driving on the battery and about 15 miles driving on gasoline (50 mpg x 0.3 gallons).