Did anyone attending the reveal ask about the availability of (or need for) an EBH in the 2010? Wayne? Anyone?
I can't understand why the Engine Block Heater is not standard edquipment. The initial start fuel economy benefit versus the cost seems like such a simple way to improve peoples real world fuel economy. Granted it may not improve the EPA number and it may confuse alot of people into thinking this is a plug in vehicle. It still seems cheap and could be elegantly integrated into the vehicle as a standard item (read no dangling plugs) and interfaced into the vehicles computer to predict when you typically start it on which days and when to fire it up to reach optimal temp at that time.
I'm certain that one will be available for the Canadian model. In many regions of Canada, an EBH is standard equipment on new cars.
I believe an EBH is still an optional, and it looks the current EBH for 2001-2009 Prius fits on the 2010 Prius as well. Wayne already installed it. Ken@Japan
With the new exhaust gas heat recovery system it will be interesting to see if Canada still requires the engine block heater. But it still will be useful and the current model, as Ken1784 stated, fits in a hole on the block of the new 1.8 liter just as in the current 1.5 liter. DNA and all. Wayne
Don't be fooled when you see the cutaway Toyota is displaying, the EBH fitted is an after market fitment.
I'll probably hold off until we get some metrics on how well the exhaust heat recovery system works compared to the current 10C/minute warm-up. The block heater saves about 3 minutes of the typically 5-6 minute warm-up: But if the exhaust heat recovery system brings that rate up to say 20C/minute or higher, the value of a block heater is reduced. The rule of thumb for a heat engine is 1/3 mechanical energy, 1/3 coolant heat loss and 1/3 exhaust heat loss, a 20C/minute temperature rise is a reasonable expectation. What I like best is the exhaust heat recovery works every time the car is started. It doesn't require an extension cord. Bob Wilson