Ghost in the machine - the computer is lying

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by jeff_the_computer_guy, Apr 22, 2023.

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  1. jeff_the_computer_guy

    jeff_the_computer_guy Junior Member

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    Nice detail and I absolutely see the validity of your conclusion.

    I have no doubt of the value of Hybrid technology, owning both a Prius and Hybrid Camry. I can't imagine buying a normal ICE vehicle unless there was some special need (i.e. diesel truck) It conserves fossil fuel and is a much simpler vehicle to maintain and operate. Having had to replace transmissions before as a car ages, the battery replacement cost is relatively the same or much less since you actually can do it yourself (vs. a transmission). Over time, with the existing proven extended life of a hybrid, which is remarkable vs. the averages as you have shown, attrition should make the technology even more commonplace and subsequently cheaper. We've seen that factor in the life of the Prius alone already.

    I'm less certain of full EV's at scale because of the required infrastructure vs. generating my own power with the hybrid ICE. But as a diploma'd economist, one thing I know for sure is that predicting the future is only helped by not remembering most predictions, certainly and at least in my case.
     
    #21 jeff_the_computer_guy, Apr 24, 2023
  2. jeff_the_computer_guy

    jeff_the_computer_guy Junior Member

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    Agreed, I typically end up burying my cars in the back yard so to speak, so I'm not the typical end user. Even with my whining about the cost, it's still a lot cheaper than a transmission or engine replacement, which I can't do in my own garage, vs. the battery. I am amazed at the tipping point failure, but this is the first one for me, so I'll just have to get over it. Reality bites sometimes.
     
    #22 jeff_the_computer_guy, Apr 24, 2023
    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller and bisco like this.
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Your numbers are crazy... 40K miles the battery is bad? Nope! This dude has put close to a million miles on his Tesla and is only on the second battery and second motor: This Tesla Model S P85 Just Surpassed 1,500,000 Kilometers
     
    #23 PriusCamper, Apr 24, 2023
  4. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    People tend to emphasize how long batteries last vs. miles driven. We keep our cars a long time but do not drive very much. My wife's Accord is 25 years old and has less than 100K on it. It is still mechanically sound but the clear coat is peeling off. (Not the factory clear coat, the sections which were repaired and repainted after a tree fell on it and dinged the roof and driver's door.) I suspect that if I were to buy an EV that the heat from being parked in the driveway would kill the battery before usage from driving it would. Maybe a bit better for that in an EV than the Prius, with the battery on the bottom of the car. In the Prius I always have to leave the windows cracked or the furnace like conditions inside the car during the summer would bake the pack dry. (Southern California, it can be very hot, for a very long time.) Odd as it sounds, it might make sense to air condition our garage. (After cleaning all the crap out of it, but that is another story.)
     
    #24 pasadena_commut, Apr 24, 2023
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