Popular Mechanics gets a sneak peek at upcoming Prius plug-in
Yesterday, in Tokyo, Popular Mechanics was briefed on Toyota's plug-in hybrid plans. The upshot is that "their plug-in development program was under way and that it may not wait for lithium-ion battery technology to mature." That means that the first plug-in consumer Priuses will likely use nickel metal hydride batteries, just like the current crop of demo PHEV Priuses (currently being tested in Japan and France).
Over in Tokyo, Popular Mechanics took the plug-in Prius for a four-lap ride and discovered it has an all-electric range of about seven miles, a top all-electric speed of 62 mph (this we knew) and recharges in 3-4 hours from a 110-volt outlet. When the next-gen Prius bows in 2009, Popular Mechanics says, it "will almost certainly use a plug-in system. The car may launch as a normal hybrid and later, once the lithium ion battery technology is ready, switch to plug-in capability. Or, it may be a plug-in from the beginning using a large NiMh pack and switch to lithium ion later. We think the latter may be true because we've heard rumors that the vehicle architecture is being designed for both battery types." The confusion continues.
[Source: Popular Mechanics]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 3:34PM (10/23/2007)
This plug-in Prius is NOTHING like the GM Volt Battery Electric Car with a range extender. Apples and Oranges.
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Tony Belding 3:47PM (10/23/2007)
Care to elaborate on that, Tim?
As far as I can tell, the mechanical arrangements are different inside, but both cars will operate similarly from the owner's standpoint.
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Brian M 4:57PM (10/23/2007)
Tim is right because the Volt can go up to full speed in electric mode. The gas engine is only used to recharge batteries. In the Prius, if you go above 62 the engine kicks in to assist. I would imagine this means the Prius has fairly poor acceleration too, although the acceleration numbers for the Volt still are not clear.
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Chris M 5:24PM (10/23/2007)
Tim exaggerates, there are some similarities, but there are also some basic differences between Toyotas plug-in Prius and GMs plug-in Volt.
Toyota isn't waiting until a new type of battery is tested and perfected, they are starting with an older, well developed and reliable NiMH battery, but designing it so it can work with higher energy density LiIon when they are ready. GM is waiting for an improved LiIon to be perfected and tested before starting production. Of course, this means that Toyota is likely to beat GM to market, possibly by 2 years or more. It's possible that by the time GM introduces the Volt, Toyota will already have introduced a LiIon plug-in Prius.
Toyota already has several prototypes in testing, GM only has a concept mockup powered by a golf cart motor - the batteries and powerplant are still not ready.
Toyotas "split path" series/parallel hybrid design can transmit most of the energy from the IC engine to the wheels by a more efficient mechanical path, giving it higher fuel milage than GMs serial hybrid Volt design when the IC engine is running.
Toyota has a huge lead over GM, and has much more experience in designing and building hybrids.
Now for similarities: Both will have much better regenerative braking than non-plug hybrids. Both will dramatically reduce petroleum fuel consumption. Both will sell well to a public tired of high gas prices and eager to "stick it" to the oil companies. Both the Plug-In Synergy Drive and the E-Flex designs will be adapted to many different models. The success of the Plug-In Synergy Drive vehicles, the E-Flex vehicles, and the all-electric vehicles, will doom all of the H2 car efforts.
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Chris M 5:35PM (10/23/2007)
The current Prius has average acceleration, 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds. However, the plug-in version has twice as much battery power available and higher power higher torque m0tor/generators, so it should get improved acceleration in spite of the extra weight. Also, consider that the Hybrid Synergy design can transmit part of the power from the IC engine mechanically to the wheels while assisted by both motor/generators. This means a lot of peak power available, and that is likely to result in better acceleration than the Volt, which relies on only one motor for acceleration.
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andy 9:04PM (10/23/2007)
GM actually also has a "traditional" PHEV set for 2009. (Saturn Vue Greenline) We'll see if they can deliver.
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chucktownbB 10:09AM (10/24/2007)
My trip to work is six miles in city traffic.Plug in's are available at my work. This would work just fine. I would only end up using the gas engine on the weekends.
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Tim 9:35AM (10/24/2007)
The Prius is a gasoline car with electric components to capture and reuse breaking energy. The PHEV version just has more batteries and a stronger electric motor. The only generator in the Prius is the wheels. Remove the gas engine and you have an expensive golf cart.
The Volt (E-Flex) is a full function, highway capable battery electric car with a 40 mile range. When you need to go farther than 40 miles between opportunity charging, the batteries can be recharged via an onboard fuel cell or a flex fuel or biodiesel generator. Remove the generator and the car is still a full function BEV-40 electric car. If you want to cruise at 80-mph for 200 miles ALL ELECTRIC, just add more batteries once they become available. The parallel Prius will NEVER be able to do that.
Yes, apples and oranges have similarities, but any baby can tell that they are NOT the same thing. Time to grow up! The future is renewable and it is electric.
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Karkus 12:24PM (10/24/2007)
OK, so 7 miles doesn't sound that impressive, but let's think about the kind of trips we do around town. It would get me to most stores we go to, to most restaurants we go to, to my work, to my wife's bus stop and back, to about half my friend's houses, etc. Not bad. Plus those batteries and the Toyota hybrid system are proven technology. (#1 on Consumer Reports reliability ratings)
As for those thinking you can "just" add batteries to a car to make it go 5x further, keep dreaming. Sure, you can do that to a small extent, like those prius plug in conversion kits, which cost almost as much as the Prius does originially. Very few people are even going to consider that.
Also, even if you do have a car rated for 200 miles , it may do that at 40 mph, but certainly not at 80. Think about some physics 101. Air resistance goes up with the square of speed, and that's where most of your power goes at highway speeds.
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