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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Recharge Prius at Home on AC power?
34 messages, Last post on Aug 16, 2007 at 9:31 AM
You are in the Toyota Prius Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: tpe (Aug 16, 2006 10:15 am) Most using Hybrids today should be doing so to make a statement, not seeking "savings". I view it more as offering financial encouragement to the auto companies to stick with alternative fuel development, and don't make a game of coasting, driving very slowly, not running the AC, etc. If one wants to actually save resources and their cost of transportation, currently one would be far better off buying any car with excellent gas mileage than a hybrid. |
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Replying to: terry92270 (Aug 16, 2006 10:14 am) No special high voltage charger is needed. A standard 110v home outlet will suffice. I'm guessing the process of plugging in will be less than 30 seconds, not much of a hassle. That time is probably more than offset by the time saved in fewer stops to the gas station. If the recharging is done at night it is beneficial to the utilities due to load levelling. At least that's what the people that run these utilities say and they embrace PHEVs. You don't need to drive below 50 mph. Even at speeds above that some of your propulsion is from the electric motors. Around 55% of the electricity in this country is generated by burning coal, which probably is as dirty as burning gasoline. The rest is considerable cleaner. So 55% of the time you are polluting as much as the gas burner, the rest of the time you are not. Still a big improvement and we don't have to import coal.
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Replying to: tpe (Aug 16, 2006 10:27 am) Most of us live in the real world, and cannot rely on what might be, or could be. You have a lot of "ifs" in your theories. You received a good answer as to why re charging and topping off the battery is bad, so nothing more needs to be said on that score. Good luck in your modifications! 
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Replying to: terry92270 (Aug 16, 2006 11:46 am) That said, I see no problems with the enviro-statement, or reducing gasoline consuomtion. (there is still pollution from the power plant used to make electricity though). Buy the charger, charge it to 70% and let us know what the result is. |
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Replying to: tpe (Aug 16, 2006 10:15 am)  Go have a good look at one. First, on the outside, it's about the same size as a Corolla, as you compared it to. On the inside it's about the same size as a Camry. Check the specs. Same cargo capacity, same passenger room (within 0.5 cu ft). The Prius will go about 130% farther on a gallon (or litre) of gas. Maybe more, if driven "correctly". Don't accuse me of comparing the mileage of the "highmilers", I'm just looking at what posters to this and other forums are claiming. Even if you tried to "highmile" a Corolla, you wouldn't increase mileage more than about 20% - the Prius can and does much better than 50% increase when driven that way. Much of the appeal, for me, anyway, is the car is "electronic". It even has an "on/off" switch! Cool technology. My friend keeps saying it's too expensive compared to "normal" cars. What "normal" cars? If we compare to cars with equivalent usable space, such as the Camry, the cost is about the same. In fact, owners of both cars report when they go to pick up "goods", they take the Prius. When they go on long trips, they take the Camry. They say they can get a lot more into the Prius, even though on paper they are about the same size space wise. The cost of ownership appears to be much less. Currently resale value is phenomenal. It's just cool technology. Further incentive is the perception that Prius drivers must be environmentally responsible. Of course, if none of this turns your crank, then it's obviously not the car for you. |
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Replying to: crashq (Aug 16, 2006 12:35 pm)
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Aug 16, 2006 1:28 pm) Run on electricity could charge while they drive on the freeway Have small battery for say 20 miles independent driving. Charge at work, store, home, and solar panels. One hops in the car, drives to the freeway, plugs in the slot, reads a book, 30miles later gets out of the slot, drives 5 miles to work on local roads. A computer on the car could calculate electricity usage and you could pull into a station once a month to pay your bill. what do you think?
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Replying to: pathstar1 (Aug 16, 2006 1:28 pm) Here's my point and I'm sure you've heard it before. If instead of my Corolla I had been driving a 15 mpg SUV that could have gotten 18 mpg with hybrid technology the dollar savings would have been $470, around 30% greater. So I guess the message is that people who drive trucks really don't care all that much about mileage to begin with, which is why they haven't embraced hybrid technology even though from a dollars and cents perspective they'd be the biggest beneficiaries.
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Replying to: moonkid (Aug 16, 2006 1:43 pm)
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Replying to: tpe (Aug 16, 2006 2:10 pm) The improved efficiency comes from: 1. Use of regenerative braking to recover ordinarily lost energy. 2. Because of the power plant design, it can shut down the "ICE" (internal combustion engine) when it's not needed to provide power. 3. Because of the presence of the MG (motor generator) to enhance power, the ICE could be designed to optimize efficiency (atkinson cycle - lower power output). 4. Use of a CVT (continuously variable transmission) to optimize the output of the ICE.
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