Bramwell 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Hi, My new Plug-in should be registering 15+ miles on a full charge but so far after 20 or so charges has not exceeded 11.5 miles on the display. Any ideas why this might beThanks,Paul. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parts-King 732 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 There are a whole host of reasons, mainly to do with ambient temperatures and cooler days. Just like the hybrid system, to work to its most efficient, it works best in the summer. Some drivers will also fair better because of their driving style, whilst others might be heavier footedKingo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bramwell 0 Posted October 16, 2012 Author Share Posted October 16, 2012 Thanks Kingo. I had a feeling this was the case but was suprised that with an ambient temp of 12c (not overly cold) and a very careful driving style it is losing 20% of it's range.Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DMGbus 3 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 My Plug In (took delivery of July) has never shown more than 13.3 miles Battery range. The publicised 15.5 miles appears to be a myth.Since July the range indication has been dropping gradually and currently (with outdoor temperature first trip of the day at 10 deg C) is typically indicating 11.1 miles after a full charge. Factors affecting the range include greater use of windscreen demister - instant reduction in indicated range of about 1 mile when the windscreen demister is switched on and gradually reducing outdoor temperatures.PS. My location is Walsall (not Staffordshire as indicated on left - no option for Walsall or West Midlands on signing up / joining, so I chose Staffordshire as Walsall was in Staffordshire until 1974). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
valmiki 23 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Interesting...how does the plug-in heat up without an engine running? what happens when it starts getting REALLY cold, wouldn't the engine have to run to heat the cabin up? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wass 73 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Interesting...how does the plug-in heat up without an engine running? what happens when it starts getting REALLY cold, wouldn't the engine have to run to heat the cabin up?Thats a very good point... I guess that somebody at Toyota must have thought of that.I am curious too. Do plug ins have electrical heating? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibsy 19 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 I don't have one, but my understanding of that range indicator isn't actually how many miles you WILL travel, but how many you will travel if nothing changes, as it were. But as you drive and everything warms up, things DO change. So you may in fact start with an indicated 11 miles, but actually get much nearer the 15 when you actually drive it.Or have I got that wrong? What mileages do you actually get, as compared with what it predicts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobMagpie 5 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 The range is only an estimate. There are a lot of posts on Prius chat on the subject. I think the 15.5 includes the Battery power when it reverts to the usual hv mode once the warm up is complete. Maximum range on mine has been 13.6 but is 12.1 at the moment but I am getting almost 15.I last filled up on 3/9/2012 and still have over half a tank of petrol having done 700 miles. My daily commute is 8 miles each way with no possibility of a recharge in between with the odd longer trip at weekends Quote Link to post Share on other sites
valmiki 23 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Sounds fantastic Rob, my commute is the same as yours, 8 miles each way, would love to try out the plugin!However there's one thing I didn't get though was why not have the ability to heat the engine (possibly on a timer or similar) while charging, similar to engine block heaters/pre-heaters that you see overseas. That way you could get in to a warm car, and the engine wouldn't waste fuel getting warmed up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hotlush 0 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 However there's one thing I didn't get though was why not have the ability to heat the engine (possibly on a timer or similar) while charging, similar to engine block heaters/pre-heaters that you see overseas. That way you could get in to a warm car, and the engine wouldn't waste fuel getting warmed up.Don't know if it's on the EU spec but the Prius (and presumably Auris/Yaris) have this;Those crazy JapaneseLeave it to the engineers at Toyota to implement the most unique, clever and complicated method of pre-heating an engine. Toyota Prius' 3 liter capacity coolant 'thermos' aids cold starts. (Collision damaged car shown under repair - source.) In the latest generation (2004+) Prius, hot coolant is pumped from the cooling system into a 3 liter insulated thermos-style reservoir at shutdown, where it apparently stays hot overnight, and warm up to 3 days later.When switching the car back "ON", the hot (or warm) coolant is pumped from the thermos/reservoir back up to the engine's head where it contributes to quicker warming for better management of combustion to reduce emissions.I doubt it's as effective as a plug-in block heater - but then again, it's not strictly meant to replace one. (It works year round to ensure warmer starts in all temperatures.) Would be nice to have a Prius to try it out though.http://www.metrompg.com/posts/block-heater.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
valmiki 23 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I had heard of the thermos-coolant heater but pretty sure they don't install it over here. Maybe one day...! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cyker 388 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 700 miles on half a tank!? That's phenomenal!! I can just about do that on a full tank if I'm driving almost all motorways! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Opifex 13 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I last filled up on 3/9/2012 and still have over half a tank of petrol having done 700 miles. My daily commute is 8 miles each way with no possibility of a recharge in between with the odd longer trip at weekendsAre you metering the electricity used? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
timberwolf 71 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I had heard of the thermos-coolant heater but pretty sure they don't install it over here. Maybe one day...!Correct, that was a Gen 2 technology and it was not available on the UK spec Prius, and neither were electrically heated door mirrors. I mention the mirrors because I read somewhere that these two items were part of a winter option installed at the factory.IIRC Toyota replaced the function of that thermos technology on the Gen 3 with a heat exchange system reclaiming waste heat from the exhaust system. I can't recall what improvement either system was claimed to give but it was a very small improvement. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
valmiki 23 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 On my Gen 3 I'm pretty sure I've got heated door mirrors, they come on when I select the button for the heated rear windscreen. So some things have got better I guess.Looking over the pond at Prius Chat, I've seen that a plug (designed by Toyota I think) to install a block heater is available, but the voltage isn't set up for 240v, which has always put me off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobMagpie 5 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I last filled up on 3/9/2012 and still have over half a tank of petrol having done 700 miles. My daily commute is 8 miles each way with no possibility of a recharge in between with the odd longer trip at weekendsAre you metering the electricity used?Not as such but I have calculated the costs. I do however try to charge at night using economy7 when it costs me 2p per mile as opposed to 10p per mile (calculated at £1.359 per litre as was the price when I last filled up) using petrol.Incidently I now have done 820 miles and the fuel guage is still one pip over half. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Madasafish 130 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 http://www.defa.com/en/automotive/warmup/find_your_engine_heater/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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