Americans have already bought 17,000 Nissan Leafs and Chevy Volts.  Not bad for the first year.  When Toyota and Honda first introduced hybrid technology in the United States in the form of the now ubiquitous Prius and Insight, their combined first year sales were 9,350.  In truth, the Leaf and Volt represent the first widely available forms of two types of plug-in technology.  The Leaf is a full battery electric vehicle with a range of between 60 and 100 miles, well in excess of the average American’s daily driving needs.  The Volt is a plug-in hybrid that goes 40 miles in all electric mode, before becoming an efficient gasoline hybrid you can drive as far as you’d like.  2012 will see the introduction of many more full battery electrics and plug-in hybrids. Here are a few, broken down by vehicle type:

Luxury/Performance

• Tesla Model S: a full battery electric sedan that promises to seat five adults plus two kids, fit a surfboard inside, go up to 300 miles on a charge, and accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds (performance model).

• Fisker Karma a plug-in hybrid with dual electric motors that send 403 horses and 959 lb-ft of torque to its 22 inch wheels.

• BMW Active E: a full battery electric version of the BMW one series sports sedan.

Hatchbacks & Sedans

• Prius Plug-in: a plug-in version of Toyota’s iconic Prius that forgoes a large battery to save on cost and weight, but with enough all-electric range for average trips, and gas-sipping efficiency for longer distances.

• Coda: a ground-up, full battery electric midsize sedan with a 150 mile range and a body by Pininfarina.

• Ford Focus Electric: a full battery electric version of the sporty Focus hatchback that will compete with the Leaf.

• Ford Fusion Energi: a plug-in hybrid midsize sedan that Ford hopes will be the most efficient on the market with a predicted 100 miles-per-gallon equivalent

Sub-Compact

• Honda Fit EV: a full battery electric version of the versatile car that has been on Car and Driver’s Ten Best Cars list for the last six years running.

• Mitsubishi i: a full battery electric that boasts of the lowest sticker price of any currently available plug-in and the best EPA fuel economy rating of any car at 112 miles-per-gallon-equivalent.

SUVs & Minivans

• Toyota RAV4: a larger, more advanced re-incarnation of the all-electric SUV which enthusiasts have been driving since the 1990s.

• Ford C-Max Energi: a plug-in hybrid that is technically a minivan because of its sliding doors and third row of seats, but with visual lines that will not be confused with the Dodge Caravan’s of yesteryear.

As my colleague Simon Mui explains, if the California Air Resources Board keeps the Zero Emission Vehicle program strong, one in six cars in showrooms in 2025 will have the ability to drive emission and oil free.  Clear direction from state officials provides automakers the certainty needed to make long-term investments in the next generation of zero emission technologies.  With increased investment, comes increased consumer choice.  If one of the plug-in vehicles featured above doesn’t fit your needs, you won’t have to wait long for one that does.

From Sedans to SUVs, 2012, Year of the Electric Car? is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By John Addison (updated 1/25/12; original 11/23/11)

All-wheel drivers may soon get record fuel economy. Mitsubishi is showing a crossover SUV with AWD in Tokyo which is likely to go on sale U.S. in 2012 or 2013. The MITSUBISHI PX-MiEVⅡ is a midsized plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a 500-mile cruising range. The PX-MiEV is a 5-door, 7-passenger SUV with all-wheel drive.

Mitsubishi is the third biggest seller of electric cars after Nissan and General Motors. In Japan, over 5,000 drive its popular city car the MiEV. Now U.S. buyers are ordering the slightly larger Mitsubishi i that impressed me when doing a Mitsubishi versus Nissan LEAF test-drive comparison.

The Mitsubishi i with a starting price of $29,125 will appeal to many city drivers. Others however want a range of hundreds of miles not 62. Many want a car with more passenger and cargo space, leading Mitsubishi to start showing a new concept car in Tokyo which is likely to come to the U.S. in the future as a commercial EV.

The MITSUBISHI PX-MiEV Ⅱ is a small crossover SUV plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a 500-mile cruising range. The PX-MiEVⅡ contains a powerful electric drivetrain derived from the popular MiEV that delivers the performance and quiet ride inherent to an EV. The PX-MiEV is a 5-door, 7-passenger SUV with all-wheel drive for better handling on wet and snowy roads. The Concept PX-MiEV uses a newly developed twin-motor four-wheel-drive system mated to Mitsubishi’s S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) advanced traction control system.

SUV that gets 141 Miles per Gallon and 500 Mile Range

This unique plug-in hybrid fuses EV technology derived from the i-MiEV with a small conventional engine to deliver a combined fuel efficiency (3) of more than 141 miles per gallon (60km per liter) and a range of about 500 miles between gasoline fill-ups.

This new concept SUV has a 30 mile all-electric mode range, meeting most daily needs of U.S. drivers without using any gasoline, just a garage electric charge. Depending on power consumption and remaining battery charge the system will start the engine automatically as a generator, and the engine can also be used to help drive the wheels as necessary. In addition, with the push of a button, the driver has the freedom to select Battery Drive Mode when he/she wishes to drive quietly in residential areas using pure EV power. At the same time, the driver can also switch to Battery Charge Mode while on the move, controlling use of battery power and using the engine as a generator to charge the batteries.

This electric SUV has a socket so that contractors can run power tools using energy stored in the PX-MiEV’s lithium battery pack or to run auxiliaries when camping. In addition, the quick-charge port is vehicle-to-home (V2H) compatible.

We look forward to the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV coming to America with its 500-mile range, SUV room inside, cargo flexibility, AWD safety, and power the auxiliaries we use in work and play.

Top 10 All-Wheel Drive Cars with Best Mileage

Top 10 Electric Cars and Plug-in Hybrids

MITSUBISHI Concept PX-MiEVⅡspecifications

• Overall length  4660 mm
• Overall width 1830 mm
• Overall height 1680 mm
• Occupants 7
• 2 Electric Motors  (front and rear)
• Type   Permanent magnet synchronous
• Max. Output   60kW each
• Engine  2.0L MIVEC 4-cylinder
•             Generating capacity  70kW
• Target motor-only driving range    > 30 miles (50 km)
• Target combined cruising range     > 500 miles (800 km)
• Target combined fuel efficiency      > 141 mpg (60 km/L)
• Electric Drivetrain      Twin-motor 4WD with S-AWC
• Tires   235/55R18

Mitsubishi PX-MiEV Plug-in Hybrid AWD SUV is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By John Addison (11/22/11)

Here at the LA Auto Show, car buyers are paying a lot of attention to midsized and compact sedans and crossover SUVs. Buyers want passenger and cargo room, versatility, and safety. They want the latest electronics for safe navigation, entertainment, and always-on internet connection. On the practical side, many car buyers want a car that will meet all their needs for years and a car that can save hundreds and eventually thousands of dollars at the gas station.

Toyota Leads with Prius Family

For years, Toyota Motor Corporation has dominated with car buyers that want “all of the above,” first with its classic Prius, and now with over a dozen hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars.

Toyota General Manager Bob Carter stated, “Prius has the highest brand awareness of any hybrid, literally defining what a ‘hybrid vehicle is,’ with one out of every two hybrids sold in the U.S. being a Prius. Since it first went on sale, more than two million have been sold worldwide, including more than 1 million here in the U.S. And one of the things I’m most proud of, and an area some early skeptics questioned, is that in the U.S., 97-percent of all Prius sold are still on the road today.”

Here at the Auto Show three different Prius models and on display. By summer, you will have four choices in the Prius family (officially called “Prii”):

• Prius Liftback – Midsized interior, 50 mpg, hybrid bestseller for 12 years
• Prius v – Crossover SUV, 42 mpg
• Prius C – smaller hatchback, best hybrid mpg, priced Summer 2012
• Prius Plug-in Hybrid – Midsized interior, 87 mpg, 15-mile electric range

The Prius V is an exciting offering from Toyota that is causing many car buyers to turn their attention away from traditional SUVs like the Ford Escape. The Prius V stretched and expanded the classic Prius into a compact SUV with expanded room for 5 people, great cargo space and flexibility, and mileage that no other SUV can touch.

Ford is challenging the new Prius V with the Ford C-MAX Hybrid,  another beautiful crossover SUV 5-door, 5-passenger compact crossover SUV. Mileage has yet to be announced, but Ford is using a lithium battery pack and Toyota is sticking with its proven NiMH batteries in all hybrids except the Prius Plug-in. Stay tuned to see if the Ford C-MAZ Hybrid beats the Prius V in fuel economy.

2012 is the last year for the Ford Escape Hybrid. In 2013, Ford SUV lovers who care about mileage will choose between Ford Escapes with efficient 1.6L and bigger Eco-Boost engines and the new C-Max Hybrid.

The automakers will come up with fancy new category brands for these crossover hybrids with words like “active” and “multi-function.” Call them what you want, the point is that active families and busy professionals will value the room for 5 people and the flexibility to drop one or both back seats and fill the back with sports equipment, everything that work demands, or luggage and goodies for a long-weekend escape.

Ford Fusion Hybrid versus Toyota Camry Hybrid

A couple of years ago, Ford announced a new mid-sized sedan with 8 miles better city mileage than the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Toyota executives were stunned with the market share attack on their best selling Camry. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was beautifully appointed inside, delivered a midsized sedan breakthrough of 39 mpg (EPA combined city/highway), and did not look like that “funny looking” Prius. Mainstream America finally had a car from Detroit that didn’t require new oil wells in the Mideast or new tar-sand strip mining in Alberta.

The Fusion Hybrid’s great mileage, EV range, and quiet ride upsets Toyota who strikes back with the 2012 Camry Hybrid which matches the elegance, room, and quiet ride of the Fusion Hybrid and beats it with 41 mpg.

In model year 2011, Ford was the midsized sedan mileage champion. In 2012, Toyota is the winner. In 2013, Ford will switch to lithium batteries in the Fusion hybrid and try to beat Toyota. These sedans keep getting better and using less gasoline.

The classic lines of the sedan appeal to many, but you cannot lower the backseats of these hybrid sedans. Cargo flexibility, sporty handling, and best mileage make the Prius and C-MAX Hybrids appealing to active families and professionals.

Luxury Features in Premium Hybrid Sedans

Lexus is the premium brand of Toyota Motor Corporation and Lincoln the premium brand of Ford Motor Corporation. Lexus now offers six different hybrid cars including the sport compact Lexus CT200h that delivers 42 mpg and the Lexus RX450h SUV with FWD and AWD mileage that Lincoln cannot touch.

The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, however, is a luxurious midsized sedan that delivers 39 mpg combined. Lexus does not come close to that fuel economy in a midsized sedan. The 2013 Lincoln MKZ may do better than 40 mpg with a new lithium battery.

Ford May Overtake Toyota with Plug-in Hybrids

The success of the Chevrolet Volt is not lost on Ford or Toyota. Volt owners are delighted with rarely adding gasoline to their extended range electric vehicles. Various plug-in hybrid cars now allow you to drive the first 15 to 50 miles on an electric charge before a small engine is engaged making the car drive like an efficient hybrid.

The new Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid looks and drives like the Prius Liftback, except that the first 15 miles are in electric mode. The new Ford C-MAX Energi will offer more room inside its 5-door, 5-passenger, crossover and get at least 30 miles in electric mode before running like a fuel-sipping hybrid.

According to a Ford insider, the plug-in hybrid battle will soon extend to the popular midsized sedans. At the January Detroit Auto Show, two new concept cars will be announced: the Ford Fusion Plug-in Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Plug-in Hybrid. Since both are popular hybrid cars that can stay in EV mode for brief stretches, it makes sense to add electric charge ports, lithium batteries, and give them electric ranges of 15 to 30 miles. Expect exciting news in the next 60 days, as the market share battle for plug-in hybrid leadership gets hotter.

And the Winner is…

The hybrid market share battle between Toyota and Ford has lead to a growing choice of excellent cars for their customers. Diverse needs are met with versatile hatchbacks for active families and professionals, luxurious classic sedans, crossover SUVs and smaller cars with sports handling and performance.

In the hybrid hatchback arena, Toyota will continue to dominate with a family of four Prii and more for the future. The Ford C-MAX Hybrid is a viable challenger to the Prius V. For the moment, Toyota has the midsized sedan hybrid market leadership with the Camry Hybrid, but Ford is taking market share. In electric cars and plug-in hybrids, however, Ford is moving more aggressively than Toyota. Ford is more innovative with lithium batteries and electric drive systems. electric car leadership at the end of the decade is up for grabs between Ford, Toyota, and also Nissan, General Motors, and several others.

The continued mileage improvement has lowered the lifetime operating costs for the owners of these hybrids. Most of these hybrid cars meet U.S. 2016 CAFÉ standards; some even exceed 2025 CAFÉ standards. The improved mileage has enabled the automakers to compete not just in the USA, but also globally. The competition remains intense and the car buyers are the ultimate winners.

Ford Challenges Toyota in Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Cars is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By John Addison (11/17/11)

Just looking at this hot sports car invites you to get behind the wheel and leave this LA Auto Show and not stop until navigating breathtaking hairpin turns along the coast of Big Sur. The Audi e-tron Spyder is a convertible sports coupe with dramatic styling. At the moment it is a concept. Yet when Audi shows these types of concepts they normally become production cars.

The Audi e-tron Spyder is likely to be the first diesel plug-in hybrid car to be sold in the United States. With two electric motors and a 3 liter turbodiesel engine, this car has the power to race past the popular Chevy Volt. This Audi e-tron goes zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds. It is electronically governed to 155 miles per hour so that you don’t get too carried away. The Audi performance and styling will provide serious competition to Fisker.

Two electric motors with a combined output of 64 kW (87 hp) and 352 Nm (259.62 lb-ft) of torque propel the front wheels. Behind the open, two-seat passenger cell is a 3.0 TDI with twin turbochargers. It generates 221 kW (300 hp) and 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of torque, which is distributed by the seven-speed S tronic to the rear wheels. A 9.1 kWh lithium-ion battery is located in the front.

No current all-wheel drive (AWD) car comes close to the mileage and low-emissions of this Audi e-tron. It is speced for 107 mpg and only 95 grams of CO2 per mile.

All four wheels of the e-tron Spyder can be accelerated and braked individually, creating extremely precise, dynamic handling. The electric motors on the front wheels can be activated separately and a mechanical sport differential on the rear axle distributes the power. This form of “torque vectoring” marks a new advanced stage of the quattro principle – the e-tron Quattro with superior all-wheel drive handling on wet and icy roads.

The short wheelbase and low weight, achieved above all thanks to the aluminum body using the Audi Space Frame (ASF) construction principle, further hone its sporty character; the axle load distribution is 50:50.

The electric range is 50 km (31.07 miles) and the top speed in that mode is 60 km/h (37.28 mph). With its 50-liter (13.21 US gallons) fuel tank, the open-top two-seater has a range of more than 1,000 km (621.37 miles).

Audi e-tron Spyder Diesel Plug-in Hybrid AWD is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

This new 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in (PHV) looks just like the classic Prius Liftback except in rear exterior is the cover for the electric charge port; the gasoline cap is on the left.

Sitting behind the wheel of this new Toyota Prius Plug-in (PHV), I wonder how the driving experience will compare with the Chevrolet Volt, my Nissan Leaf, and other members of the Prius family. Next month, Toyota starts the online order process for the Prius PHV with a starting price of $32,000 for dealer deliveries in early 2012.  Online, buyers can configure their Prius PHV, start the order, and then select a Toyota dealer to continue the process.

When I touch Start the useful LED displays light and I’m ready to drive. The car’s default driving mode is ECO for fuel economy. At any time while driving, three buttons on the dash allow convenient driving mode selection – EV, ECO, and Power. I touch EV, step lightly on the accelerator and glide away.

In EV mode, the Prius PHV is only propelled by one of two electric motors. One motor is for propulsion, the other for electricity generation. This Prius PHV is quieter than a Liftback, but unlike the Nissan LEAF, I hear the gasoline engine, which can sometimes idle even in EV mode. I accelerate up to 45 mph before the Prius PHV automatically switches me to ECO mode; 45 is better than I achieved in my previous PHV test drive, thanks to coaching from my test drive partner, Bill Moore, Publisher of EV World. In theory, the Prius PHV has a maximum of 62 mph in EV mode, but reaching that requires adequate lithium battery charge, and a couple of other journalist had already taken this car for a spin.

When not driving in EV mode, the Prius PHV delivers about the same fuel economy as the Prius Liftback. The Prius PHV averages 49 mpg in ECO hybrid mode and is rated at 87 mpg overall.  In ECO mode the hybrid drive system will at times only use the electric motor. The Prius PHV is designed to be in EV mode 15 miles per charge.

I smoothly drive over railroad tracks. This Prius has good shocks. The steering is effortless. Stopping and starting are transparent.

As I accelerate on to the freeway, I could select the Power mode. Instead, I let the Prius PHV do it automatically. I accelerate up the graded onramp and reach 65 mph before merging with traffic.

After five miles of driving, I must sadly return this beautiful car so that the next auto journalist can take it for a spin.  This Prius PHV feels like the two million other Prii (yep, that’s the official plural of Prius) now on the road. The Prius Plug-in is ready for prime time.

Prius Plug-in Drive System and Lithium Battery

The Prius PHV now has an estimated 15-mile electric range, a modest improvement from 13-mile prototype range. The Prius PHV drive system is based on the proven Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive well in its hybrids for over a dozen years. The full series-parallel hybrid drive system uses imbedded computer chips to automatically engage, as needed the 80-horse power (60 kW) electric motor and/or the 1.8L 98-horsepower (73 kW) gasoline engine.

Managing the engagement of electric motors and engine is a Hybrid Transaxle, which combines power split planetary gear set ring with speed reduction planetary gear set ring. The car gets great mileage because energy is captured, whenever possible, from braking and energy resistance. On a long downhill, you can shift into “B” for added regen.

The Prius PHV includes a 4.4 kW lithium-battery pack, a bit smaller than the pack tested in 600 vehicles. A second electric motor (MG1) is used to generate electricity. Both motors are air-cooled permanent magnet.

Prius PHV drivers will most fuel with gasoline. Chevrolet Volt drivers are mostly fueling with electricity. Pure-electric drivers like me only fuel with electricity. For my Nissan LEAF, I had a Level 2 charger installed in the garage so that I charge at the rate of about one hour for each 12 miles of driving. Before the Level 2 charger was installed we use the Level 1 charger and a garage outlet and charged at the rate of about 4 miles per hour.

In some communities, electric utilities and building inspectors are friendly towards the installation of electric vehicle chargers. In other places, and especially for those living in large apartments or co-ops, adding a charger can be difficult, expensive, and/or impossible. Since the Prius PHV only takes 3 hours max to charge Level 1 and only 1.5 Level 2, many Prius PHV buyers will skip the hassle of installing a charger and simply Level 1 charge from any 15 amp dedicated circuit. Toyota is partnering with Leviton to offer a Level 2 charger installed for $995, but be careful to get a quote for any added electrical work. Whether or not a home charger is installed, the Prius PHV can use public Level 2 chargers.

Prius Plug-in Features and Price

The Prius PHV is a 5-door, 5-passenger, liftback with a midsized interior. Inside and out it is as roomy as the best-selling Prius Liftback. The PHV’s 4.4kW lithium battery is well-placed, so that the 60/40 back seats can be lowered to provide plenty of room for trips to big box stores, luggage, work boxes, skis and boards, even a couple of bicycles. The small lithium pack enabled Toyota to make the PHV only 123 pounds heavier than the Liftback. When the backseats are up, a convenient armrest can be lowered.

The Prius PHV is priced starting at $32,000 but you should be eligible for a $2,500 federal tax credit. This plug-in hybrid may be eligible for added incentives from your employer or from your state.

The Prius PHV Advanced starts at  $39,525, with a Premium HDD Navigation with Entune, plug-in hybrid apps, LED headlamps with auto level control, Safety Connect, dynamic radar cruise control, head up display (HUD), and pre-collision system.

There was a time when people would pay up to $3,500 extra in California for a Prius with an HOV sticker, allowing them to save hours of commuting gridlock. As an incentive for early adopters, only so many HOV stickers were issued. In California that old HOV Yellow Sticker is gone, but there is a new HOV White sticker for plug-in cars. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid qualifies, the classic Prius Liftback does not.

Is the Prius PHV the best car for you?

You now have a choice of three different Prius models. This time next year, you will have four choices:

• Prius Liftback – Midsized interior, 50 mpg, starts at $23,500
• Prius v – Crossover SUV, 42 mpg, starts at $26,400
• Prius C – smaller hatchback, best hybrid mpg, priced Summer 2012
• Prius PHV – Midsized interior, 87 mpg, starts at $32,000

Prius Family – the Prius PHV will be the best if you want a plug-in hybrid. Its starting price is $8,500 more than the best-selling Prius Liftback. The gap narrows to $6,000 after a federal tax credit. Your employer or state may give you added incentives to get the plug-in. The Prius PHV includes a touch-screen navigation system with backup camera and other features, which would be optional extras on the base Prius Liftback. If you get stuck in nasty rush-hour commutes an HOV sticker can have real value. Electric charging is cheap; gasoline fill-ups are expensive. The Prius PHV might pay for itself in a few years compared to the Liftback.

Chevrolet Volt will be tough competition for the Prius PHV.  GM will deliver 16,000 plug-in hybrids in 2011 and 65,000 in 2012. The Prius Plug-in cost about $8,000 less than the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid with a 40-mile electric range in comparison to the Prius PHV’s 15-mile. After federal tax credits, the difference narrows to only $3,000. Prius PHV drivers may neglect to always recharge. Volt drivers that I interview always recharge. The extra $3,000 for the Volt may pay for itself in less than five years of saved gasoline. The Prius PHV seats five, the Volt only four. I have been impressed test-driving both. They are both worth your taking a test drive.

Ford C-MAX Plug-in Hybrid. Later next year, Ford will start selling a five-door, five seat plug-in hybrid hatchback that will compete head-on with the Prius PHV.  The Ford C-MAX Plug-in is expected to have a 40 mile electric range versus the Prius PHV’s 15. Ford has not yet announced pricing. Ford is also selling the Focus Electric with 100-mile pure electric range.

Nissan LEAF is the best selling electric car, delivering 50,000 in 2011. My experience as an owner is that this pure battery electric has an electric range of up to 140 miles on 30 mph streets, but only 60 miles when cruising the freeway while running your air conditioner. My wife and I share the LEAF and also have a hybrid which we use a couple of days weekly and on long-trips. By itself, the LEAF with its limited range would only meet 80 percent of our needs, but with two cars it has never been a problem. It cost us $40 monthly in electricity to run the LEAF, the cost of one fill-up at a gas station. The 2012 LEAF starts at $3,200 more than the Prius V, but after federal tax credits is $1,800 less and can save you about $500 to $1,000 annually in gasoline.

As the world leader in hybrid cars, Toyota is fighting to extend that leadership in both plug-in hybrids and battery electric cars. In plug-in hybrids, GM plans on first mover advantage with the Chevy Volt. In electric cars, the Nissan LEAF has a sizable lead over the Toyota’s 2012 pure-electric offerings, the Toyota RAV4 EV and the Scion IQ EV. But Toyota has more cars on the road with electric motors, advanced batteries, and electric drive systems than all competitors put together. Toyota does not like second place.

In 2012, will have no trouble selling the 15,000 Prius PHV planned for production. The 2012 Prius PHV will be an appealing alternative to many who first consider the less expensive Prius Liftback. With only a 15-mile electric range the PHV will not be for everyone. Toyota Motor Corporation is now offering customers a wide-range of choices including the Toyota RAV4 EV, the Scion IQ EV, a family of four Prii, the Camry hybrid, the Highlander 4WD hybrid, five Lexus hybrids, and a growing range of fuel economy offerings for most drivers.

2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid SPECIFICATIONS

Hybrid Drive System

• Hybrid Net System 134 horsepower
• ENGINE
• 2ZR-FXE (Atkinson cycle)
• 4-cylinder aluminum block and head, double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i
• 4-valve/cylinder with VVT-i
• Displacement 1,798 cc
• Bore x Stroke 3.17 x 3.48 in.
• Compression Ratio 13.0:1
• Horsepower (SAE Net) 98 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
• Torque 105 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
• Recommended Fuel 87-octane unleaded
• Emission Certification SULEV (with AT-PZEV) Tier 2 Bin 3
• Toyota Estimated Fuel Economy*

• 87+ MPGe
• Hybrid 49 MPG

• Electric driving range 15 miles
• Charging time 1.5 hours (240V) / 3 hours (120V)

Electronically Controlled continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT)

MOTOR GENERATOR TWO

• Drives front wheels, regeneration during braking
• Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous Motor
• Max Voltage DC650V
• Electric Motor Power Output 80 hp/60 kW
• Torque 153 lb.-ft.

HYBRID BATTERY PACK

• Lithium-ion
• Weight (lb.) 176
• Capacity (kWh) 4.4

* 2012 Toyota MPG estimate. Actual mileage will vary.

CHASSIS AND BODY
Suspension – Front Independent MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar
- Rear Torsion beam
Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion
- Turning circle diameter, curb to curb (ft.) 34.2 ft.
Brakes -

• Ventilated front disc (hydraulic with power assist) with standard Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) system and integrated regenerative brake system
• Front Diameter 10.0 in. rotor
• Rear Solid disc (hydraulic with power assist) with standard Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
• - Rear Diameter 10.2 in. rotor
• Parking Pedal brake
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

• Standard Wheel Size 6J x 15 in.
• Wheel Type and Material 10-spoke aluminum alloy
• Tire Size P195/65 R15
• Tire Type All-season
• Spare Tire/Wheel = Tire repair kit

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

• Overall Length 176.4 in.
• Overall Width 68.7 in.
• Overall Height 58.7 in.
• Wheelbase 106.3 in.
• Tread Width (Front/Rear) 60.0/59.8 in.
• Front Overhang 36.4 in.
• Rear Overhang 33.7 in
• Ground Clearance 5.3 in.
• Coefficient of Drag 0.25

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

• Seating Capacity 5
• Headroom (Front/Rear) 38.6/37.6 in.
• Legroom (Front/Rear) 42.5/36.0 in.
• Shoulder Room (Front/Rear) 54.9/53.1 in.
• Hip Room (Front/Rear) 52.7/51.2 in.
• Passenger Volume 93.7 cu. ft.
• Cargo Volume 21.6 cu. ft.

WEIGHTS AND CAPACITIES

• Curb Weight 3165 lbs.
• Fuel Capacity 10.6 gal.

STANDARD EXTERIOR FEATURES

• 15-in. 10-spoke alloy wheels and P195/65R15 tires
• Color-keyed power outside mirrors with folding feature
• Projector-beam halogen headlamps with auto-off feature
• LED tail and stop lamps
• Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop lamp
• Rear window defogger with timer
• UV reduction glass windshield
• Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers
• Intermittent rear window wiper
• Charge port with illumination and charging indictor light
• Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced (in addition to or in place of standard grade features)
• LED headlamps with auto level control, auto-on/off feature and headlamp cleaners
• Integrated fog lamps

STANDARD INTERIOR FEATURES

• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, Multi-Information Display and Bluetooth® hands-free phone and voice-command controls
• Multi-Information Display with fuel consumption history, average fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed, trip distance, charger timer, EV Driving Ratio, Hybrid System Indicator, ECO Savings Record and energy monitor
• Digital instrumentation with speedometer, fuel gauge, odometer, instant fuel consumption, shift-position indicator and EV/ECO/POWER mode indicators
• Automatic climate control with air filter, dust and pollen filter/filtration mode, electric compressor, humidity sensor and push button controls
• Remote Air Conditioning System
• Power windows with auto up/down, jam protection in all positions and retained power features
• Remote keyless entry system with lock, two-stage unlock and panic functions
• Smart Key System on three doors with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry
• Front door storage pockets with sculpted bottle holders
• Fabric-trimmed heated front seats with seatback pockets; 6-way adjustable driver’s seat; 4-way adjustable front passenger seat
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seat with adjustable headrests
• Fold-forward rear outboard headrests
• Rear fold-down center armrest with two cup holders
• Dual sunvisors and illuminated vanity mirrors
• Power door locks with shift-linked automatic locking feature with anti-lockout feature
• Two front 12V auxiliary power outlets
• Cruise control
• Touch Tracer Display
• Overhead console with driver and front passenger maplamps and shift illumination
• Electronic shift lever with Hybrid Synergy Drive® blue accent
• Center console with armrest, storage compartment, front dual cup holders, removable utility tray, wire-management feature and 12V auxiliary power outlet
• Passenger-side dual glove compartment
• Remote hood and fuel-filler releases
• Charge cable for 120V outlet
• Rear dome lamp and cargo area lamp
• Retractable assist grips at all doors
• Cargo area under-floor storage and side panel storage
• Cargo area tonneau cover with clasp for under-floor stowage

Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced

(in addition to or in place of standard grade features)

• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, Multi-Information Display, Bluetooth® hands-free phone, voice-command and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) controls
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver
• SofTex-trimmed heated front seats with seatback pockets; 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support; 4-way adjustable front passenger seat

Display Audio with Navigation and EntuneTM — includes 6.1-in. touch-screen with integrated backup camera display, AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers, SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio (includes 90-day trial subscription to XM Select Package), HD RadioTM with iTunes® Tagging, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod® connectivity and control, vehicle information with customizable settings, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, advanced voice recognition, text-to-speech with programmed and customizable text responses, and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology

EntuneTM — includes BingTM and Pandora®; real-time info including traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports and stocks. Apps available spring 2012 at no charge include iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com and OpenTable®. Access to EntuneTM services is complimentary for three years. See toyota.com/entune for details.

PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM
Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced (in addition to or in place of standard grade features)

Premium HDD Navigation with EntuneTM, Plug-in Hybrid Applications and JBL® — includes 7-in. touch-screen with split-screen capability and integrated backup camera display, AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, eight JBL® GreenEdgeTM speakers with amplifier, SiriusXM™Satellite Radio (includes 90-day trial subscription to XM Select Package), HD RadioTM with iTunes® Tagging, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod® connectivity and control, vehicle information with customizable settings, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, advanced voice recognition, text-to-speech with programmed and customizable text responses, and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology

EntuneTM — includes BingTM, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable® and Pandora®; XM Data Services including NavTrafficTM, NavWeatherTM, Fuel, and Sports & Stocks; EntuneTM Plug-in Hybrid Applications include Charge Management, Remote Air Conditioning System, Charging Station Map, Vehicle Finder and Eco Dashboard. Access to EntuneTM services and Plug-in Hybrid Applications is complimentary for three years. See toyota.com/entune for details.

STANDARD SAFETY AND SECURITY

• Star Safety System™ – includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature
• Driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System
• Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags, driver knee airbag and front and rear side curtain airbags
• Driver and front passenger active headrests
• Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
• Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones
• Side-impact door beams
• 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts
• Adjustable front seat shoulder anchors, driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats
• Child protector rear door locks
• Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column
• Engine immobilizer
• Tire Repair System
• Vehicle Proximity Notification System
• Additional year of roadside assistance for a total of three years of roadside from date of purchase
• Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced (in addition to or in place of standard grade features)
• Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Locator, Roadside Assistance and Automatic Collision Notification. Available by subscription. (Complimentary three-year trial subscription).
• Pre-Collision System (PCS)
• Head-Up Display (HUD)

AVAILABLE EXTERIOR COLORS
- Blizzard Pearl
- Sea Glass Pearl
- Winter Gray Metallic
- Classic Silver Metallic
- Clearwater Blue Metallic
BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE

• Basic: 36 months/36,000 miles (all components other than normal wear and maintenance items).
• Lithium Battery and Hybrid-Related Component Coverage: Hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. The HV battery may have longer coverage under emissions warranty. In states that have adopted the California Emission Control Warranty, coverage is 15 years/150,000 miles for performance and defect, and the hybrid battery is covered for 10 years/150,000 miles. Refer to applicable Warranty and Maintenance Guide for details.
• Powertrain: 60 months/60,000 miles (engine, transmission/transaxle, drive system, seatbelts and airbags).
• Rust-Through: 60 months/unlimited miles (corrosion perforation of sheet metal).
• Emissions: Coverages vary under Federal and California regulations. Refer to applicable Warranty and Maintenance Guide for details.
• Toyota Care – Complimentary maintenance plan with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota. For 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, every new Toyota will be covered for all normal factory scheduled service, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Test Drive and Review is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By John Addison (9/1/11)

Volvo (VOLAF.PK) and Siemens (NYSE:SI) are in joint development of electric drive technology, power electronics and smart charging technology for electric cars including plug-in hybrids. This Scalable Platform Architecture will be used in current and future electric vehicles. These systems will be integrated into the Volvo C30 Electric and the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid Diesel Crossover SUV.

The first electric cars of this model fitted with Siemens electric motors will be on the test tracks as early as the end of this year. Beginning in late 2012, the Swedish carmaker will deliver a test series of up to 200 vehicles to Siemens, which will then be tested and validated under real-life conditions as part of a Siemens internal test fleet.

Siemens is a $100 billion global giant who sees electric cars as a major opportunity. Siemens has long provided electric motors and related drive system electronics for rail and heavy vehicles. I have ridden on a number of buses and rail systems that use their electric drive system (disclosure: author owns Siemens stock). You probably have as well.

The electricity for electric vehicles comes from power plants. Siemens is a major supplier to the electric utility industry providing everything from wind turbines, generators, transmission, distribution, to smart grid technology. Siemens also sells EV charging stations (EVSE) and energy efficiency products such as Osram LED lighting. In one of its own fleets, 100 Siemens employees are driving electric vehicles that are vehicle-to-grid (V2G) enabled to test using electric cars to deliver power to the grid during peak hours.
“We are very happy to have Siemens as a partner. Their world-leading knowledge and experience will bring the technology in our electric cars up to an entirely new level,” says Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. He continues: “We are moving ahead quickly in this area. Our aim is to be first with the latest technology within electrification. The partnership reinforces our aim to pursue the fast-growing market for electric cars.”

Siemens Global Ambitions for Electric Cars and Charging

“Cooperation with Volvo is an important milestone in the development of top-quality components and systems for electric cars subsequently intended for series production,” says Siegfried Russwurm, Siemens Board member and CEO of the Siemens Industry Sector. “It is our long-term goal to establish Siemens as a global system provider both inside and outside of electric vehicles. We see ourselves as a comprehensive electric mobility pioneer.”
Siemens electric motors developed for Volvo have a peak power output of 108 kilowatts with a maximum torque of 220 Newton meters. The inverter design will be jointly optimized to meet all safety requirements in an automotive application. In addition, Siemens will provide highly efficient and fast on-board and off-board charging systems.

Volvo starts small-scale production of the Volvo C30 Electric this year. The two-door hatchback weighs only 2,900 pounds, making it easy to have a 100-mile range with 22.7kW of useable battery storage (24kW pack) with EnerDel lithium cells. A Siemens 68kW rated electric motor with Siemens power electronics is being integrated into the C30.

In 2012 Volvo starts dealer sales of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid Diesel. Both cars will be sold in Europe with no commitment for U.S. sales, much to the disappointment of U.S. Volvo loyalist and diesel hybrid car enthusiasts. Drivers are given push-button choice of driving mode. For drivers in cities with congestion pricing, electric model can be selected. For expressways and hills, power mode can be selected. For normal driving, hybrid mode.

Best Electric Cars on Sale in United States

Electric Car Platform Architecture from Volvo and Siemens is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By John Addison (updated 11/17/11)

The new Cadillac ELR will combine electric car driving with elegant styling and a luxury interior. GM is moving ahead with the dramatic luxury coupe, shown two years ago as the Cadillac Converj Concept.

The Cadillac ELR will use the electric drive system of the popular Chevrolet Volt. Cadillac drivers will now be able to drive 40 miles on an electric charge from home, work, or charge stations, then go hundreds of added miles when the gasoline engine is engaged. Like the Volt, the Cadillac ELR is a plug-in hybrid with an efficient gasoline engine that normally acts as an electric generator, but at some speeds blends power with the electric motor.

When I took the Volt on a long drive down California’s Pacific Coast Highway, the handling was smooth. The Volt hugged the road through sharp turns. In the hills, the 150-hp electric motor easily climbed steep grades. The existing Volt electric motor and 1.4L gasoline engine could handle the added weight expected for the Cadillac ELR, but GM may decide on a slightly larger engine and/or motor. Stay tuned as the Cadillac is a concept car that is likely to go on sale as a 2013 or 2014 production car.

GM to Deliver 65,000 electric cars in 2012

At a recent Volt owner meeting, a GM manager told me that GM will build 65,000 electric cars next year, as it scrambles to meet customer demand. He said that 40,000 would be Chevrolet Volts and 20,000 Opel Amperas for Europe. I asked about the other 5,000. He said, “Good question. I’ll have to look into that.” Good question, evasive answer. Perhaps the other 5,000 will be a 2013 Cadillac ELR.

GM also admits to working on 32 different vehicles with electric drive systems.  Not all will be commercialized. Some models will be selected over others. GM will build on the success of the Volt and Ampera, which share its Voltec drive system and lithium batteries.

The Volt and Ampera use GM battery packs containing the LG Chem manganese spinel li-polymer prismatic battery cells. The Cadillac ELR, however, may use A123 nanophosphate lithium ion cells in a new pack. A123 is supplying the batteries for the new luxury high-performance Fisker plug-in hybrids. Cells for the new Cadillac are likely be made at A123’s Livonia, Michigan plant. The new Cadillac, right down to its advanced batteries, is made in America.

Easy to Drive, Easy to Charge

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing emissions. When the battery’s energy is low, the ELR seamlessly switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles.

The Cadillac ELR can be charged through the standard 110 volt outlet found in most garages. It can also be charged at thousands of employer and public J1772 Level 2 chargers.

Volt and ELR customers can also use the new GM Voltec Level 2 Charger, sold for only $499. GM has achieved the low price by eliminating redundant smart charging electronics in the EVSE and letting the vehicle manage charging. The ELR will have on-board smart charging which can be managed through the vehicle display, the internet, or with smart phones using a GM OnStar Mobile App.

I was quite impressed with the OnStar App which gives Volt owners the ability to remotely check the battery charge level, available range, tire pressure, remote lock and unlock, and even activate the remote start to heat or cool the interior to your preferred temperature. Navigate the interactive screens of the app, and you can change how and when you want your Volt to charge. You can even set up alerts via text or email to remind you to plug in your Volt, when charging is complete or if charging has been interrupted. The app also provides a single button to access a Volt Customer Advisor who can answer vehicle-specific questions.

Like the Volt, the Cadillac ELR may offer three unique driving modes to accommodate different driving styles. Normal mode is the most efficient setting that takes the electricity and focuses it on operating the electric drive. Sport mode sacrifices a small amount of efficiency for more responsive acceleration, and Mountain mode makes sure the battery has a bigger energy reserve for driving up long, steep inclines.

Chevrolet Volt owners love their new cars. Jackson Browne told me that he has only used 8 gallons of gasoline during the 2,000 miles that he has driven his Chevrolet Volt. Jackson is famous as a singer, songwriter, and inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Felix Kramer and his wife own both a Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. They are delighted with both. During their ten trips to Lake Tahoe, they took the Volt for under 4-hour drives. The trips would have been overnight in their LEAF whose electric range would have required long stops for recharging. Their Volt has handled the snow. Cadillac, with extensive AWD experience, has not made any AWD announcement for the Cadillac ELR.  Another Volt owner, Tom, is averaging 44 miles in electric mode, during his long commute to work.

Next year, you may get the chance to test drive the Cadillac of electric cars. Many won’t wait. The Volt is stylish, well appointed, and has the best OnStar app ever offered. The new Tesla Model S will offer luxury electric car buyers beautiful styling, roomy interior, and up to 300 miles of electric range. Fisker offers a dazzling sports coupe. The Cadillac ELR is likely to gain the enthusiastic following now enjoyed by the Volt and build on GM’s proven electric car success.

Cadillac ELR – New GM Electric Car Builds on Success of Chevrolet Volt is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By John Addison (8/11/11)

Ford and SunPower offer a rooftop solar system that will allow Focus Electric owners and other electric car drivers to “Drive Green for Life” by providing renewable energy to offset the electricity used to charge the vehicle. The SunPower rooftop solar system also will be compatible with the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Ford is rolling out in 2012.

This pre-configured solution makes solar charging easy for new customers.  Many of the first 50,000 U.S. buyers of electric cars have been early adopters of solar power and renewable energy. Music legend Jackson Browne lives off-gird and charges his Chevrolet Volt with his own wind and solar power.   Johnson and Johnson installed 1.1MW of SunPower solar covered parking structures that includes 5 Coulomb electric car chargers. The U.S. Marine Corp at Camp Pendleton showed me their solar powered parking structure that charges their 291 electric vehicles. Solar Parking Structures

The 2.5 kilowatt rooftop solar system is comprised of the SunPower® E18 Series solar panels that produce an average of 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. These high-efficiency solar panels generate approximately 50 percent more electricity than conventional panels and utilize a smaller footprint on the roof. The system was sized to accommodate an electric car owner who drives about 1,000 miles per month.

The complete SunPower solar system is offered at a base price of less than $10,000 after federal tax credits. Local and state rebates, along with other incentives, may drive the system cost down even more, depending on a customer’s location. Included in the purchase is a residential monitoring system, which includes the ability to track the performance of their solar system on the web or through an iPhone application. Affordable financing options for the solar system are available through SunPower.

When Ford customers order their Focus Electric or C-MAX Energi they will have the option of indicating an interest in the SunPower system. SunPower leads the industry with more than 400 dealers in the U.S., and can support the initial Focus Electric roll out in all 19 markets. A participating SunPower dealer who will visit their home to begin the installation process will contact interested Focus Electric customers. Ford also has an agreement with consumer electronics leader Best Buy to offer a 240-volt home charging station for the Focus Electric and future electric vehicle owners.

I was impressed with my test drives of early versions of the Ford Focus Electric, which will challenge the Nissan Leaf. In 2013, NISSAN opens its new Tennessee plant with the ultimate capacity of making 150,000 LEAFs each year. The Ford C-MAX Energi will challenge the Chevrolet Volt’s leadership of plug-in hybrids. Chevrolet will make 65,000 Volts and Opel Amperas next year.

Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy, which includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013. Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and will launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year. In 2012, these models will be joined in North America by the new C-MAX Hybrid, a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This diverse range of electrified vehicles allows Ford to meet a variety of consumer driving needs.

Electric car critics and many oil industry executives claim that there will only be coal power charging electric vehicles. In my two years of interviewing electric car owners and fleet managers, I have yet to met someone who only uses coal to power their electric vehicles. Most use zero coal power. Many use 100 percent renewables. One oil giant who does not make the false coal claim is Total, which is buying the majority of SunPower stock. Total sees a billion dollar opportunity to charge cars with renewable energy.

Ford and SunPower Solar Charging Electric Cars is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

By Tom Bartley (3/24/11)

My two weeks were up yesterday and I had to pass the car to the next Clean Fuels Coalition board member. I liked the experience and it saved me money. This dual fuel (electricity and gasoline) Prius is all about having a nice ride and being energy efficient. The car I drove was a Toyota factory prototype that was essentially a 2010 basic Prius modified to accommodate a 5kW Lithium ion battery that could be charged through a power cord from an external 110 VAC standard 20 amp circuit.

I liked the car. If you are not a numbers person, skip to the Nice Ride section.

When I plugged the charging cable into my external 110 VAC house socket it tested out ok, but after 5 minutes of charging it tripped the GFI breaker and it wouldn’t reset without tripping.  I tried a different circuit and everything was fine. I have not yet diagnosed the problem. The current draw was 12 amps leading to 3 hours for a full charge (3.96 kWh). This is less than the full battery 5 kW capacity and is probably part of the battery management strategy that stays away from the top and bottom SoC (State of Charge) to assure a long battery life before replacement. The dash board display indicated 14 miles as an estimated average full usable charge EV range. (The 14 mile EV range estimate could vary significantly depending on elevation change, speed, and driver style.) This works out to 3.54 miles/kWh or 283 Wh/mile. The larger battery capacity in the Plug-in Prius makes the normal hybrid mode even more efficient by providing more storage to recycle deceleration energy while going down grades or slowing from high speed driving.

This compares to manufacturer estimates of 240 Wh/mile for the Nissan Leaf and 400 Wh/mile for the Chevy Volt. While the larger capacity battery packs in the Leaf and the Volt qualify for a $7500 federal tax credit, this Prius is projected to have a $3000 tax credit.  I estimate the price of the Plug-in to be somewhere in the $33,000 price range to compete nicely with the Volt.

Energy Efficiency

I managed to drive 423.1 miles on the 6.762 gallons of 87 octane E10 that I pumped into the gasoline tank. With the current high prices, I paid a total of $26.67. So, here are the petroleum numbers:

• 67.52 mpg
• 6.3 ¢/mile

The electric numbers will only show up integrated into my overall utility bill at a cost of 15.5 ¢/kWh. I estimate the efficiency of the car, including the battery losses, at an average 300 Wh/mile leading to an electric cost of 4.65 ¢/mile. How does this add to my total cost/mile? Most of my trips were less than 15 miles. I had one long roundtrip over 75 miles of mostly high speed freeway driving. I can only estimate that 20% of my miles were electric. The onboard display indicated that 12% of the previously driven 12,000 miles were driven in EV mode. Adding (20% of 423.1 miles) 84.62 miles @ 4.65 ¢/mile results in $3.93 for electricity yielding a total cost of $30.60 for 423.1 miles or 7.2 ¢/mile. In comparison, my Toyota Sequoia SUV at about 29 ¢/mile ($4.00/gal / 13.6 mpg). That makes for a whopping $92.00 fuel savings over two weeks! That’s some nice extra pocket money. True, this is not the whole picture and did not include purchase price and maintenance costs, like the cost of the batteries, but the immediate impact is significant. Also, knowing that my cost was less I drove more miles than I otherwise would have.

Side Note: I found the fuel economy displayed and calculated by the on-board computer for each car was optimistically overstated as 77.7 mpg for the Prius and 15.6 mpg for the Sequoia. One mitigating factor is that I may not have received a full tank of gas with the Prius. The odometer should be accurate because, according to the owner’s manual, the Prius automatically calibrates the odometer (using the GPS navigation system?) to compensate for tire wear.

Nice Ride

Overall, I liked the Plug-in Prius and didn’t want to give it back and I love the power of my 2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited and a 1970 classic big block Chevy Corvette, both with their high power V8s and plenty of “go-power” torque throughout the driving speed range. The Prius Plug-in compares favorably with my many ride-n-drives in electric vehicles, hybrids, and high priced hydrogen fuel cell hybrids.

For the driver’s pleasure the Prius has push button selection of three different driving modes, ECOnomy, normal, and PoWeR. At first these different settings seemed to be scaling the accelerator pedal movement to better match the drive style, i.e., more push to get smaller acceleration in ECO, and less push to get greater acceleration in PWR. However, the actual driving experience felt like the PWR mode actually allowed the drive system to put more torque into the drive wheels to the point of spinning the tires with engine and electric motor combined. Knowing that electric motors produce max torque right from the “get go”, I expected more performance of the line without much push on the accelerator, but, because I wanted to stay in EV mode without starting the engine, I didn’t ask for more start up acceleration by jamming the pedal to the floor.

The PWR mode was fun to drive in urban traffic congestion at all speeds. The normal mode was comfortable in almost all driving environments easily keeping pace with other standard 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder gasoline engine cars, especially in the 25 to 50 mph speed range.  I wouldn’t recommend the ECO mode in heavy traffic. The ECO mode was there to sooth my energy conservation conscience when I was sharing the road with only a few other drivers. Cruise control is available to make it even easier.

This car has a sports car feel and it’s easy to parallel park. The ride is smooth, the suspension is tight, and the steering is responsive.  Braking is very responsive.

The gear shift lever has a D for normal forward movement and a B to select more coasting drag. I think the B should be the default position because it felt like I was able to capture more of the deceleration and braking energy into the batteries for recycling. I also liked the B more positive control feel of the car before I had to use the brake pedal.

Rather than a “gear shift” lever it is really a joy stick that always returns to a fixed center position. The position of R and D was a safety problem for me. The position of R at the top or forward and D at the bottom or back is traditional for many transmissions’ gear selection. However, because the control lever is on a raised center console deck and almost horizontal it felt more like a joy stick where DRIVE would be forward and REVERSE would be back. Several times I selected the wrong direction while backing out or parking. Fortunately, it was at low speed and the annoying repetitive beep of reverse provided a helpful alert

Driver Displays and Steering Wheel Button Controls

The main display panel looks like it is digital and programmed for the subject matter information. It is sunk into the middle of the dash for, what looks like, the best viewing of all the vehicle occupants, not just the driver. I had two problems with that positioning. With everything offset to the right side of the driver’s view, the separation between the left and right turn signal indicators is too small to see clearly without taking my eyes of the road to look at the actual arrow. Also, one of the information displays gives immediate feedback to the driver about the torque demands and the EV and hybrid modes of charging and discharging the batteries. Again, the information was not easily seen, down and off to the right, without taking my eyes off the road. Placement in front of the driver would be a nice improvement and a heads up display would be superb.

The standard parts of the driver display included gasoline fuel level, digital speed (analog and digital would be even better), turn signal indicators, odometer, real time mpg, and various mode indicator lights. Being somewhat of a techie, I would have liked to see the engine rpm and temperature; and the electric motor rpm and some appropriate critical temperature. Battery SoC in addition to the estimated EV miles would have been nice too. The display has five selections stepped through by one of the steering wheel buttons:

1. Battery level and number of EV miles, and horizontal bar graph showing real time torque demanded by the accelerator pedal. This display was useful in raising my awareness of the energy effects of changing elevations up and down hils, and the effects of air drag at higher highway speeds.

2. A graphic of the car showing the real time energy flow between the engine, electric motor and battery.

3. Longer term averages of fuel economy

4. Percentage of miles driven in EV mode.

5. Settings that could be cycled through and changed with the same steering wheel display button.

Additionally, when I put my finger on one of the steering wheel buttons there are two cool looking pop up displays that illuminate the button functions. However, if I have to take my eyes off the road to see the pop ups, I can just as easily look at the steering wheel. The left hand steering wheel button was like my Sequoia, operating the radio modes, presets, and volume. The right hand steering wheel button operated the display selection, trip odometers and resets, temp up and down for heating and A/C, and recirculate control for ventilation. I found the temp and recirculation controls redundant to the other same controls close by on the dashboard.

Lights, Wipers, Mirrors, and Visibility

I am spoiled by the light sensing automatic turn-on head light control in the Sequoia. This basic Prius did not have them and several times I had to return to the car to turn off the lights. As in many other cars, these controls were located on the turn signal lever. The emergency 4-way flasher control was a nice big button on the console.

The interior lighting was superior with several different automatic modes that anticipated the entry and exit of the vehicle. It took a while to discover, but just pushing on the light lens is a nice switch feature. Also a nice touch is an indirect beam of light out of the ceiling that illuminates the console while driving at night.

One place that could use a light is the electric charging compartment to illuminate the socket and cover. It would have made it easier when I was trying to insert the charging plug at night in the dark.

I had one wiper and lights problem that turned out to be pilot error. California law requires the headlights to be on any time the windshield wipers are on. While driving in the rain one day I did this only to have the driver display go dim and unreadable. The automatic dimming control expects a reduced ambient light level if the head lights are turned on. The manual dimming control is a thumbwheel on the left side of the dash. If the thumbwheel is advanced into the maximum brightness détente, the display will stay bright even if the headlights are turned on.

The electric positioning left and right external mirrors are the same as my Sequoia, but the control was located on the left side lower dash panel next to the display brightness thumbwheel instead of the center console. From my best position setting of the outside rear view mirror without repositioning the mirror I couldn’t see the curb position when parallel parking. Ok, it is a little picky.

The visibility out the rear window from looking at the inside rear view mirror has an irritation shared by almost all Prius drivers. The rear spoiler required for that nice low aerodynamic drag coefficient puts a horizontal bar across the rear vision.  For the extra mileage at highway speeds it was acceptable, but I never got used to it. I heard that some late model Prius’ may be offered with a camera and a screen that I hope eliminates the bar in the view. My recent experience driving a Volt exposed a similar bar. Adding additional irritation to me was the manual lever for day/night viewing of the mirror. The automatic transitioning of my Sequoia mirror is another nice thing to have.

Driver visibility is good except for two blind spots at the rear corners. I solved this problem on the Sequoia with the addition of small round stick-on wide-angle mirrors to the standard outside mirrors. I elevated the driver’s seat to its highest level for my best outside viewing angle.

Navigation and Entertainment

Your children and grandchildren will love the screen and controls. I liked the large navigation screen, which automatically shifted from a light background to a dark background when the headlights were turned on. After reading the navigation manual for over an hour I decided that I was not going to become a proficient operator during the time I had the car. To prevent driver distraction, several of the functions were not available while the car was moving.

The angle of display has a cute little shift control to help minimize glare reflections. The whole display tilts forward to expose the CD insertion slot. It looked like only a single CD at a time. I prefer the 6-CD changer I have in the Sequoia. The sound system was great when using the radio.

Other Amenities and Comments

Keyless entry, locking, and start-up were new and enjoyable for me. I now look at my other keys as archaic. Three people could fit in the back seat with reasonable comfort, but only two could be there to have the cup holders that were in the center pull down armrest.

The center console cover had a latch that slid back to expose a cup holder in addition to the one with it’s own cover door in front of it. More pulling on the latch exposed a compartment with a tray and a 12 VDC 120 W power socket and an aux port for and iPod. What at first confused me was that the latch had to be depressed again to slide the cover forward for complete closure. I forgot and left my Bluetooth wireless phone earpiece in the tray because it was not completely visible.

In front of the console under the joystick platform is an open tray that has another 12 VDC socket along with switches for the heated seats.  I found the switch placement inconvenient for the driver but ok for the front passenger. The heated seats get hot fast! While more pleasing for the leather seats in the Sequoia, the seat heaters may not really be necessary for the soft cloth seats in the Prius.

Normally, the car was ready to go in total EV mode after putting my foot on the brake and pressing the START button. However, I found that leaving the front defroster selected from prior driving caused the engine to start after pushing the START button.

There are upper and lower glove boxes for added flexibility.

All four side windows have automatic up and down modes. I quickly closed the windows after trying them down during highway driving. The car body aerodynamic airflow is sensitive to window position and my ear drums were taking a beating.

The steering wheel has a “scope” adjustment in and out for comfortable arm positioning.

Fortunately, I had my Sequoia experience to understand the Toyota HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) control strategy. The only difference was that the Sequoia has a knob for setting the desired temperature rather than the up and down buttons of the Prius.

best electric car or hybrid car

In 2012 there will be several plug-in car models to choose from, each slightly different to match the driver’s needs and wallet. From the ones I have driven, going from low to high purchase cost:

• Mitsubishi iMiEV – All electric (no petroleum) short range no frills basic gets the job done, smallest, lowest weight and most efficient. Low cost because of credits and grants.
• Nissan Leaf – All electric (no petroleum) medium range, excellent feel and performance, virtually no service required, perfect for urban commutes and short trips, some longer trip options. Lower cost because of credits and grants.
• Toyota Prius – The standard with great mpg and long range, but doesn’t utilize grid energy
• Toyota Prius Plug-in – Better mpg and hybrid efficiency, long range and short EV range
• Chevrolet Volt – High end luxury quality feel, performance, and features, serial hybrid design has lower efficiency and mpg.

Top 10 electric cars including Plug-in Hybird

Toyota Prius Plug-in – Two Weeks of Test Driving is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

Scott Lang, CEO Silver Spring Networks

By John Addison (updated 2/10/10; original 1/12/11)

Driving the Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Scott Lang, CEO of Silver Spring Networks, took the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid for a drive, parked in front of his headquarters, then plugged-in to one of two Clipper Creek charge stations available for employees and visitors. Six hundred Prius Plug-in Hybrids are being used around the world. Next year, it will go on sale to the public as part of a family of four different Prius models.

Silver Spring Networks has over $100 million of venture capital investment, because it provides a leading  software platform for the smart grid. Major utilities, SVSE charge equipment providers, and automakers are eager to partern with Silver Springs.

Scott Lang was all smiles during his drive and plug-in because the electric car just might be the killer app of the smart grid and increase the value of Silver Spring smart grid services. So far, customers have not become excited about having smart meters installed. Few people sit at home trying to figure out home to save $5 a month by running their appliances at off hours. In fact, most state utility commissions don’t allow consumer incentives to run applicances off peak. electric cars are a different matter. Utilities want them charged off-peak so that they do not need to start adding $8,000 transformers in every neighborhood. Experimental off-peak rates are available in many communities, giving new EV drivers a big incentive to program their smart charge to happen automatically at night.

I took one of the Prius Plug-in Hybrids out for a spin, thanks to Bena Chang with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.  This plug-in car looks almost identical with the 2011 Prius and the handling and acceleration are also nearly identical.  Touch the EV button in a standard Prius and you can go up to one mile before the engine engages, but only if the battery is fully charged and you’re gently driving bare foot.

In the new Prius Plug-in with 5kWh of lithium batteries, you can easily drive 13 miles before the engine engages without special driving effort. When it leaves electric mode and engages the gasoline engine, it drives hundreds of miles with better mileage than a standard Prius.

The Prius Plug-in can be charged in 90 minutes with a 220v charging station, or in 3 hours with a normal 110v outlet. The new Toyota plug-in is likely to be priced well below the Chevrolet Volt which has a 40 mile electric range. Toyota’s strategy is to incrementally improve the Prius brand and to expand the family.

The Plug-in will be initially offered in 14 states (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Virginia and New Hampshire) where nearly 60 percent of all Prius models are currently sold. Availability in all 50 states will be in 2013.

New Prius v and Prius c Concept Make Their Worldwide Debut

This week at the North American International Auto Show, Toyota officially expanded the Prius family to four models:

• 2011 Prius – world’s best selling hybrid
• 2012 Prius v –midsized crossover SUV with 40 mpg goes on sale Summer 2011
• 2012 Prius c Concept – city car hybrid goes on sale by Summer 2012
• 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid – best mileage of any Prius goes on sale by Summer 2012

The Prius midsize liftback has accounted for more than 955,000 sales in the U.S. since it was introduced in 2000.  The third-generation Prius, which reached dealerships in June 2009, has continued the hybrid’s heritage of exceptional fuel economy and low emissions, while becoming the third-best selling Toyota passenger car in the U.S.

The Prius has also been a technological flagship vehicle, offering new features to the Toyota brand like Touch Tracer Display, Solar Powered ventilation, Smart Key System with Push Button Start, Lane Keep Assist, an Advanced Parking Guidance System and LED headlamps.

Prius v: 40 MPG Alternative for SUV, Crossover, and Wagon Drivers

If you’ve been looking for great mileage from an SUV, crossover, or wagon, take a look at the new Prius v. Toyota is positioning with “v”  expressing the vehicle’s versatility, for growing families with active lifestyles while providing the same attributes traditionally found in the Prius DNA.  It will share the current generation Prius’ platform and Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.  Featuring a compact exterior yet spacious interior, the Prius v will feature over 50-percent more interior cargo space than the current Prius, while being almost as aerodynamic. The Prius v will compete with new crossover hybrids like the Ford C-MAX Hybrid. The Prius v will use NiMH batteries, just as the 2011 Prius. Next year, Ford will start delivering lithium batteries in all hybrids and electric cars.

Inside, the Prius v emphasizes overall proportion with spaciousness and flexibility for active families.  Comfortable interior space and good visibility has been assisted by a high seating position, ample headroom, and generous rear legroom.  A low, wide-opening rear hatch reveals 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, making it the most spacious dedicated hybrid vehicle on the market and better than some compact SUVs.

Comfortable seating for five is specifically designed for young families.  Sliding second row seats allow for easier ingress and egress and rear-storage flexibility, with a 45-degree recline for greater comfort.  The 60/40 split, folding rear seats present four different seat arrangements that provide excellent usability for passengers and luggage, while a fold-flat front-passenger seat allows for extremely long cargo.

Also available, and a Toyota-first, is a resin Panoramic View moonroof with power retractable sun shades that provides an open atmosphere in the cabin with a 40-percent reduction in weight as compared to conventional glass roofs of the same size, and excellent heat insulation performance.

Up front, instrument-panel controls, including a single-dial air-conditioning control and a center-mounted digital combination meter, provide an advanced look and user-friendly command.  The driving controls – including the Push Button Start, parking switch, electronic shift lever, and driving mode selection – are distinguished by silver trim.

Despite the spaciousness of a family friendly midsize vehicle, the Prius v will deliver estimated EPA fuel economy ratings of 42 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 40 mpg combined, the best fuel economy ratings of any SUV, crossover, or wagon on the yet EPA rated.

Like the current generation Prius, the Prius v is a showcase of technology that will include many of the same standard features.  Four driving modes (Normal, Power, Eco and EV) satisfy a variety of road conditions and driver preferences.  A Smart Key System with Push Button Start, an electronic shift lever, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), and a back-up camera are standard.

Toyota Prius Safety Features

Available options include energy-efficient LED headlamps, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with a Pre-Collision System (PCS), and Advanced Parking Guidance System. For a high level of safety, there are seven airbags, a high-strength cabin and an energy-absorbing body structure with impact beams, cross members and leg absorption pads.  New driver and front-passenger seat design helps lessen possible whiplash injury during a collision.

Like all Toyota models, the Prius v will feature Toyota’s Star Safety System™ standard, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.  It also features the standard Smart Stop Technology brake-override system.

Entune Multimedia Entertainment and Location Services

Prius v will be one of the first Toyotas with the Entune™ multimedia system.  For the first time ever in an automobile, this innovative new system leverages the mobile phone to provide a richer in-vehicle experience with fully integrated and wireless upgradeable navigation, entertainment and information services. Toyota Entune debuts the first-ever support for engaging mobile apps, such as Bing, OpenTable,  and movietickets.com,  along with accessing useful travel-related services, such as live weather, traffic, fuel information (location and price), stocks, news and sports.

Toyota Entune brings the largest selection of music options available to a vehicle, including iheartradio’s 750+ stations, Pandora’s personalized music, the driver’s personal songs from portable media players and iPods (via USB or Bluetooth audio streaming), and more than 170 stations from XM satellite radio.

Featuring a best-in-class, advanced conversational voice recognition system that helps the driver to stay focused on the road, Toyota Entune eliminates the need to memorize thousands of voice commands and helps reduce driver distraction. Entune will also allow for audio read-back and replay capabilities for text messages, with the ability to respond by pre-set “Quick Reply Messages.”

Prius v will combine Entune with a standard Display Audio system rich with dynamic entertainment and communication features.  The system will include HD Radio with iTunes tagging for future purchase; XM radio, weather, sports, stocks and local fuel pricing; Bluetooth hands-free phone and wireless audio; and full iPod integration including music and video.

Prius c Concept: City Car Hybrid

While the current Prius has ushered hybrid technology into the mainstream, and the Prius v will provide the additional room and versatility for active families, compact shoppers are interested in a smaller hybrid at an entry price point and with superior fuel economy.  The Prius c Concept, with c representing a “city”-centric vehicle, will appeal to young singles and couples who want an eco-sensitive, high-mileage, fun-to-drive Prius.

Prius c Concept is the inspiration for an additional Prius family member that will come to market in the first half of 2012 as the most value-oriented hybrid in the U.S. market with the highest mileage of any “cordless” hybrid. Whether you want to save a fortune on gasoline or in paying for parking, Toyota is expanding the Prius family to match your needs.

Toyota Prius Now Family of Four Hybrid Cars is a post from: Clean Fleet Report