First Drive: 2009 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Prototype (Pop.Mech.)

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4227944.html

TOKYO, JAPAN — Toyota may be the first to market with a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle. Today, we were briefed on Toyota’s future hybrid and alternative fuel plans. And while there was no official announcement by Yoshitaka Asakura, Project General Manager of Toyota’s Hybrid Vehicle System Engineering Development Division, he mentioned that their plug-in development program was under way and that it may not wait for lithium-ion battery technology to mature.

"Toyota has the knowledge and experience with nickel metal hydride. And we have to use the battery we know best, in terms of overall performance," said Asakura.

Toyota is using their proven nickel-metal hydride (NiMh) battery packs in prototype Prius PHEV’s which we had an opportunity to drive at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center about 45 minutes (by train) outside Tokyo. The prototype PHEV’s use two current generation Prius battery packs sandwiched together with the charging system in-between. The packs are modified to deliver a greater ability to charge and discharge. This is, according to Asakura, so that they can get an accurate representation of how the more energy dense lithium ion pack will perform in production vehicles. In all likelihood, the first of those vehicles will be the next generation Prius. The prototype battery system weighs about 220 lbs. more than the current production Prius pack and intrudes into the trunk so that that’s there’s only room for about two medium size suitcases. A lithium ion pack would be much smaller and lighter—about the size of today’s production battery pack.

Asakura said the prototypes can operate on electric power for a range of about 7 miles and can re-charge in three to four hours using a 110-vlot outlet. Under the hood is the current Prius’s 1.5-liter inline four. The electric motor generates 50kW, which combined with the more powerful pack, allows the Prius prototype to reach 62 mph on electric-only power. Current cars can only hit about 25 mph before the gasoline engine cuts in.

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7 mile range on charge only? I'm nursing my Subie Outback as long as possible, hoping to buy a plug in hybrid alternative. It doesn't sound likely I'm gonna make it without an interim option.

I am nursing my car waitng for an electric alternative.

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

Pros:

1.) 40 mile range on a single charge, after that fuel kicks in. Personally, I drive less than 40 miles per week and most people drive less than 40miles per day.

2.) Looks good (doesn't look like an economy car by any means even thought it has roughly 150mpg equivalent for first 50 miles (counting miles on the charge) >>>



3.) On a charge and a tank of gas total range is around 500 to 600+ miles

4.) It's going to be made in Michigan and is helping save jobs in Detroit, which is badly needed.


From their site:

E-Flex Drive System — What It Is And How It Works
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Concept Volt utilizes the GM-patented E-Flex Propulsion System to bring you an electric drive vehicle that can run on various sources of energy. It consists of:

Electric drive system
Range extender: 53 kW direct engine-mounted generator and 3-cylinder 1.0L Turbocharged, intercooled internal combustion engine
Dual (left- and right-side) charge ports
Onboard battery pack
12-gallon fuel saddle tank
Running Gas-Free
Concept Volt uses an E-Flex Propulsion System to run gasoline-free. A 16 kW hour lithium ion battery connects to a 53 kW direct engine-mounted generator. This powers the electric Traction System which in turn drives the wheels.

Recharging
There are two charge ports: one on each side between the front door and front wheel. To recharge, simply plug Volt into a 110-volt, 15-amp outlet — the same kind you have in your home. It takes about six to six-and-a-half hours to fully recharge. Then you can drive up to 40-miles on pure electricity.

Charging As You Go
If your battery needs to be charged while driving, the generator will automatically work with the 1.0L Turbocharged gas engine to begin recharging the battery pack when depleted. It all happens seamlessly while you're concentrating on getting to your destination.

Quick Charge
If you don't have the time to leave Concept Volt plugged in to fully recharge or don't have access to an outlet, the vehicle can also begin to charge itself while in PARK with the engine running. The range-extending engine and generator will do all the work.

Using Fuel
An onboard 3-cylinder 1.0L Turbocharged, intercooled internal combustion engine allows you to keep driving when your electric battery needs to be recharged. This range extender can be configured to run on gasoline, E85 or biodiesel. The model shown will use gasoline or E85 interchangeably and can hold up to 12 gallons of fuel.

Additional Benefits

120-kW electric motor is equivalent to a 160-hp engine
Instantaneous torque in electric mode means acceleration faster than traditional torque curve in certain gasoline-powered engines
0–60 in 8 to 8.5 seconds
Battery life is about 10 years

But I'm betting at least two years away, hmm? Guess I'll start a savings fund, (and hope the SUBIE) doesn't have anything major go wrong.


I travel about 35 miles round trip/day, so this would be great... I do have some concern re: how it would drive on snow, as my prius-driving friends have some difficulty in the winter with traction. I guess most problems could be addressed with snow tires, though.

So when's it becoming available?!

Even the CalCars Prius+ (the first commercial plug-in hybrid conversion) only pulled 10 miles in all electric mode. This Toyota has a couple hundred pounds of extra batteries to haul around, so 7 miles isn't unusual. I'd expect that it will climb to 10-15 once lithium batteries are installed.

Plug-in hybrids aren't useful for commuting. They are useful for those quick jaunts around town, where they can nearly eliminate fuel usage.

By the way, there is a very good reason why plugin hybrids will never match the range of a pure electric vehicle. Hybrids have gas engines, generators, and energy recapture devices installed to allow them to operate in gas mode, and these devices add considerable weight. That weight requires more electric power to haul around, which reduces range substantially.