Bought a 2021 Pacifica PHEV today

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

CVT is somewhat a misnomer on most hybrid electric cars. They call them eCVT. Technically it is a continuously variable transmission, only it accomplishes the ratio change by running an electric motor/generator at varying speeds in a planetary gearset linked to the ICE.

There's no reason why an eCVT should wear out prematurely even at high load, because the vehicle should be programmed to not operate outside of limits that would cause premature wear. This is why I was not worried to pull 1,800 lbs with my Prius (at slower speeds and plenty of stopping space).

I didn't know there was a difference until a few days ago when I watched that video (I probably should have watched before buying). I always thought all of these were just a CVT and thevE part ment attached to an electric motor. They really should totally change the name to just EVT or something else. CVT has a terrible reputation. I always used to reccomend against buying a car with one with the exception on the Prius. Then I started thinking well if Toyota can build a good one maybe I shouldn't write them all off. Now learning that maybe because they werent really building CVTs, but these ECVTs. Now I worry again about my mom's Subaru.

[redpoint5]

I don't know how best to differentiate the products, and really conventional CVTs shouldn't have a bad reputation because they should have been engineered to be at least as reliable as automatics (which already don't have great reputations). CVT and eCVT conveys the meaning though, that the transmission can maintain optimal ratio regardless of speed, and therefore improve fuel economy or performance.

I purposely steered a friend towards a Ford C-max because she drives like the throttle is an on/off switch, and kills automatic transmissions from all of the excessive shifting and forces. Since her manual shifting skills are even worse, I figured we might as well see how well eCVTs hold up. 2 years and no issues yet.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

CVT is somewhat a misnomer on most hybrid electric cars. They call them eCVT. Technically it is a continuously variable transmission, only it accomplishes the ratio change by running an electric motor/generator at varying speeds in a planetary gearset linked to the ICE.

IIRC Chrysler actually refers to the setup fitted to the Pacifica as EVT, standing for electrically-variable transmission.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

So may battery was totally dead and it said 12 hrs 45 mins. I had to leave at about 11 hours and it was at 91% I think.

They say the level two charger drops that to just 2.5 hours. Makes me think the factory box is just pretty amp limited. It says 12 amps 1440 watts that's at 120. So if i tried to use the factory box but with a 240 adaptor would it just run the same 12 amps but then 2880 watts? That means an actual 240 charger running the full 27.5 amps is needed to do the 6600 watts.

OK, I know you guys probably get this I'm just working it out in my head.

anyway even at 1440 watts a 16,000 watt battery should fully charge in 11.1 hours but I'm sure it ramps down a couple times as it approaches 100%

I bet the 2.5 hrs at 6.6 is a bit optimistic as well, probably more like 3 to hit 100%.

Also isn't 100% charging bad? I can't seem to set other limits. Maybe what they call 100% isn't actually 100%.

Mind that charging is not 100% efficient. Resistive losses, conversion to DC and pack voltage, charge monitoring and losses at the cell level reduce the actual efficiency to about 85%.

So while you may draw 1440 Watt from the panel only 1224 Watt goes into the pack. Then it would take just over 13 hours to fully charge an empty battery.

Also, the actual capacity of the battery will be bigger than it shows. Just like '100%' isn't entirely full, '0%' isn't completely drained. But while sitting uncharged it may well have dropped below the '0%' level...

[redpoint5]

Looks like the base trim can have heated seats and steering wheel added, so that's the only option I'd add. I don't care for integrated entertainment systems because technology is outdated so quickly. I can buy an Android tablet for $40, so I don't see much point in spending $3k on screens built into headrests.

Looks like with the $5k discount, the price would be $37,500. Between Oregon and federal subsidies, that's another $10k off bringing the price down to about $27,500k. That's getting into pricing territory I'd be willing to purchase a new van for. Unless I could get a good condition used one for $17k or less, I think new is the way to go in this case.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Looks like the base trim can have heated seats and steering wheel added, so that's the only option I'd add. I don't care for integrated entertainment systems because technology is outdated so quickly. I can buy an Android tablet for $40, so I don't see much point in spending $3k on screens built into headrests.

Looks like with the $5k discount, the price would be $37,500. Between Oregon and federal subsidies, that's another $10k off bringing the price down to about $27,500k. That's getting into pricing territory I'd be willing to purchase a new van for. Unless I could get a good condition used one for $17k or less, I think new is the way to go in this case.

Mine is the base hybrid with only the cold weather group added, heated front seats, steering wheel, and leather wheel. A $495 option. Delivery is $1495 so total msrp is $42,285.

The base uconnect is really good as is the instrument cluster. There are a ton of options on how to configure things. The android auto just connects automatically to the phone in my pocket, brings up google maps on the screen, and starts playing my spotify playlist. It also connects to my daughters iphone if she is with me and then she can take over with apple CarPlay if she wants. I think the android looks better, apple looks like a cartoon.

It also has proximity key standard along with lane departure and auto correction, forward collision avoidance with auto braking, and adaptive cruise control.

[Hersbird]

Finally ran out of EV range today and had to switch to hybrid mode to make the last 10 miles home. Not bad overall have put 285 electric miles and 10 gas miles in almost 3 weeks. We are going to a wedding in Seattle in August so that will inflate my gas usage then. That's sort of the point, day to day I never need more than 35 miles, today we went out for a drive/hike and used a little gas on the way home. From what I understand it's going to go into a fuel refresh mode a few times of year anyway if you don't use the gas to burn up "old" gas.

[redpoint5]

95% EV isn't too shabby. I'd say that's the optimal use.

Workin' on kid #2 and friends all have kids too, so I think minivan makes sense.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I saw a grey one today, also hybrid. It does look quite good, unlike what we hear about "soccer-mom vans". Well, I have already been favorable to minivans for a while.

[Hersbird]

I do like the look better than the 2020 model, and both look better than the 2011 Chrysler we have. Before that we used to have a 2000 Grand Caravan Sport AWD which was pretty nice looking, and the 2021 takes a few hints of the 2000 model