One question about the Prius PHEV

[mechman600]

Please only answer my question if you actually know the answer. I do not want speculations or "it should....." answers. Generic discussion is okay.

The Prius Plug In interests me. A BEV (for 15 miles) for just over $30K is pretty amazing. I also take the family on road trips to the lake, which is where the HEV part would be awesome.

If I leave home for the lake with the battery pack fully charged, it will probably go 15 miles on the highway and then be out of juice. Then the ICE will spark up and keep me going.

My quesion is as follows: at this point, will the HSD system start recharching the battery pack, negating any benefits [from the wall] received so far, or will the pack remain "empty" until the HSD has a chance to charge using regen braking?

[mechman600]

Maybe I should research a wee bit before I ask questions here.

From Wikipedia:
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Prius Plug-in uses three different batteries, two to provide all-electric drive and a third battery engages when the first two are depleted, allowing the car to operate in hybrid mode, like a regular 50-mpg Prius. According to Toyota, when the vehicle starts, the plug-in operates in all-electric mode, drawing electrical power directly from the first battery pack. When its charge is depleted, it disconnects from the circuit and the second pack engages and supplies electrical energy to the motor. When the second pack is depleted again it disconnects from the circuit and the system defaults to conventional hybrid mode, using the main battery as the sole electrical power source. Pack one and pack two will not reengage in tandem with the main battery pack until the vehicle is plugged in and charged.

So it appears that no, the HSD system will not try to recharge the pack that was filled from the wall.

[MetroMPG]

You're also aware that the plug-in Prius only offers EV mode up to a certain speed (I think it's 62 mph), and even with a full plug-in charge, the gas engine may still come on depending on power demanded by the driver (acceleration, climbing, etc.).

Some people care about that stuff.

[mechman600]

Yeah, I knew that. The EV mode really works well in the city and slow back roads, not so much on a freeway at just below 62 mph. That's not a bad thing considering the highway mileage the Prius can get.