Electric Cars: The Basics
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The Toyota Prius Hatchback PHEV
Toyota Motor Corporation, known simply as Toyota, is a leading global automotive company. The company is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world and is headquartered in Aichi, Japan. The company has already established an enviable track record for the development and marketing of environment friendly hybrid vehicles.
Toyota has one of the largest portfolios of mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs), currently 11 hybrid models. It is also a world leader in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The company currently has a portfolio of the following fully electric and plug-in electric vehicles:
- Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
- The All-Electric Toyota bZ4X
- Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid
Prius is a Latin word meaning ‘first’ and therefore quite appropriate for the Prius. The Toyota Prius has been manufactured since 1997. The Prius has built a global reputation as a ‘clean car’ since 2007 and has been acknowledged by the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA). The Prius is now sold in over 90 global markets, making it one of the most successful models for the Japanese automotive manufacturer. The production version of the Prius PHEV was released in 2012.
The Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is an option worth considering for those keen to migrate to affordable lower emission electric driving. The Toyota Prius PHEV is certainly one of the more affordable options for electric driving. The hatchback has a 8.8 kWh onboard EV battery with a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range up to 50 km. Nothing earth shattering, but it is typical of many PHEVs in its class.
Of course, do keep in mind, that most of us average a mere 50 km a day and the majority of our trips are short commutes (school-runs, grocery store, high street, gym etc). Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid will be able to deliver well over 40 km (emission-free). This is no doubt a useful EV range and financial savings can be achieved by driving on the e-mode. Driving on zero-emission pure electric mode will cost between 5 cents and 10 cents per km. Far cheaper than using the combustion engine.
Another benefit of driving on the electric mode, is the improved efficiency of the electric vehicle. Toyota claims a fuel economy up to 1.3 l/100 km. Real-world fuel economy will not be as efficient, but much improved from the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) variant.
The PHEV is not DC charging compatible (most PHEVs are not) and has a 3.3 kW onboard charger. Again, quite typical for a PHEV in this price segment. We discourage the use of a 3-PIN domestic plug for charging and encourage charging via a dedicated home EV charger. The PHEV can be fully charged in just over 2 hours.
Taking advantage of the EV range will also require inculcating a habit of charging the EV on a regular basis, which again is as easy as charging a smartphone. A ‘topping up’ approach to charging will help improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle and also improve the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Toyota offers a class-leading 10 years or 240,000 km warranty.
The Prius PHEV pairs a 1.8-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, powered by the onboard EV battery. The performance of the EV will not get you dizzy, but given the emphasis on affordability and economy, the performance is acceptable. The Prius plug-in electric car can achieve 0-100 km/h in 11.1 seconds. Top speed is 160 km/h. In terms of practicality, the electric hatchback is not class-leading, but does get the job done. The EV offers 191 L cargo volume.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Practical, tried and tested | Infotainment system needs updating |
| Cheap to run on electric mode | Not the most inspiring drive or design |
| Extended warranty | On board charger limited to 3.3 kW |
Gallery
The Toyota Prius PHEV Hatchback (credit: Toyota)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Vehicle Type: | Hatchback |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | No |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| Toyota Prius Business Edition Plus (from €N/A ) |
| Toyota Prius Excel (from €N/A ) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 8.8 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.3 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 28 – 34g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 10 years or 240,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state-of-charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1470 |
| Width (mm): | 1760 |
| Length (mm): | 4645 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2700 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.2 |
| Boot Space (L): | 191 |
| 1.8 Plug-in Petrol Hybrid PHEV | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 8.8 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 50 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | N/A |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 1.3 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.3 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 160 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 11.1 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Max Power (hp): | 122 |
| Torque (Nm): | 142 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,530-1,550 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Types Of Electric Vehicles
| Type Of Electric Vehicle (EV) | Description |
| Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs) | Mild hybrids use both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric motor. These cars are also known as ‘self-charging hybrids’. The vehicle uses regenerative braking (recuperated electric energy) to improve the fuel efficiency and to reduce tailpipe emissions (CO2 g/km). However, mild hybrids cannot be charged by an external power source (i.e. EV charger). The recuperated electric energy is also used to boost the the combustion engine enhancing acceleration. Automotive manufactures (OEMs) like Toyota are one of the pioneers in developing and introducing mild hybrid vehicles. The ubiquitous Toyota Prius mild hybrid is an excellent example. Toyota also helped popularise the use of mild hybrids in the premium segment via its wholly owned Lexus brand. |
| Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) | Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) aim to achieve the same objectives like a MHEV i.e. increase fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions. However there is much difference between a PHEV and a MHEV. The PHEV has a larger electric motor and onboard EV battery that is used to assist the internal combustion engine (ICE), but also to propel the vehicle. In a MHEV, the small onboard electric motor does not propel the vehicle. PHEVs come in varied EV battery sizes, but in general, most PHEVs have an EV battery size below 20 kWh. A plug-in electric car is capable of up to 50 km on electric mode. However, some PHEVs are capable of a longer pure electric range. The Volvo XC60 PHEV is a good example of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Moreover, a PHEV EV battery is charged by using an external power source to include, a domestic 3-PIN plug or a dedicated EV charger. |
| Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) | A battery-electric vehicle is more commonly referred to as a pure electric car. The EV is ‘pure’, in that, the vehicle only uses electric power for propulsion i.e. a BEV does not have an internal combustion engine (ICE). It is easy to recognise these zero-tailpipe emission green cars, as these vehicles are silent (except for the artificial noise) and do not have a tailpipe! The pure electric vehicles have a much larger onboard EV battery compared to a PHEV. The EV battery on a BEV can be as large as 120 kWh, though an average is 60 kWh. In any case, most BEVs have an EV battery larger than 30 kWh. BEVs also use regenerative braking to improve the vehicle efficiency and electric range. However, the main source for the EV range is the EV battery, which can only be charged using an external power source, like an EV charger. BEVs can vary in electric range. However the more recent BEVs have a range between 300 to 500 km (WLTP) on a single charge. As an example, the all-electric VW ID.3 has a range up to 540 km. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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