[kcinnick]

Ok, I understand that MPGe is a way to compare an EV to a ICE car... but how do they come up with 94MPGe for the Prime?

Does it get 94MPGe when it is in electric only mode or is it some sort of calculation of the overall performance averaging electric only and hybrid driving?

I just want to know what to expect if I can find a Prime, for budget reasons. I am honestly trying to find a Prime over a regular hybrid or other plug ins for the performance increase. It is faster than a VW GTI, oh if they put this drivetrain in a corolla hatch! I'd take that to the track.

 

[SupersonicRav]

MPGe is based on a direct comparison between the energy contained in a gallon of gasoline vs. the equivalent energy in Kilowatt-hours. The equivalent energy in a gallon of gas is ~36kwh.

So for the case of a Rav4 Prime the battery size is ~17kwh usable. That is about equal to 1/2 gallon of gasoline in term of energy (closer to 0.47 gallons).

So, if you can drive about 44 miles on a full charge, the MPGe is ~ 44mile per 0.47 gallons energy equivalent. Or, ~93MPGe.

The electric motor and controller is more efficient than an ICE, but not twice as efficient as it seems. Regenerative breaking recovers much energy otherwise eaten up by brakes. But on the whole, including regenerative braking the electric runs about twice efficiently as the ICE only condition

As a side note. If you want a very good estimate comparing your energy cost to drive the Rav4 Prime, gas vs electricity, it is simple:

Compare your local gas cost per gallon to what you pay for 18kwh of electricity. I am lucky because I pay only $0.0755 per KWH. That's like $1.36/gallon gas. Gas at the pump is 2.5 times that for me now.

 

[kcinnick]

OK, so if I drive 82 miles a day city I should expect to burn 1 gallon of gas and use the equivalent of 1/2 gallon of gas in electricity? My electricity cost is slightly higher than yours, a little over 9 cents a kwh, but our gas prices are low, I have been paying $2.38/gallon the past couple of weeks, I am just running through $150+ a week in gas!

I average about 100 miles on a working day, mostly city driving but some highway travel. I would rather put that money into a Rav4 prime than keep giving it to Costco for Kirkland gas.

I really just want to plug some numbers in, I know the Rav4 prime is going to be cheap to operate, I just want to see how cheap. People are talking about depreciation, if I get the use out of the car, well then sure, it will depreciate, because I used that value!!!

What I really want is the Electric/Hybrid combined MPG number!

 

[2wheeler]

OK, so if I drive 82 miles a day city I should expect to burn 1 gallon of gas and use the equivalent of 1/2 gallon of gas in electricity? My electricity cost is slightly higher than yours, a little over 9 cents a kwh, but our gas prices are low, I have been paying $2.38/gallon the past couple of weeks, I am just running through $150+ a week in gas!

I average about 100 miles on a working day, mostly city driving but some highway travel. I would rather put that money into a Rav4 prime than keep giving it to Costco for Kirkland gas.

I really just want to plug some numbers in, I know the Rav4 prime is going to be cheap to operate, I just want to see how cheap. People are talking about depreciation, if I get the use out of the car, well then sure, it will depreciate, because I used that value!!!

What I really want is the Electric/Hybrid combined MPG number!

It's not possible for anyone to estimate what you'll save as it's entirely dependant on your driving habits. If you know your driving habits like distances and highway/City travel percentage you can get accurate estimates here:

My Plug-in Hybrid Calculator

 

[rsl360]

Ok, I understand that MPGe is a way to compare an EV to a ICE car... but how do they come up with 94MPGe for the Prime?

Does it get 94MPGe when it is in electric only mode or is it some sort of calculation of the overall performance averaging electric only and hybrid driving?

I just want to know what to expect if I can find a Prime, for budget reasons. I am honestly trying to find a Prime over a regular hybrid or other plug ins for the performance increase. It is faster than a VW GTI, oh if they put this drivetrain in a corolla hatch! I'd take that to the track.

If you are trying to figure out the cost of driving the car, as in dollars out of your pocket, just ignore the MPGe. The car is rated at 38mpg for gas, and it can do better depending on your driving habits. (or worse, also depending on your driving habits. Given that you mention performance, maybe this latter is more your way?)

It takes about 15-16 kwh to "fill" the battery. That will take you anywhere from 35 to 50 miles, again depending. So what's your cost/kwh?

 

[Toyfan2]

OK, so if I drive 82 miles a day city I should expect to burn 1 gallon of gas and use the equivalent of 1/2 gallon of gas in electricity? My electricity cost is slightly higher than yours, a little over 9 cents a kwh, but our gas prices are low, I have been paying $2.38/gallon the past couple of weeks, I am just running through $150+ a week in gas!

I average about 100 miles on a working day, mostly city driving but some highway travel. I would rather put that money into a Rav4 prime than keep giving it to Costco for Kirkland gas.

I really just want to plug some numbers in, I know the Rav4 prime is going to be cheap to operate, I just want to see how cheap. People are talking about depreciation, if I get the use out of the car, well then sure, it will depreciate, because I used that value!!!

What I really want is the Electric/Hybrid combined MPG number!

Here’s what you can expect, spending less than $150+ for gas. Bought a RAVH last August. It’s my work car that gets 500 - 600 miles a week almost every week of the year for the past 15 years. About $30 a week for gas with the Hybrid. My 2014 ICE RAV4 cost $60+ a week for gas before being retired with 165k well used miles, 3 sets of brakes over the life of the car, and a bad transmission at the end. Fuel costs should not be the only consideration. You drive a lot of miles per week. Factor in you will spend less for brakes due to the regen braking, there is really no transmission to fail ( planetary gear set ), Prime and hybrid battery warranty for most of the useful life of the vehicle. Almost sold my RAVH to step up to a Prime but slapped myself back to reality. With the miles I drive I could not make up the difference in fuel costs considering the price delta between the two vehicles even with $8,500 in tax credits. Consider everything, not just MPGe.

 

[rsl360]

$.09/KWH

I am getting about 1 gallon of gas plus a full battery drain to get 80 city miles. It would be amazing if I got close to that.

That seems a little bit low, but not bad. 42 miles on a charge and 38 miles on a gallon of gas is exactly what the car is rated to do. But yeah, city driving should do better than that.

 

[rsl360]

OK, so if I drive 82 miles a day city I should expect to burn 1 gallon of gas and use the equivalent of 1/2 gallon of gas in electricity? My electricity cost is slightly higher than yours, a little over 9 cents a kwh, but our gas prices are low, I have been paying $2.38/gallon the past couple of weeks, I am just running through $150+ a week in gas!

I average about 100 miles on a working day, mostly city driving but some highway travel. I would rather put that money into a Rav4 prime than keep giving it to Costco for Kirkland gas.

I really just want to plug some numbers in, I know the Rav4 prime is going to be cheap to operate, I just want to see how cheap. People are talking about depreciation, if I get the use out of the car, well then sure, it will depreciate, because I used that value!!!

What I really want is the Electric/Hybrid combined MPG number!

As far as "What I really want is the Electric/Hybrid combined MPG number!", I don't think there is such a thing. If you drive 40 miles electric and 2 with gas, you are going to get wildly different answer from driving 40 miles electric and 60 with gas. You are trying to combine apples and oranges.

 

[kcinnick]

As far as "What I really want is the Electric/Hybrid combined MPG number!", I don't think there is such a thing. If you drive 40 miles electric and 2 with gas, you are going to get wildly different answer from driving 40 miles electric and 60 with gas. You are trying to combine apples and oranges.

I get 12-13 mpg city. I drive a lot now as where I drove very little before. I was just using the 80 miles as a nice even figure. The SUV I use now was mostly for towing my boat, I never planned to drive it this much, but opportunities came along and the money is worth it. I'd rather spend the money on a new car vs gas. I understand just moving to a modern car could net me 30mpg, but what really caught my attention was the performance of the Prime, I'd rather pay a few grand more to get something that CAN perform when I want it to, doesn't necessarily mean I am going to drive it like I stole it all day. It isn't fast by today's standards, but go back 20 years ago few sports cars were as quick as the Prime is now. I am a car enthusiast so having the hottest should have been a hot hatch is something that checks some boxes when picking out a vehicle.

 

[Safedad]

.

 

[Dr. Dyno]

Thread closed for "cleaning." Then it will reopen if members can stay on track with the title.

 

[Dr. Dyno]

Thread reopened but won't last long if members bring up off-topic factors not related to MPGe and opinions there will never be agreement on. 16 such have been deleted.

 

[Roy2001]

It is comparing the same amount of energy used as gas.

It is determined that 33.6kwh electricity contains the same amount of energy as one gallon of gas. One gallon gas you can get 40 miles with Prime, it is 40MPG. With 33.6kwh charged, Prime can run for 94 miles, then it is 94 MPGe.