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Hey guys, I managed an invitation to preview one of Toyota's PHEV mules. The invitation came from the blue and I was thrilled as you could well imagine. Anyway, I'd be happy to pepper the tech staff with any questions you might suggest, and I'll just dump the ones I have presently.

My list:
=What is your proposed battery tech (form factor and chemistry).
=Still using Synergy or will it be pure serial hybrid?
=If using the Synergy system, have the RPM caps on the MG's been upped?
=Will the battery be passively or actively cooled?
=What are the plans for PHEV-to-Grid?
=What is your EV range?
=What is your mixed-mode range?
=How are you calculating MPGe?


-Dan <11011011>

Will the final version have regen braking fill only the "normal" hybrid battery, or will it also fill the plug-in battieries?

What EPA mileage does it get with the battery depleted?
Will there be an EV button so the driver can choose when to use the lithium batteries on longer trips?
Will it take full advantage of the socket? That is:
- Will it be sold with an engine block heater in the USA?
- Will there be timed cabin pre-heating/cooling?
- Will there be battery warming?
Will the battery SoC show the main traction battery only?
Will people who just want the efficiency be able to get it with the equivalent of a Two or will they effectively have to pay for a Three, Four or Five to get PHEV?
Will there be an option for a larger battery?

Hi Nevyn:

We have requested it, the American Toyota engineers have requested it and so have the US PR people. The back and forth discussions is they certainly could but on the Prototypes, they did not allow it.

INATM, Slightly less then the std. 10 Prius.

The request is in.

No EBH std.

Not that I was told or saw.

Not that I was told or saw.

When you run out, you only see the std. small pack's SoC.

I thought it was a package-III. Well equipped but not overloaded.

Not from Toyota directly.

Wayne

OK... got lots of threads to mull through. I found some interesting things on the two I got to drive, I need to parse through all the threads on it to fit my findings into the general knowledge base.

11011011