First Drive of the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-22

A short weekend excursion half way around the world provides more insight into the most efficient car in the world.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – July 11, 2016

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-22 – Pricing and full EPA are TBA. Targeting a better city/highway result, 120 MPGe rating, and 22-miles of All-Electric Range (AER) to the already world beating efficient 4th gen Prius = #gamechanger.

Just six months ago, Toyota released the much anticipated 4th gen 2016 Toyota Prius. In doing so, the company provided a platform that provided the fewest tradeoffs compared to other compact and midsize cars than any Prius in history.

Ride and handling were improved immensely thanks to Toyota’s first use of their New Global Architecture (TNGA) consisting of a new high percentage high-strength steel body structure, new double-wishbone independent rear suspension, low center of gravity, and improved suspension and steering tuning to yield a smoother and quieter ride.

The exterior while provocative is instantly recognizable with the faceted front corners, std. Prius aero cheating hatch profile - 2.4 inches longer, 0.6 inches wider and 0.8 inches lower than the 3rd gen, and vertically oriented rear lamps combined for a world class Cd of just 0.24.

Moving to the Prius Prime PHEV-22, its energy-conserving quad LED headlamps and a horizontal LED rear racetrack like combination lamps provides outsiders the ability to know exactly what is either ahead or behind them at night. The full-width aero glass panel is more distinctive than anything this side of an exotic.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Rear

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With a great platform from which to build upon, how do you make the most fuel efficient car in the world even more efficient?

2017 Prius Prime

The upcoming 2017 Prius Prime is slated to provide the best hybrid efficiency of any hybrid in the world – including the std. Prius from which it is based, with more than 600 miles of total range, 22 miles AER, and a 120 MPGe rating.

With its 11.3 gallon capacity fuel tank - 600+ miles – 22 miles = ~ 580 miles/11.3 – yields possibly a 51 mpg highway result. This is higher than the 2016 non Two-Eco Prius’s 50 mpg highway rating.

Why 22 miles AER when others offer slightly to significantly more AER? It has everything to do with available packaging and energy efficiency.

More than 50 percent of Americans can commute to work and back without consuming a drop of gasoline. If you can charge at work for the return, 80 percent of all commuters will never consume an ounce of fuel for their daily needs.

The 8.8 kWh Li-Ion pack is twice the size of the previous 4.4 kWh unit yet weighs just 77 lbs. more. Weight needed to be reduced in other areas the to maintain the world beating efficiency and vastly improved R&H qualities of the new 4th gen platform while still maintaining the approximate 24.6 cu. ft. of cargo volume the Pkg. Two, Three; and Three Touring offer.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-27 Hatch

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If you look at the other mainstream PHEVs on the market today – Volt PHEV-53, Sonata PHEV-27, Fusion and C-Max Energi PHEV-20s and 22 for the 17 MY, they all severely sacrifice passenger or cargo volume from the platforms they are built upon. The Prius Prime’s pack size and design barely impinge on either.

To help remove some of the additional weight, Toyota installed their first mass market carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) rear hatch structure which not only saves weight for the car but helps consumers lift and close the unique dual-wave rear glass that also helps reduce drag. It was not an inexpensive addition to the Prius Prime however.

2017 Prius Prime Carbon Fiber Hatch


An honest to goodness CFRP Hatch structure.​

New to the discussion is that all Prius Prime trims – Toyota hinted that there may be more than two – will include the advanced safety Toyota Safety Sense P. P standing for Pedestrian protection.

This advanced active safety suite bundles the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Automatic Braking; Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist; Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with full stop technology and Automatic High Beams. Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The Auto Emergency Braking inclusion is what provided the current 2016 Toyota Prius to earn a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

Advanced Quad LED Headlamps and new flat fascia.​

More 2017 Prius Prime Drivetrain Details

Besides the larger traction battery, a one way clutch between the 1.8L ICE and MG1 within the new MG1 and MG2 dual shaft transaxle allows the ICE to be locked to the chassis preventing the ICE from spinning backwards while MG1 contributes its torque output through the power-split device (PSD). MG1 still spins but at a slower RPM as Toyota changed the Gen4s final ratio after the PSD. This is what allows the higher 84 mph ICE-Off vehicle speed threshold – an MG1 Torque output limitation.

Pay attention to the MG - Clutch - ICE interaction in the mimic video.​

EV Mode is default in which the large Li-Ion pack drains in Charge Depletion mode first. And it will stay in EV at WOT up to 84 mph. The performance in EV mode? From the engineers on hand, no difference between 0 and 60 mph! The 0 to 40 mph acceleration performance is a bit enhanced with as little as 10 percent remaining charge above Charge Sustaining mode in the pack while 40 to 60 mph is slightly less vibrant. The two come into equal that of Hybrid mode which I thought was extremely impressive!

EV Auto Mode uses a blend of EV and Hybrid mode. The car's algorithms decide to run the ICE or draw from the pack in order to provide the most performance and efficiency combination. Although I was not afforded any real miles on the secret Toyota test track in Japan this mode needs to be explored further.

HV Hybrid Mode Holds the large traction battery’s charge for use when you decide it would be appropriate while running in a standard Charge Sustaining hybrid mode.

The three preference modes, Eco, Normal and Sport, provide the same utility as the current 3rd gen. mainly reducing throttle response. At WOT, all three default to the full output the car can provide.

Why a new Heat Pump? A 30 percent improvement in efficiency vs. the std. Electric A/C unit down to – 10 degrees C.

A bit about aero drag. The all-new 2017 Prius Prime has the same Cd as that of the std. Prius despite the Cd reducing dual-wave rear glass. The exterior design team installed a much different front fascia to differentiate it from the std. Prius and in doing so, added a few counts of drag. The rear wave glass reduces it by the same amount.

Like the 4th gen Prius, both of its electric motors can power the wheels. The second motor helps deliver ultra-smooth acceleration up to 84 miles per hour in electric mode and can stay in Electric mode at WOT unlike the first gen PHEV-11.

Prius Prime Pricing Speculation

Although pricing has yet to be released, I was asked by Toyota team members my thoughts. With the current Prius PHEV-11 discontinued, its $29,990 starting price is certainly a good target. An approximate $4,250 Federal TC based on the Primes 22 miles of AER - That tax credit has not yet been announced - and $1,500 California state tax rebate would bring its price of the base Prime back to the price of a Prius Two Eco. Although this is simply wild speculation, for the Prime to gain traction, its starting price has to be competitive. With the price of the larger Li-Ion pack, charger, PCU, buss and HW down from years ago, I can only hope the cost of that carbon fiber rear hatch did not blow out my ideas of the first modern and affordable PHEV-22.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Driving Impressions

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Although the picture depicts a small group of journalists driving on the high speed bank of a Test Track, we were only allowed to drive at a top speed of 49.7 mph (80 kph) on a very short inside track with numerous sharp corners, a roundabout, shallow up and down grades, std. highway on-ramps/off-ramps and short sections of Interstate like roadway all modeled more on what we would normally experience in our day to day travels.

The Prius Primes R&H felt very much like the vastly improved 4th Gen Prius which we were allowed to drive back to back.

The single most standout item was just like the Sonata PHEV-27 vs. the std. Sonata HEV, the Prius Prime PHEV-22’s stronger EV performance in HV mode allowed a more relaxed driving experience. Lower NVH and what always felt like a bit more low end performance was always on hand.

And like the 2016 4th gen Toyota Prius, R&H felt very well controlled even with a bit more spirited driving through the hard braking downhill decreasing radius corner on one portion of the test track.

All in, I thought the Prime provides an even better behind the wheel experience thanks to an even lower NVH than that of the flat riding 4th gen Prius with no sacrifices in R&H qualities despite the extra 400+ lbs of hardware on board.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Availability

The Prius Prime will be available in all 50 states when it launches.

Raw Notes from the basic Technical Presentation provided by Toyota Prius Prime Chief Engineer Koji Toyoshima and Nathan Kokes, US Prius Prime Marketing Mgr.

Koji has been working on the Prius and Prius Prime program since 2011.

Koji Toyoshima

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• Key customer want: More EV range...
• Target to cover daily distance of 1/2 of US drivers.
• Provide customers with a new experience plus the joy of owning an EV.
• Based on the all-new 4th gen. Prius with improved PCU, batter, charger and motors.

Nathan Kokes

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• With the Prius Prime, early test drives reveled appeal for people minds and hearts.
• Very high mpgE at 120 mpgE.
• 600+ miles total range and 22 miles AER.
• Larger pack and one way clutch in transaxle for MG dual drive system. ???
• MG1 can be locked to keep RPMs down in EV!!!
• More balanced front to rear.
• Dual wave rear window and CFRP rear hatch - lighter to lift too, all LEDs all around.
• Optional 11.6" central screen with pinch, swipe and zoom wowed consumers.
• EV mode is default. Will stay in EV at WOT in this mode. Up to 84 mph.
• EV Auto Mode -
• Prius Prime will include Safety Sense P std. on all grades!!! Yes.

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Toyota Prius Prime Q&A

All 50 state availability

30% improvement for the heat pump over std. Elec A/C down to - 10 degrees C.

Full charge default to EV for WOT

More aero rear made up for less aero front end

0 to 60 in EV mode vs hybrid? Same!!! 0 to 40, EV mode will be faster

Battery pack size - 8.8 kWh pack - was determined to keep cargo volume the same as the std. Gen 4 Prius while also keeping weight down, efficiency up and CO2 down

8.8 kWh Li-Ion is just 35 kg more and double the 4.4 kWh pack of the previous gen

EV default runs the pack down. EV Auto will mix the ICE and the big charge in the pack to provide the best mix of performance and efficiency. HV - hybrid mode - holds the pack while running hybrid mode

Peak output in Eco, Normal and Sport is the same

Motors are from the 4th gen Prius and have the same output

I can finally reveal that Toyota provided the weekend long lead trip as documented in the June 2016 - Destination Japan on the Dreamliner!

Although a whirlwind tour of Two Continents and a vast ocean in between, the ability to drive the all-new 2017 Toyota Prius Prime was worth every hour of travel and experience.

For more on the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, consider the following:

• Prius PHEV-22 Called “Prime”
• More 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Details

 

At least they're getting close to what I'm looking for in a plug in hybrid. I'd seriously look at one if they could get the battery only range up to 50 miles or 80 Km. 22 miles is still too short of a distance to pay the premium for a PHEV at least for me. I still think the PHEV set up gives you the best of both worlds.

 

Hi Al:

It is physically impossible to achieve the high efficiency that the Prius PHEVs offer with a 53 mile range pack. Consider the Volt. It has a 53 mile range with a 600 pound pack intruding into both the cargo and passenger compartments. The 4th gen Prius and Prius Prime can travel 53 miles on just over 6 lbs of gasoline.

This is the problem with large range BEVs and PHEVs. They are very inefficient with the amount of battery mass and volume they have to carry around at all times including when they are depleted. Toyota took a scientific approach to the problem, not marketing one. With the Prius Prime Design, interior volume is not only entirely usable, both energy efficiency and CO2 emissions are minimized far below its competitors. By a long ways given today's technology. When there is another energy storage breakthrough, AER range can be increased without harming passenger/cargo volume and efficiency. The Volt designers took a marketing approach and screwed up two of the three main attributes in the balance.

Regarding the cost premium, with all the giveaways, there usually is no premium.

Wayne

 

Hi Wayne,

Hopefully in the next five years or 40K miles Toyota will get the battery only numbers up a little higher and make it a no brainer.
Right now I only have 60K on mine and I'm not looking for new one for a few years. Think about where we were just ten years ago with battery hybrid technology? The future looks bright.

Al

 

Hi Carcus

Quick calculation shows with my normal Prius I'm only using around 200 gallons per year. If I saw more highway it would probably be closer to 175 gallons per year. With a PHEV I'd use maybe 100 gallons or a savings of $1250 over five years.

Al

 

Wait, this one loses the rear center seat? That's a big fat NOPE from me.

Do the rear seats still fold down?

 

Hi Trollbait:

The Prius Prime volume is a minor loss compared to the Volt, Energi and Sonata PHEV.

Wayne